701st Naval Air Group

The 701st Naval Air Group (第七〇一海軍航空隊, Dai Nana-Maru-Hito Kaigun Kōkūtai) was an aircraft and airbase garrison unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the Pacific campaign of World War II.

701st Naval Air Group
Mitsubishi G4M1 R2-385 of 702nd Attack Squadron in September 1944.
Active	November 1, 1942 – March 15, 1943 February 20, 1944 – postwar.
Country	Empire of Japan
Allegiance	Empire of Japan
Branch	Imperial Japanese Navy
Type	Naval aviation unit
Role	Until 15 March 1943 Bomber, torpedo bomber And after 20 February 1944 Fighter, bomber, torpedo bomber, reconnaissance
Size	48 aircraft (initial)
Part of	22nd Air Flotilla 51st Carrier Division 25th Air Flotilla 5th Air Fleet
Garrison/HQ	Bihoro, Japan Tinian, Marianas Ruot, Kwajalein Atoll Vunakanau, New Britain Toyohashi, Japan Kanoya, Japan Kokubu, Japan
Aircraft flown	G3M Type 96 "Nell" G4M Type 1 "Betty" P1Y Ginga "Frances" D3A Type 99 "Val" D4Y Suisei "Judy" B6N Tenzan "Jill" B5N Type 97 "Kate" A6M Type 0 "Zeke" C6N Saiun "Myrt"
Engagements	World War II New Guinea campaign Battle of Rennell Island Formosa Air Battle Philippines Campaign Battle of Okinawa
Insignia
Identification symbol	M (1942) R2 (February 1944) 01 or 701 (November 1944)

First generation (ex-Mihoro Naval Air Group)

Structure

• Higher unit
  • 22nd Air Flotilla (1 November 1942–15 March 1943, dissolved.)
• Commanding officers
  • Yutaka Yamada[1][2] (1 November 1942–15 March 1943, dissolved.)

Second Generation (ex-Toyohashi Naval Air Group)

Structure

• Higher unit
  • 51st Carrier Division (20 February 1944–14 November 1944)
  • 25th Air Flotilla (15 November 1944–9 February 1945)
  • 5th Air Fleet (10 February 1945–postwar)
• Lower unit
  • 305th Fighter Squadron (20 March 1945–5 May 1945)
  • 311th Fighter Squadron (5 March 1945–24 May 1945)
  • 5th Attack Squadron (5 January 1945–9 February 1945)
  • 102nd Attack Squadron (1 October 1944–9 December 1944)
  • 103rd Attack Squadron (1 October 1944–postwar.)
  • 105th Attack Squadron (10 February 1945–postwar.)
  • 251st Attack Squadron (10 February 1945–19 April 1945)
  • 252nd Attack Squadron (1 October 1944–14 December 1944)
  • 256th Attack Squadron (1 January 1945–9 February 1945)
  • 406th Attack Squadron (25 January 1945–9 February 1945)
  • 702nd Attack Squadron (1 April 1944–9 October 1944)
  • 3rd Reconnaissance Squadron (15 November 1944–9 February 1945)
• Commanding officers
  • Captain Yutaka Yamada (20 February 1944–4 September 1944)
  • Captain Tatsuhiko Kida (5 September 1944–28 May 1945)
  • Captain Yoshio Enoo (29 May 1945–postwar)

Footnotes

1. Heihachi Yoshitake, p. 134.
2. Alumni Association of 705th Naval Air group, p. 61.

Bibliography

• The Japanese Modern Historical Manuscripts Association, Organizations, structures and personnel affairs of the Imperial Japanese Army & Navy, University of Tokyo Press, Tōkyō, Japan, 1971, ISBN 978-4-13-036009-8.
• Bunrin-Dō Co., Ltd., Tōkyō, Japan.
  • Famous airplanes of the world
    • No. 59, Type 1 Attack Bomber, 1996, ISBN 4-89319-056-3.
    • No. 91, Type 96 Attack Bomber, 2001, ISBN 4-893-19089X.
  • Koku-Fan Illustrated No. 42, Japanese Imperial Army & Navy Aircraft Color, Markig, 1988.
• Model Art, Model Art Co. Ltd., Tōkyō, Japan.
  • No. 406, Special issue Camouflage & Markings of Imperial Japanese Navy Bombers in W.W.II, 1993.
  • No. 458, Special issue Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force Suicide Attack Unit "Kamikaze", 1995.
  • No. 553, Special issue I.J.N. Carrier Attack Bomber, 2000.
• Heihachi Yoshitake (One of the members of the Mihoro Naval Air Group), Biography of the Mihoro Naval Air Group, K.K. Art Insatsu, Bihoro, Japan, 1982.
• Alumni Association of the 705th Naval Air group, History of the 705th Naval Air Group, Sougo Insatsu Kougei K.K., Tokyo, Japan, 1985.
• Japan Center for Asian Historical Records (http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/index.html)%5B%5D, National Archives of Japan, Tōkyō, Japan.
  • Reference Code: C08051771200, Transition table of formation of Imperial Japan Navy Air Units (special establishment) during Pacific War, Japan Demobilization Agency, 1949.