The short video today features a Nakajima J1N "Gekko" (Irving) found in Kanoya by US forces at the end of the war. The tail marking "141-59" indicates that it belonged to the little-known 141 Kokutai. It is most probably a J1N1-Sa late Model 11; unfortunately the presence or absence of downward firing cannons under the fuselage cannot be confirmed.
Unit history from the Japanese Wiki:
The 141st Kokutai was the main reconnaissance unit for the defense of the Philippines and engaged in patrol and enemy search operations during the final stages of the Pacific War.
History
From February to March 1944, the Navy successively formed several aviation units with the aim of strengthening its base aviation forces and incorporated them into the 62nd Sentai of the First Air Fleet. On May 5, these aviation units were transferred to the Combined Fleet in order to train them as powerful attack units. On June 15th, they were incorporated into the newly formed Second Air Fleet and underwent training without being deployed in Operation A. [Operation A (1944) - A plan devised by the Navy in 1944 to intercept the American fleet in the Mariana Islands area.]
Following the failure of Operation A, they were reorganized for deployment to the Philippine theater, and the 322nd Kokutai was absorbed into the 141st Kokutai.
The 141Ku was established on March 15, 1944, based at Oita Airfield as part of the Mie Kokutai. It was designated as a reconnaissance squadron with a strength of 24 aircraft and bore the code name “Akatsuki Butai” (Dawn Unit).
The main aircraft type was the reconnaissance variant of the "Suisei" [Yokosuka D4Y (Judy)] but many records also mention the bomber variant of the "Suisei" so it is unclear whether both variants were actually used interchangeably. It was soon reorganized into the Kogeki 3rd Hikotai (Attack Flight) and the Teisatsu 4th Hikotai (Reconnaissance Flight). The authorized strength for both squadrons was set at 24 aircraft, effectively doubling the total authorized strength; however, each squadron maintained only 11 aircraft, falling short of even the original authorized strength.
On July 10, 1944, as part of a reorganization, the 322nd Kokutai was disbanded, and the Sento 804 Hikotai (Fighter Squadron)—a night fighter unit that had belonged to that group—was incorporated into the 141Ku. The "Gekko", which served as the main aircraft, had been designed as a land-based reconnaissance aircraft, so it continued to be used without issue even after the transfer. Positioned as the main reconnaissance unit of the 6th Kichi Koku Butai (Base Air Force?), which had jurisdiction over the Taiwan area, the unit gradually advanced into the Kyushu region. As of September 1, eight aircraft from the 804th Hikotai had reached Hsinchu, while the remainder were deployed at Kanoya Airfield and Kushira Airfield. Eight aircraft from Reconnaissance Squadron No. 3 advanced to Kanoya. Reconnaissance Squadron No. 4, which was the slowest to advance, also dispatched three aircraft to the Army’s Miyakonojo Airfield.
1944
October 11: Enemy task forces approached the Ryukyu Islands. All aircraft from the dispatched units, including 804 Hikotai, conducted search-and-destroy operations.
October 13: One aircraft was dispatched to Okinawa’s Oroku Airfield. The situation escalated into the Offshore Taiwan Air Battle, and the unit engaged in search-and-destroy operations.
October 22: "Operation Sho-1"* was launched. Six aircraft were dispatched to Luzon Island’s Nichols Airfield.
October 24: The general air offensive began; the unit engaged in search-and-destroy operations but did not encounter the enemy. Search operations continued on the following day, the 25th, but again no enemy was encountered.
After this, the unit operated from Nichols Airfield as its base in various locations. Many sources document that the 141Ku conducted reconnaissance missions to assess enemy conditions in the Mariana Islands and Ulithi Atoll. Furthermore, reinforcements continued to be dispatched. The "Gekko" Unit did not engage in night combat but was tasked with surprise attacks and bombing raids against enemy forces. By November 28, the operational aircraft of the 141Ku had been reduced to two carrier-based reconnaissance aircraft ["Suisei"?] and twelve "Gekko" aircraft.
1945
January 8: Transferred to the 1st Koku Kantai (Air Fleet) to evacuate the personnel. Began the withdrawal to Taiwan the following day.
February 5: Reorganization of the 1st Koku Kantai. Personnel not selected for the newly formed 132nd Kokutai underwent training with the 26th Sentai.
May 8: Detached from the 1st Koku Kantai; while remaining stationed in Taiwan, the unit was transferred to the Southwest Area Fleet and engaged in ground combat training.
Of the 10 months from its formation to its disbandment, the unit was able to engage in operations for only the first three months. It was disbanded upon the end of the war. Ground personnel did not withdraw to Taiwan but remained in the Philippines and became ground combat personnel and devoted themselves exclusively to defending the Army’s Clark Airfield under the command of the Army’s 2nd Tank Division Commander Nakamura Nenosuke, who remained in the area rather than withdrawing. Pilots who withdrew to Taiwan, lacking both a command headquarters and aircraft, spent their time solely on ground combat training.
Based on the above, the presence of the "Gekko" in Kanoya at the end of the war is a small mystery.
*"Operation Sho-Go" was a plan devised by the Japanese Army and Navy during World War II to intercept enemy forces using base air units in the Philippines, Taiwan, and mainland Japan. The operations were numbered from No. 1 to No. 4 depending on the area of the main battle, and Operation Sho-Go No. 1 was launched on October 18, 1944, in response to the American invasion of Leyte Island.
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