#51 - PHILIPPINES SEA battle - June, 19th and 20th, 1944

IJN Taiho – Tamiya’s box art
Prior to 13 June 1944, Taihō carried 65 aircraft: 22 Mitsubishi A6M5 “Zero” fighters, 18 Yokosuka D4Y1 "Judy" dive bombers,
4 Yokosuka D4Y1-C reconnaissance types, 3 Aichi D3A2 "Val" dive bombers and 18 Nakajima B6N1/2 "Jill" torpedo bombers.
By 19 June 1944, however, the day the Battle of the Philippine Sea took place, she had already lost nine aircraft due to various causes
and had just 56 planes remaining for actual combat.
INFO CREDIT: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_aircraft_carrier_Taih%C5%8D


311-02 was flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Taiho for reconnaissance duties.


311-05 was a Nakajima built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Taiho, during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book Mechanism of IJN Aircraft Carriers, volume #2, by publisher Kojinsha.


311-21 was a Nakajima built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Taiho, during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book Mechanism of IJN Aircraft Carriers, volume #2, by publisher Kojinsha.


311-22 was a Nakajima built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Taiho, during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: book JAPANESE NAVAL ACES AND FIGHTER UNITS IN WORLD WAR II,
by Ikuhiko Hata and Yasuho Izawa, page 70.


311-25 was a Mitsubishi built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Taiho, WO Yoshimi Minami,
during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: book SAMOURAI SUR PORTE-AVIONS, Les groups embarqués Japonais
et leurs porte-avions, 1922-1944, page 427, by Michel Ledet.


311-217 was flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Taiho for dive bomber mission.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book Mechanism of IJN Aircraft Carriers, volume #2, by publisher Kojinsha.


311-312  was a B6N2 torpedo bomber flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Taiho.
IJN Taiho had only one chutai (8 planes) of B6N1/2 torpedo bomber that participated on the first wave of attack.
Tail codes for this unit were 311-311 to 311-319. No one plane survived the attack.


311-315  was a B6N1 torpedo bomber flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Taiho.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book Mechanism of IJN Aircraft Carriers, volume #2, by publisher Kojinsha.


IJN Zuikaku – Tamiya’s box art
Prior to 13 June 1944, IJN Zuikaku carried 75 aircraft: 24 Mitsubishi A6M5 “Zero” fighters, 11 Mitsubishi A6M2 “Zero” fighter bombers,  
18 Yokosuka D4Y1 "Judy" dive bombers, 2 Yokosuka D4Y1-C reconnaissance types, 3 Aichi D3A2 "Val" dive bombers,
14 Nakajima B6N1/2 "Jill" torpedo bombers and 3 Nakajima B6N2 "Jill" for Scout Destachment.


312-77 was a Nakajima built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Taiho, during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE:  book JAPANESE NAVAL ACES AND FIGHTER UNITS IN WORLD WAR II, by Ikuhiko Hata and Yasuho Izawa, page 71.


312-021 was an A6M2 fighter-bomber flown by Lt. Toshio Suzuki (buntaicho) of carrier IJN Zuikaku, during the Philippine Sea battle,
June 19, 1944. Lt. Suzuki led 10 A6M2 fighter bombers to attack American fleet. Only 2 A6M2 returned to IJN Zuikaku. Lt. Suzuki was killed.
Tail codes for this unit were 312-011 to 312-016 and 312-018 to 312-021.


312-364 was a B6N2 radar equipped flown by a buntaicho of carrier IJN Zuikaku, during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
The aircraft commander and observer was Lt. Keizo Kitao. This B6N2 take off at 4h20 and established radar contact (15 Ri).
Lt. Kitao coached his pilot within visual range and put his binoculars on the Americans. He counted 18 ships, then proceeded a half-hour to Guam.
He avoided the dismissed island CAP, landed at 9h50 and refueled. This B6N2 take off again and returned to IJN Zuikaku that evening at 16h30.  
IJN Zuikaku had 3 B6N2  "Jill" for Scout Destachment. Tail codes for this unit were 312-364 to 312-366.
INFO CREDIT: Clash of The Carriers: The True Story of the Marianas Turkey Shoot - by Barrett Tillman


IJN Shokaku – Fujimi’s box art
Prior to 13 June 1944, IJN Shokaku carried 69 aircraft: 34 Mitsubishi A6M5 “Zero” fighters, 10 Yokosuka D4Y1 "Judy" dive bombers,
10 Yokosuka D4Y1-C reconnaissance types, 3 Aichi D3A2 "Val" dive bombers, 9 Nakajima B6N1/2 "Jill" torpedo bombers
and 3 Nakajima B6N2 "Jill" for Scout Destachment.


313-31 was a Nakajima built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Shokaku, during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book Mechanism of IJN Aircraft Carriers, volume #2, by publisher Kojinsha.


313-52 was a Mitsubishi built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Shokaku, WO Yoshijiro Shirahama,
during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: book SAMOURAI SUR PORTE-AVIONS, Les groups embarqués Japonais et leurs porte-avions,
1922-1944, page 427, by Michel Ledet.


313-236 was a D4Y1 dive bomber flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Shokaku, during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book Mechanism of IJN Aircraft Carriers, volume #2, by publisher Kojinsha.


