Country Empire of Japan Type Naval aviation unit | Branch Imperial Japanese Navy Role Bomber | |
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Active April 1, 1936 – December 1, 1942 Allegiance Axis Powers of World War II | ||
The Kisarazu Naval Air Group (木更津海軍航空隊, Kisarazu Kaigun Kōkūtai) was an aircraft and airbase garrison unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific campaign of World War II.
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History
The Kisarazu Air Group was formed at Kisarazu Air Field, in Kisarazu, Chiba Prefecture Japan on April 1, 1936 as the first land-based bomber group of the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was initially equipped with six Type 96 Yokosuka B4Y biplane attack aircraft, plus two reserve aircraft.
Second Sino-Japanese War operations
With the start of the war in China, the aircraft of the Tateyama Air Group and the Ōminato Air Group were transferred to the Kisarazu Air Group, bringing its combat strength up to twenty operational bombers and six reserve aircraft. Its first combat mission was a bombing of the Nationalist Chinese capital of Nanjing on August 15, 1937. Subsequently, strategic bombing missions were taken against the cities of Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Chongqing, as well as tactical bombing missions in support of advancing Imperial Japanese Army forces. Due to the limited range of the Yokosuka B4Y, the Kisarazu Air Group was forced to deploy from bases in Shanghai and Nanjing.
From August 27, 1937 the Kisarazu Air Group was equipped with Type 95 Nakajima A4N biplane fighters for protection against Chinese fighters; however, this proved unnecessary and the Nakajima fighters were withdrawn on October 10. The Kisarazu Air Group was withdrawn from combat on January 5, 1940.
Pacific War operations
Following its return to its home base at Kisarazu Air Field, the Kisarazu Air Group served as a training unit until March 1942. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the start of hostilities with the United States, it also performed patrol duties protecting the entrance to Tokyo Bay.
From March 1942, the Kisarazu Air Group was re-equipped with Type 1 Mitsubishi G4M bombers, and continued training with the new equipment until the end of August 1942.
On August 22, 1942, a detachment of nineteen Mitsubishi G4M1’s arrived in Rabaul, New Britain, joining elements from the Misawa Naval Air Group and the Fourth Air Group. This combined force bombed American positions at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal on August 25, 1942. On the following mission on August 26, one Mitsubishi G4M1 was damaged by defending USMC Grumman F4F fighters and was forced to ditch in the sea on its return. Another mission against Henderson Field was undertaken on August 29. During a bombing mission against Allied ships near Guadalcanal, the Kisarazu Air Group shared credit for sinking the American destroyer USS Colhoun (DD-85).
On September 2, 1942 nine aircraft each from the Kisarazu and the Misawa Air Groups again bombed Henderson Field, causing little damage and suffering no losses. However, on a subsequent mission on September 12, two aircraft were lost to Allied aircraft and a third was damaged in an emergency landing at Buka. Another aircraft was lost in combat over Guadalcanal on September 21.
The Kisarazu Air Group continued its bombing of Henderson Field and other targets on Guadalcanal on October 14, October 15, October 17 and October 21, with the loss of one more aircraft. On October 25, the Kisarazu Air Group flew its final combat mission, losing one more aircraft. On November 1, 1942, the remainder of the unit was re-designated as the 707th Naval Air Group (第七〇七海軍航空隊, Dai Nana-Maru-Nana Kaigun Kōkūtai), one month later, all aircraft and airmen were moved to the 705th Naval Air Group.