#48 - November 1st, 1942 to February 15, 1944

A2-2-152 was flown by a wingman of carrier Junyo.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book Mitsubishi Zero A6M - Graphic Action Series, by BunrinDo Publishing, year 2008.


A1-2-110 was flown by a shotaicho of carrier IJN Zuikaku. Japan, December, 1942.
On the 1st of November 1942 the tail codes and fuselage markings of 3rd Fleet were again revised.
Tail codes for the 1st Carrier Division were:
Shokaku A1-1-xxx with one white fuselage band with red edges.
Zuikaku A1-2-xxx with two white fuselage bands with red edges.
Zuiho A1-3-xxx without fuselage bands.
Tail codes for the 2nd Carrier Division were:
Hiyo A2-1-xxx with one red fuselage band.
Junyo A2-2-xxx with two red fuselage bands.
INFO CREDIT:
a) one color profile of the book FAOW - Famous Airplane of the World # 55.
b) http://www.combinedfleet.com/Zuikak.htm


A1-2-113 was flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Zuikaku. Japan, December, 1942.
INFO CREDIT: one photo of the book FAOW - Famous Airplane of the World # 55.


A1-2-119 was flown by a shotaicho of carrier IJN Zuikaku. Japan, December, 1942.
INFO CREDIT: book Imperial Japanese Navy Aces 1937-45, by Henry Sakaida, Osprey Publishing Limited.


IJN Zuikaku’s B5N2 - photo #1


IJN Zuikaku’s B5N2 - photo #2


IJN Zuikaku’s B5N2 - photo #3


IJN Zuikaku’s B5N2 - photo #4


A2-2-x51 was flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Junyo. Japan, December, 1942.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: one photo of the book FAOW - Famous Airplane of the World #55.


IJN Junyo’s A6M2 code 51 photo #1


IJN Junyo’s A6M2 code 51 photo #2


A2-2-102 was flown by a wingman of carrier Junyo. Truk island, January, 1943.


A2-2-102 photo #1
PHOTO CREDIT: Bill G. Sommerville via www.j-aircraft.com


A2-2-102 photo #2
PHOTO CREDIT: Bill G. Sommerville via www.j-aircraft.com


A2-2-102 photo #3


A2-2-102 photo #4
During the battle of Santa Cruz islands, October 26, 1942, A6M2s Zero of Japanese carriers had a wide yellow IFF stripes on the leading edge.
The order was issued on 13, September, 1942! A few Kasumigahara Kokutai aircraft had tested the red stripe and the yellow stripe versions
prior to the issue of the order. This 1943 photo of Junyo's A6M2 shows clearly this wide yellow IFF stripes.
INFO CREDIT: Mr. Yuichiro and Mr. David Aiken.


A2-2-102 photo #5
PHOTO CREDIT: Bill G. Sommerville via www.j-aircraft.com


A2-2-102 photo #6


A2-2-105 was flown by a wingman of carrier Junyo. Truk island, January, 1943.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book KOKU-FAN # 42 - Japanese Imperial Army & Navy Aircraft Color, Marking, illustrations by Shigeru Nohara. This book shows two vertical blue bands.


A2-2-157 was flown by a wingman of carrier Junyo. Truk island, January, 1943.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT:


A1-1-208 was flown by a wingman of carrier Zuikaku, early 1943


A1-1-221 was flown by a wingman of carrier Zuikaku, early 1943
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book SAMOURAI SUR PORTE-AVIONS


A1-1-233 was flown by a wingman of carrier Zuikaku, early 1943


A1-1-110 was flown by a shotaicho of carrier Zuikaku. Carrier Shokaku was heavily damaged by bombs during Battle of Santa Cruz, October 26, 1942. Arrived at Yokosuka on early November for a long period of extensive repairs and refit and only on July 1943 re-united with her sister ship Zuikaku.
IJN Zuikaku became the flagship and one fuselage band having been over painted. On 29 January, carriers IJN ZUIKAKU and ZUIHO detached 36 fighters to Rabaul to cover evacuation of Guadalcanal. This plane is marked with a single white fuselage band outlined in red. In front of the present band is evidence of an earlier white band having been over painted. Early tail code A1-2-110 was changed to A1-1-110.
INFO CREDIT:
a) one color profile of the book FAOW - Famous Airplane of the World # 55.
b) book A6M ZERO in action, by Shigeru Nohara, Squadron/Signal publications
c) http://www.combinedfleet.com/Zuikak.htm


