A two-part video today (from here) with some addition I made at the end of the first, featuring specially modified Mitsubishi Ki-67 "Hiryu" (Peggy) bombers of the "Fugaku-tai".
The "Fugaku-tai" unit was organized on October 24, 1944, with 26 members (11 pilots, 15 mechanics) from the Hamamatsu Bombing School, under the command of Maj Nishio. The next day, the unit received their Mitsubishi Ki-67 "Hiryu" (Peggy) bombers at the Kakamigahara Aviation Depot and the following day a departure ceremony was held.
After a brief stop at Chyayi Airfield, Taiwan, the unit arrived to their base, Clark Field, Luzon Island, the Philippines where they begun training and maintenance.
On November 7, five aircraft of the "Fugaku-tai" were ordered to attack enemy naval forces in the waters east of the Philippines, making their first sortie.
On the 11th, they again sortieed east of the Philippines in search of enemy carriers, but returned without locating targets due to poor weather.
On the 13th, as Manila on Luzon Island and the Clark area came under attack by US carrier-based aircraft, the third sortie order was issued and at 17:00, Maj Nishio and three other aircraft departed Malcat Airfield. Around 18:00, approximately 400 km east of Clark, they engaged in aerial combat with about 20 F6Fs whilst locating the enemy naval group. Maj Nishio's aircraft and Sgt. Maj Kunishige's aircraft made a daring dive attack. Sgt. Maj Shimamura, Kunishige's passenger, radioed “Enemy sighted. We are diving in” before being shot down. At this time, a confirmation aircraft verified that Kunishige's aircraft had rammed and sunk a battleship. 1Lt Soga's aircraft and Sgt. Maj Yukiyasu's aircraft returned, awaiting a second attack. Sgt Ito's aircraft returned to Malcat due to engine trouble.
On the 15th, a fourth attack was ordered against the US naval force in the waters south of Mindanao Island but all "Peggys", except one, returned to base without locating their target.
The "Fugaku-tai" unit was organized on October 24, 1944, with 26 members (11 pilots, 15 mechanics) from the Hamamatsu Bombing School, under the command of Maj Nishio. The next day, the unit received their Mitsubishi Ki-67 "Hiryu" (Peggy) bombers at the Kakamigahara Aviation Depot and the following day a departure ceremony was held.
After a brief stop at Chyayi Airfield, Taiwan, the unit arrived to their base, Clark Field, Luzon Island, the Philippines where they begun training and maintenance.
On November 7, five aircraft of the "Fugaku-tai" were ordered to attack enemy naval forces in the waters east of the Philippines, making their first sortie.
On the 11th, they again sortieed east of the Philippines in search of enemy carriers, but returned without locating targets due to poor weather.
On the 13th, as Manila on Luzon Island and the Clark area came under attack by US carrier-based aircraft, the third sortie order was issued and at 17:00, Maj Nishio and three other aircraft departed Malcat Airfield. Around 18:00, approximately 400 km east of Clark, they engaged in aerial combat with about 20 F6Fs whilst locating the enemy naval group. Maj Nishio's aircraft and Sgt. Maj Kunishige's aircraft made a daring dive attack. Sgt. Maj Shimamura, Kunishige's passenger, radioed “Enemy sighted. We are diving in” before being shot down. At this time, a confirmation aircraft verified that Kunishige's aircraft had rammed and sunk a battleship. 1Lt Soga's aircraft and Sgt. Maj Yukiyasu's aircraft returned, awaiting a second attack. Sgt Ito's aircraft returned to Malcat due to engine trouble.
On the 15th, a fourth attack was ordered against the US naval force in the waters south of Mindanao Island but all "Peggys", except one, returned to base without locating their target.
More sorties were carried out on the 25th and 30th, but in both cases the bombers returned without locating the target.
At dawn on December 16, two "Hiryu" took off for the seventh attack, accompanied by four escort fighters. They sought enemy ships south of Mindoro Island but failed to return.
On January 9, 1945, the eighth attack was launched with two aircraft to attack ships in Lingayen Gulf but, failing to find favourable opportunities, returned to base.
The following day, January 10, one "Hiryu" took off solo and plunged into the enemy fleet in Lingayen Gulf.
Subsequently, on the 12th, having received orders for a special attack on enemy vessels in Lingayen Gulf, a single "Hiryu" took off for the tenth attack. As the last aircraft of the "Fugaku-tai", it charged the enemy ships at ultra-low altitude and was destroyed.
On January 9, 1945, the eighth attack was launched with two aircraft to attack ships in Lingayen Gulf but, failing to find favourable opportunities, returned to base.
The following day, January 10, one "Hiryu" took off solo and plunged into the enemy fleet in Lingayen Gulf.
Subsequently, on the 12th, having received orders for a special attack on enemy vessels in Lingayen Gulf, a single "Hiryu" took off for the tenth attack. As the last aircraft of the "Fugaku-tai", it charged the enemy ships at ultra-low altitude and was destroyed.
For a far more detailed and comprehensive account of the unit, I'm afraid you'll have to wait for an "Arawasi" magazine article.
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