#52 - July, 10th, 1944 to November, 15th, 1944

After the Battle of the Philippines Sea, 19 and 20 June, 1944, only 35 aircraft survived on carriers of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Division:
17 A6M5, 9 A6M2, 5 B6N2, 2 B5N2 and 2 D4Y1.  This photo dated August, 1944, shows D3A2 and A6M2
of 653rd Kokutai on carrier IJN Zuikaku for training.
After the battle of the Marianas, Japanese Navy did a reorganization on July 10, 1944. Remaining flight personnel of
652nd and 601st Kokutai were absorbed in 653rd Kokutai.  The 653rd Kokutai was the nucleus of the carrier force.
Its base for training was Oita air base. Only by September that 653rd Kokutai had reached a level for carrier takeoff and
landing operations. 653rd Kokutai had this organization:
164th Fighter Squadron, 165th Fighter Squadron, 166th Fighter-bomber Squadron and 263rd Attack Squadron.


653-22 was a B6N2 model 12 carrier attack bomber flown by a wingman of 653rd kokutai, September 1944
at Oita Naval training air base.


653-22 photo #1


653-02 was a Nakajima built A6M5a flown by a wingman of 653rd kokutai, 164th hikotai, September 1944 at Oita Naval Training Air Base.


653-08 was a Mitsubishi built A6M5b flown by a wingman of 653rd kokutai, 164th hikotai, September 1944 at Oita Naval Training Air Base.


653-28 was a Mitsubishi built A6M5b flown by a wingman of 653rd kokutai, 164th hikotai, September 1944 at Oita Naval Training Air Base.


653-28 photo #1


653-28 photo #2


653-28 photo #3


653-28 photo #4


653-42 was a Mitsubishi built A6M5b flown by a wingman of 653rd kokutai, 164th hikotai, September 1944 at Oita Naval Training Air Base.


653-45 was a Mitsubishi built A6M5b flown by a wingman of 653rd kokutai, 164th hikotai, September 1944 at Oita Naval Training Air Base.


653-45 photo #1


653-105 was a Nakajima built A6M5b flown by a wingman of 653rd kokutai, 165th hikotai, September 1944 at Oita Naval Training Air Base.
INFO CREDIT: book JAPANESE NAVAL ACES AND FIGHTER UNITS IN WORLD WAR II, by Ikuhiko Hata and Yasuho Izawa.


653-105 photo


653-111 was a Nakajima built A6M5b flown by a wingman of 653rd kokutai, 165th hikotai, September 1944 at Oita Naval Training Air Base.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book KOKU-FAN # 42 - Japanese Imperial Army & Navy Aircraft Color, Marking, illustrations by Shigeru Nohara


653-111 photo


653-116 was a Nakajima built A6M5b flown by a wingman of 653rd kokutai, 165th hikotai, September 1944 at Oita Naval Training Air Base.
INFO CREDIT:  one photo from the book KOKU-FAN #38 – Japanese Imperial Navy Aircraft. Publisher: Bunrin-Do Ltd.


653-117 was a Nakajima built A6M5b flown by a wingman of 653rd kokutai, 165th hikotai, September 1944 at Oita Naval Training Air Base.
INFO CREDIT:  one photo from the book KOKU-FAN #38 – Japanese Imperial Navy Aircraft. Publisher: Bunrin-Do Ltd.


653-141 was a Mitsubishi built A6M5a flown by a wingman of 653rd kokutai, 165th hikotai, September 1944 at Oita Naval Training Air Base.


653-182 was a Mitsubishi built A6M5b flown by a wingman of 653rd kokutai, 165th hikotai, September 1944 at Oita Naval Training Air Base.


653-182 photo #1


653-58 was a Mitsubishi built A6M5b flown by CPO Kanae Okuda of 653rd kokutai, 166th hikotai, September-October 1944
at Oita Naval Training Air Base.


653-58 Hasegawa's aviation art


653-67 was a Mitsubishi built A6M5b flown by Yoshinobu Miura of 653rd kokutai, 166th hikotai, September-October 1944
at Oita Naval Training Air Base.


653-67 Hasegawa's box art.


653-67 Hasegawa's model kit
Hasegawa 09428 Mitsubishi A6M5b Zero Fighter Type 52 Otsu "166th Fighter Squadron" 1/48 scale kit


653-207 was flown by a wingman of 653rd kokutai, 166th hikotai, September 1944 at Oita Naval Training Air Base.
This is one A6M5 modified to fighter bomber role.


653-207 photo


653-207 Hasegawa's box art


653-222 was flown by a wingman of 653rd kokutai, 166th hikotai, September 1944 at Oita Naval Training Air Base.
This is one A6M5 modified to fighter bomber role.
COLOR PROFILE CREDIT: book KOKU-FAN # 42 - Japanese Imperial Army & Navy Aircraft Color, Marking,
illustrations by Shigeru Nohara


653-222 photo #1


653-12 was a B6N2 Model 12 flown by a wingman of IJN Zuikaku, 653rd kokutai, later September 1944, for a film clip.


653-12 photo


653-331 was a B6N2 Model 12 flown by a wingman of IJN Zuikaku, 653rd kokutai, later September 1944, for a film clip.


653-331 photo


653-32 was a B6N2 Model 12 flown by a wingman of IJN Zuikaku, 653rd kokutai, later September 1944, for a film clip.


653-32 photo


653-33 was a B6N2 Model 12 flown by a wingman of IJN Zuikaku, 653rd kokutai, later September 1944, for a film clip.


653-33 photo #1


653-33 photo #2


653-37 was a B6N2 Model 12 flown by a wingman of IJN Zuikaku, 653rd kokutai, later September 1944, for a film clip.


653-45 was a B6N2 Model 12 flown by a wingman of IJN Zuikaku, 653rd kokutai, later September 1944, for a film clip.


653-46 was a B6N2 Model 12 flown by a wingman of IJN Zuikaku, 653rd kokutai, later September 1944, for a film clip.


653-46 photo


653-51 was a B6N2 Model 12 flown by a wingman of IJN Zuikaku, 653rd kokutai, later September 1944, for a film clip.


653-51 photo #1


653-51 photo #2


B6N2 taking off from carrier IJN Zuikaku.
In looking at her TROM, Zuikaku entered the yard for repairs after the Phillipine Sea from July 14th thru
August 2nd, 1944. It seems self evident that both repairs and camouflage was applied at this time and
that flight training would have to resume AFTER this period. Most of us have seen the film clip of the B6N2 taking off
from Zuikaku in the Inland Sea that summer. A portion can be seen on YouTube:  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9uI8400GTM


653-288 was a D4Y2 Model 12 flown by a wingman of 653rd kokutai, 263rd hikotai, Taiwan island, October 1944.


653-288 photo #1


653-292 was a D4Y2 Model 12 flown by a wingman of 653rd kokutai, 263rd hikotai, Taiwan island, October 1944.


653-292 photo #1