Here's a video I recently discovered of the ultimate Aichi seaplane; the Aichi E16A "Zuiun" (Paul).
Actually it's three videos from NARA I stiched together, showing the seaplane first discovered under heavy camouflage by the US 77th Infantry Division on the shores of Ormok Bay on the island of Leyte, then roughly brought to sea getting examined by US soldiers.
Note the Type 97 Mk.1 Drift Sight at 00:47.
The particular seaplane belonged to the 301 Hikotai as indicated by the number "301-02" on the tail. The unit was organised in July 1944 and was assigned to the "Zuiun" Squadron at Yokosuka. It got transferred to the 801st Kokutai in October and advanced to Cavite, Philippines, later that month. While there, it got transferred to the 634th Kokutai in November 1944.
The 634 Kokutai was organised as an unconventional seaplane and carrier-based aircraft unit operating from an aircraft carrier as its mother ship.
During "Operation Ro" (the Bougainville Island Naval Air Battle) in November 1943, the Imperial Japanese Navy's carrier task force (Third Fleet, under Commander-in-Chief Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburō) suffered heavy losses when its carrier-based aircraft were dispatched to land bases.
The Navy, urgently rebuilding the "Kido Butai" (機動部隊, "Mobile Strike Force"), allocated the nine aircraft carriers usable as mobile force carriers into three groups: the First Carrier Division with three aircraft carriers, the Second Carrier Division with two passenger-cargo ship-converted carriers and one light carrier, and the Third Carrier Division with three light carriers. Each group within this First "Kido Butai" was assigned one air group. As the second phase of its rebuilding and reinforcement strategy, the 634th Kokutai was organised as a carrier-based air group operating from the battleship-converted carriers ‘Ise’ and ‘Hyuga’. The aircraft assigned were the "Zuiun" seaplane, which could also serve as a carrier-based dive bomber, and the carrier-based bomber (dive bomber) Yokosuka D4Y "Suisei" (Judy). The "Suisei", lacking seaplane landing capability, was intended for one-way operations: launched from its carrier (aircraft battleship) via catapult, it would land on another carrier or at a land-based airfield.
On May 1, 1944, the 634 Kokutai was established at Kure Airfield, with Iwakuni Airfield as its home base. It operated under the Fourth Air Fleet. Its standard complement was to be 18 "Zuiun" and 18 "Suisei" but by May 12, not a single aircraft was available. The commander of the Fourth Air Fleet, Rear Admiral Matsuda Chiaki, urgently requested from headquarters: ‘For training purposes, unmodified "Suisei" will suffice, but please send them immediately’. Subsequently, training commenced with "Zuiun" at Kure and "Suisei" at Iwakuni (using Aichi D3A "Val" Dive Bombers due to the shortage of actual aircraft).
On May 22, the carrier assignments were finalised: the "Zuiun" unit would be assigned to the Ise (under the direct command of Commander Amaya), and the "Suisei" unit to the Hyuga (under the command of Flight Commander Hideo Emura). On June 15, orders were issued for deployment to Saipan Island. This was later cancelled. While the Fourth Carrier Division and the 634Ku were on standby, the Battle of the Philippine Sea erupted from June 19. Ozawa's "Kido Butai" suffered a major defeat, losing three carriers and the majority of its carrier-based aircraft.
On June 23, catapult launch trials commenced. All launches were successful. "Operation East" was ordered on July 5. The "Zuiun" Squadron advanced to Yokosuka Airfield, and the "Suisei" Squadron to Katori Airfield. Fighter and attack squadrons were incorporated from the 652nd Kokutai, which was disbanded on August 1. Depending on the situation, the Fourth Carrier Division would be assigned to the Second Raiding Force, centred on the Fifth Fleet, serving as the vanguard or escort for the main mobile force.
On October 12, 1944, the Taiwan Air Battle erupted. The "Zuiun" Squadron advanced to Ibusuki Airfield, while the carrier-based aircraft squadron advanced to Kanoya Airfield. Three days later , the "Zuiun" Squadron received orders to return to its original unit. Participation in the "Kido Butai" was considered, but it was decided not to embark the aircraft. On October 19, the two carrier ships of the Fourth Air Fleet, without embarking aircraft from the 634Ku, departed from Beppu Bay as the Ozawa "Kido Butai" bound for the Philippines. They arrived in the Philippines on October 22, and were stationed at Cavite. Thereafter, they engaged in night anti-ship attacks and anti-ship patrols under Operation "Ta".
When the Kamikaze Special Attack Force commenced operations in the Philippines at the end of October, the 634Ku also formed the "Baika" Squadron and ordered special attacks on November 6.
On November 15, the unit was incorporated into the Second Air Fleet. Carrier-based aircraft squadrons disbanded (transferred to the 201st and 701 Kokutai), reconnaissance squadrons reinforced. Thereafter, in addition to its previous night anti-ship attacks, it engaged in bombing San Jose Airfield.
On January 8, 1945, it was transferred to the First Air Fleet. It withdrew to Tung-Kang Airfield in Taiwan. Subsequently, it shifted its base from Tung-Kang to Tamsui Airfield and engaged in patrols near Taiwan and Okinawa.
On March 26, ‘Operation Kikusui No. 1’ was launched. The 634Ku engaged in night anti-ship attacks near Okinawa. Withdrew from Taiwan to the mainland in April. Deployed Reconnaissance Squadrons 301 and 302 to Fukuoka and Kagoshima, using Koniya in the southernmost part of Amami Oshima as a forward base to conduct repeated attacks on Okinawa.
On August 3, incorporated into the Fifth Air Fleet and formed the 32nd Kokutai.
Commanders
Amagai Takahisa, CAPT: 1 May 1944 -
Emura Hideo, LCDR : 15 November 1944 -
立見孝六郎 (Tatami Korokuro?): August 1945 - Disbanded
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