A1-1-110 and A1-1-113 photo #1
A6M2s Zero from carrier ZUIKAKU are seen at Rabaul during 1943 while helping to cover the withdraw of Japanese troops from Guadalcanal.
INFO CREDIT: book A6M ZERO in action, by Shigeru Nohara, Squadron/Signal publications


A1-1-113 was flown by a wingman of carrier Zuikaku. Rabaul, January 29, 1943.
INFO CREDIT: one photo of the book FAOW - Famous Airplane of the World # 55.


A1-1-119 was flown by a shotaicho of carrier Zuikaku. Rabaul, January 29, 1943.
This A6M2 model 21 was flown by CPO Saburo Saito.
INFO CREDIT: book Imperial Japanese Navy Aces 1937-45, by Henry Sakaida, Osprey Publishing Limited.


A1-1-129 was flown by one officer of carrier Zuikaku. Rabaul, January 29, 1943. This new A6M2 model 21 was flown by WO Shigemi Katsuma. This plane lacked the identification marking of the Zuikaku: a white fuselage stripe with red edges, as they were not yet painted on this new aircraft. WO Shigemi Katsuma was KIA when his plane was shot down and crashed in the Russell Islands. You can read more info and see one photo of this plane at:
INFO CREDIT: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/a6m2/6544.html


A1-3-305 was flown by a wingman of carrier IJN Zuiho. Truk island, March 1943.
Note the absence of the three vertical white bands on fuselage.


A1-1-305 photo #1
PHOTO CREDIT: Nakajima B5N - Famous Airplanes of the World – FAOW, #74, June, year 1976, by Bunrin-do company


A2-1-102 was flown by a wingman of carrier Hiyo. Japan, March, 1943.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book KOKU-FAN # 42 - Japanese Imperial Army & Navy Aircraft Color, Marking, illustrations by Shigeru Nohara. This book shows one vertical blue band.


IJN Shokaku's B5N2 photo #1
After repairs to the damage from the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, Imperial Japanese Navy carrier Shokaku; lands a Type 97 bomber in preparation for continued operations against US naval forces in the south Pacific. Date 18 March 1943.
PHOTO CREDIT: Kure Maritime Museum, Japanese Naval Warship Photo Album: Aircraft carrier and Seaplane Carrier. Editor: Kazushige Todaka, page 64. Author: Shizuo Fukui


IJN Shokaku's B5N2 photo #2
PHOTO CREDIT: Kure Maritime Museum, Japanese Naval Warship Photo Album: Aircraft carrier and Seaplane Carrier. Editor: Kazushige Todaka, page 64. Author: Shizuo Fukui


IJN Shokaku's B5N2 photo #3
PHOTO CREDIT: book Fukui's Japanese Naval Vessels 1860-1945.


IJN Shokaku's B5N2 photo #4
PHOTO CREDIT: book Fukui's Japanese Naval Vessels 1860-1945.


A1-3-101 was flown by a wingman of carrier Zuiho, March 1943.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book SAMOURAI SUR PORTE-AVIONS.


Lt. JG Saneyasu Hidaka photo #1
Lt. JG Hidaka is seen here during March, 1943, at Takeshima airstrip, Truk island.


A1-3-105 was flown by a wingman of carrier Zuiho, March 1943.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book IJN Carrier Fighter A6M Zero


2-1-101 was flown by a buntaicho of carrier Junyo, Lt. JG Keigo Fijiwara. Solomon islands, April, 1943.


2-1-128 was flown by a shotaicho of carrier Junyo. Solomon islands, April, 1943.
In early April 1943, Junyo and Hiyo inverted their position within the 2nd Carrier Division and tail codes were changed too.
On 1st April 1943, IJN JUNYO assigned to contribute aircraft to "I" Operation activated by Commander-in-Chief admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. The vessel itself remains at Truk.
INFO CREDIT: http://www.combinedfleet.com
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book KOKU-FAN # 42 - Japanese Imperial Army & Navy Aircraft Color, Marking, illustrations by Shigeru Nohara.