D4Y1 dive bomber - box art


313-339 was a B6N1 torpedo bomber flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Shokaku, during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
IJN Shokaku had only one chutai  (9 planes) of B6N1/2 torpedo bomber that participated on the first wave of attack.
Tail codes for this unit were 313-331 to 313-339. Only one plane survived the attack and returned to his ship.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book Mechanism of IJN Aircraft Carriers, volume #2, by publisher Kojinsha.


313-363 was a B6N2 radar equipped flown by a shotaicho of carrier IJN Shokaku, during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
The aircraft commander and observer was WO Takayoshi Morinaga. IJN Shokaku had 3 B6N2  "Jill" for Scout Destachment.
Tail codes for this unit were 313-361 to 313-363.


One A6M5 hit by American fighters during the battle.


IJN Junyo - Tamiya's box art
Prior to 13 June 1944, IJN Junyo carried 53 aircraft: 18 Mitsubishi A6M5 “Zero” fighters,
9 Mitsubishi A6M2 “Zero” fighter bombers, 11 Yokosuka D4Y1 "Judy" dive bombers,
9 Aichi D3A2 "Val" dive bombers and 6 Nakajima B6N2 "Jill" torpedo bombers.


321-13 was a Nakajima built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Junyo, during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: book Mechanism of IJN Aircraft Carriers, volume #2, by publisher Kojinsha.


321-15 was a Nakajima built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Junyo, during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE:  book JAPANESE NAVAL ACES AND FIGHTER UNITS IN WORLD WAR II,
by Ikuhiko Hata and Yasuho Izawa, page 81.


321-203 was a A6M2 fighter bomber flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Junyo, during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: book Mechanism of IJN Aircraft Carriers, volume #2, by publisher Kojinsha.


Aichi D3A2 hit by American fighters.


321-228 was an Aichi D3A2 model 22 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Junyo, during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
After the battle this plane landed on Guam Island and was captured almost intact.
COLOR PROFILE BASE:  one photo and a color profile of the book SAMOURAI SUR PORTE-AVIONS,
Les groups embarqués Japonais et leurs porte-avions, 1922-1944, pages 329 and 426, by Michel Ledet.


IJN Junyo’s D3A2 tail code 321-228 photo #1


IJN Junyo’s D3A2 tail code 321-228 photo #2


321-317 was a B6N2 torpedo bomber flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Junyo, during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: book Mechanism of IJN Aircraft Carriers, volume #2, by publisher Kojinsha.


IJN Hiyo - Fujimi's box art
Prior to 13 June 1944, IJN Hiyo carried 52 aircraft: 18 Mitsubishi A6M5 “Zero” fighters,
9 Mitsubishi A6M2 “Zero” fighter bombers, 20 Aichi D3A2 "Val" dive bombers and
5 Nakajima B6N2 "Jill" torpedo bombers.


322-55 was a Nakajima built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Hiyo, during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE:  book JAPANESE NAVAL ACES AND FIGHTER UNITS IN WORLD WAR II,
by Ikuhiko Hata and Yasuho Izawa, page 81.


IJN Ryuho - Skywave's box art
Prior to 13 June 1944, IJN Ryuho carried 32 aircraft: 18 Mitsubishi A6M5 “Zero” fighters,
9 Mitsubishi A6M2 “Zero” fighter bombers and 5 Nakajima B6N2 "Jill" torpedo bombers.


323-92 was a Nakajima built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Ryuho, during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE:  book JAPANESE NAVAL ACES AND FIGHTER UNITS IN WORLD WAR II,
by Ikuhiko Hata and Yasuho Izawa, page 81.


A6M "Zero" trying to scape from American fighters.


IJN Chitose - Aoshima's box art
Prior to 13 June 1944, IJN Chitose carried 30 aircraft: 6 Mitsubishi A6M5 “Zero” fighters,
15 Mitsubishi A6M2 “Zero” fighter bombers, 6 Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" and 3 Nakajima B6N2 "Jill" torpedo bombers.


331-75 was a Nakajima built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Chitose, during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE:  book JAPANESE NAVAL ACES AND FIGHTER UNITS IN WORLD WAR II,
by Ikuhiko Hata and Yasuho Izawa, page 83.


IJN Chiyoda - Aoshima's box art
Prior to 13 June 1944, IJN Chiyoda carried 31 aircraft: 6 Mitsubishi A6M5 + 1 A6M2 “Zero” fighters,
15 Mitsubishi A6M2 “Zero” fighter bombers, 6 Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" and 3 Nakajima B6N2 "Jill" torpedo bombers.


332-32 was a A6M2 fighter bomber flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Chiyoda, WO Masafumi Shinohara,
during Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE:  book JAPANESE NAVAL ACES AND FIGHTER UNITS IN WORLD WAR II,
by Ikuhiko Hata and Yasuho Izawa, page 84.


IJN Zuiho - Hasegawa's box art
Prior to 13 June 1944, IJN Zuiho carried 30 aircraft: 6 Mitsubishi A6M5 “Zero” fighters,
15 Mitsubishi A6M2 “Zero” fighter bombers, 6 Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" and 3 Nakajima B6N2 "Jill" torpedo bombers.