#50 - January to June, 1944

312-52 was a B5N2 flown by a shotaicho of carrier IJN Zuikaku, Japan, February 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: book MODEL ART #406, Camouflage and Markings of Imperial Japanese Navy bombers in WWII, page 56.


312-61 was a B5N2 flown by a buntaicho of carrier IJN Zuikaku, Japan, February 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: two photos of the book SAMOURAI SUR PORTE-AVIONS, Les groups embarqués Japonais et leurs porte-avions,
1922-1944, page 307, by Michel Ledet. Photos caption states tail code 312-61.


312-61 photo #1


312-61 and 312-63 Hasegawa's box art


312-63 was flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Zuikaku.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: Hasegawa model kit


601-201 was flown by a wingman of 601st kokutai at Japan, March, 1944. Later, this plane was aboard IJN Taiho.


601-201 photo #1
Preparing the battle, known as Battle of the Philippine Sea, IJN raised 601st kokutai in Feb 1944.
It included all aircrafts on carriers IJN Taiho, IJN Zuikaku and IJN Shokaku. This photo depicts two officers who did serve together on IJN Taiho.
They were Lt. Tanaka (who died aboard) and Lt. Yamauchi (who survived). The aircraft in the background has a tail shape and numbers
that match one of the 9 D3A2s from the 601st kokutai aboard IJN Taiho.


Aircraft carrier IJN Taiho photo #1.
As a result of the reorganization of 15 February 1944, carrier air groups and aircraft carriers were separated.  
Air group (goku Sentai) 601st was organized around the former 1st carrier Division air group:
IJN Taiho (kokutai 311), IJN Zuikaku (kokutai 312) and IJN Shokaku (kokutai 313).  


11-102 was a Nakajima built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Taiho, Singapore, March 1944.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book Mechanism of IJN Aircraft Carriers, volume #2, by publisher Kojinsha.


11-105 was a Mitsubishi built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Taiho, Singapore, March 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: book FAOW #42, Japanese Imperial Army and Navy Aircraft Color and Marking.


11-204 was flown by wingman  of carrier IJN Taiho, Singapore, March 1944.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book Mechanism of IJN Aircraft Carriers, volume #2, by publisher Kojinsha.


11-302 was a B6N2 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Taiho, Singapore, March 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: book MODEL ART #406, Camouflage and Markings of Imperial Japanese Navy bombers in WWII, page 10.


11-307 was a B6N2 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Taiho, Singapore, March 1944.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book Mechanism of IJN Aircraft Carriers, volume #2, by publisher Kojinsha.


12-120 was a Nakajima built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Zuikaku, Singapore, March 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: book MODEL ART #272, Camoufrage and Markings of the Imperial Navy fighters in WWII, page  105.


12-127 was a Mitsubishi built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Zuikaku, Singapore, March 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: book FAOW #42, Japanese Imperial Army and Navy Aircraft Color and Marking.


12-128 was a Mitsubishi built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Zuikaku, Singapore, March 1944.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book Mechanism of IJN Aircraft Carriers, volume #2, by publisher Kojinsha.


12-237 was a Mitsubishi built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Zuikaku, Singapore, March 1944.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book Mechanism of IJN Aircraft Carriers, volume #2, by publisher Kojinsha.


12-382 was flown by a shotaicho of carrier IJN Zuikaku, Singapore, March 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE:  one photo of the book SAMOURAI SUR PORTE-AVIONS, Les groups embarqués Japonais et leurs porte-avions,
1922-1944, page 308, by Michel Ledet.


12-382 photo #1


12-382 photo #2


12-382
BOX ART CREDIT: Hasegawa model kit


12-382
BOX ART CREDIT: Hasegawa model kit


12-383 was flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Zuikaku, Singapore, March 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: Book Nakajima B6N "Tenzan", by Kagero.


12-385 was flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Zuikaku, Singapore, March 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE:  Fujimi’s model kit.


BOX ART CREDIT: Fujimi’s model kit.


13-102 was a Mitsubishi built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Shokaku, Singapore, March 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: book FAOW #42, Japanese Imperial Army and Navy Aircraft Color and Marking.


13-201 was flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Zuikaku, Singapore, March 1944.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book Mechanism of IJN Aircraft Carriers, volume #2, by publisher Kojinsha.


13-312 was flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Zuikaku, Singapore, March 1944.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book Mechanism of IJN Aircraft Carriers, volume #2, by publisher Kojinsha.


652-113 was a Nakajima A6M5 flown by a wingman of Hikokutai 652, early April, 1944, at Japan.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: book FAOW #42, Japanese Imperial Army and Navy Aircraft Color and Marking.


652-117 was a Nakajima A6M5 flown by a wingman of Hikokutai 652, early April, 1944, at Japan.
COLOR PROFILE BASE:  book JAPANESE NAVAL ACES AND FIGHTER UNITS IN WORLD WAR II,
by Ikuhiko Hata and Yasuho Izawa, page 80.


653-13 was a fighter-bomber A6M2 flown by a wingman Kiyoshi Ishikawa, early April, 1944, at Oita air base, Japan.
COLOR PROFILE and INFO CREDIT:  Book SAMOURAI SUR PORTE-AVIONS, Les groups embarqués Japonais et leurs porte-avions,
1922-1944, page 425, by Michel Ledet.


Aircraft carrier IJN Junyo photo #1.
As a result of the reorganization of 15 February 1944, carrier air groups and aircraft carriers were separated.  
Air Group (Koku Sentai) 652 was organized around the former 2nd carrier Division air group:
Junyo (Kokutai 321), Hiyo (Kokutai 322) and Ryuho (Kokutai 323).  


21-125 was a Nakajima built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Junyo, Tawi-Tawi, May 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: book FAOW #42, Japanese Imperial Army and Navy Aircraft Color and Marking, page 17.


22-124 was a Nakajima built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Hiyo, Tawi-Tawi, May 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: book FAOW #42, Japanese Imperial Army and Navy Aircraft Color and Marking, page 17.


23-132 was a Nakajima built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Ryuho, Tawi-Tawi, May 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: book FAOW #42, Japanese Imperial Army and Navy Aircraft Color and Marking, page 17.


Aircraft carrier IJN Chitose photo #1.
As a result of the reorganization of 15 February 1944, carrier air groups and aircraft carriers were separated.  
Air Group (Koku Sentai) 653 was organized around the former 3rd carrier Division air group:
Chitose (Kokutai 331), Chiyoda (Kokutai 332) and Zuiho (Kokutai 333).  


31-107 was a Mitsubishi built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Chitose, Tawi-Tawi, May 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: book FAOW #42, Japanese Imperial Army and Navy Aircraft Color and Marking, page 17.


32-122 was a Mitsubishi built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Chiyoda, Tawi-Tawi, May 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: book FAOW #42, Japanese Imperial Army and Navy Aircraft Color and Marking, page 17.


33-111 was a Nakajima built A6M5 flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Zuiho, Tawi-Tawi, May 1944.
COLOR PROFILE BASE: book FAOW #42, Japanese Imperial Army and Navy Aircraft Color and Marking, page 17.


312-021 was an A6M2 fighter-bomber flown by Lt.Toshio Suzuki (buntaicho) of carrier IJN Zuikaku, during training at Tawi Tawi,
early June, 1944. During the Philippine Sea battle, June 19, 1944, Lt. Suzuki was killed.
COLOR PROFILE and INFO CREDIT:  Book SAMOURAI SUR PORTE-AVIONS, Les groups embarqués Japonais et leurs porte-avions,
1922-1944, page 425, by Michel Ledet.