2-1-128 photo # 1


2-1-128 photo # 2


2-2-135 was flown by a wingman of carrier Hiyo. Solomon islands, April, 1943.
On 1st April 1943, IJN HIYO assigned to contribute aircraft to "I" Operation activated by Commander-in-Chief admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. The vessel itself remains at Truk.
INFO CREDIT: http://www.combinedfleet.com
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book KOKU-FAN # 42 - Japanese Imperial Army & Navy Aircraft Color, Marking, illustrations by Shigeru Nohara.


2-1-202 was flown by a wingman of carrier Junyo, Solomon islands, during I-GO operation, April 1943.
This plane shows two vertical red bands that means when Junyo was second carrier of 2nd division.
Beginning with the I-Go Operation in April 1943, photos indicate that the aircraft of either of the two carrier divisions assigned to
temporary duty in the Solomon islands over painted both the A prefix in their tail codes and the fuselage vertical bands in some aircraft.


2-1-202 photo #1
2-1-202 was flown by a wingman of carrier Junyo. Solomon islands, during I-GO operation, April 1943.


2-1-333 was flown by a wingman of carrier Junyo during I-GO operation, April 1943.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book SAMOURAI SUR PORTE-AVIONS.


2-1-333 photo #1
2-1-333 was flown by a wingman of carrier Junyo during I-GO operation, April 1943.
PHOTO CREDIT: site Rod's warbirds


2-2-103 was flown by a wingman of carrier Hiyo. Solomon islands, April, 1943.
On 1st April 1943, during operation "I-GO", Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto orders aircraft from CarDiv 2's IJN HIYO and the IJN JUNYO
to reinforce the base at Ballale Island, near Buin, Bougainville.
INFO CREDIT: http://www.combinedfleet.com
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book SAMOURAI SUR PORTE-AVIONS - Les groupes embarqués japonais et leurs porte-avions (1922-1944),
by Michel Ledet.


Box art of A6M2 tail code 2-2-103.
BOX ART CREDIT: Hasegawa MODEL KIT #07333 – “MITSUBISHI A6M2b ZERO FIGHTER TYPE 21 "JUNYO FIGHTER GROUP". Scale: 1/48, Estimated number of parts:  69. Markings:  1) IJN Carrier Junyo Fighter Group Code: 2-2-103, April 1943, 2) IJN Carrier Junyo Fighter Group Code: A2-2-102, A2-2-157 October, 1942 - January, 1943, 3) IJN Carrier Hiyo Fighter Group Code: 2-1-128, April 1943.


A1-2-103 was flown by a wingman of carrier Shokaku. Japan, June, 1943.
Throughout this month, IJN Shokaku is in and around the Kure-Tokuyama area. At this time, after a long period of extensive repairs and refit, IJN Zuikaku was the flagship, and Shokaku’s tail code was A1-2-xxx.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: one color profile of the book KOKU-FAN # 42 - Japanese Imperial Army & Navy Aircraft Color, Marking, illustrations by Shigeru Nohara.


A1-2-236 was flown by a wingman of carrier Shokaku. Japan, June, 1943.
On 15 Sept 1943 the 1st Carrier Fleet adopted a new system of tail codes.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: one photo and one color profile of the book FAOW - Famous Airplane of the World # 33.


A2-3-105 was flown by a wingman of carrier Ryuho. Japan, June, 1943.
On 12 June 1943 the Ryuho was posted to the 2nd Carrier Division to replace the damaged Hiyo. The Hiyo Air Group was transferred to the Ryuho. In early July 1943 the 2nd Carrier Division aircraft were sent to Rabaul/Buin and were subsequently transferred to the 26th Air Flotilla on 1 Sept 1943.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book KOKU-FAN # 42 - Japanese Imperial Army & Navy Aircraft Color, Marking, illustrations by Shigeru Nohara. This book shows three vertical blue bands.