Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service(IJNAS) (Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun Koku Hombu)
Ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Active	1869-1947
Country	Empire of Japan
Allegiance	Empire of Japan
Type	Air service
Battles/wars	Sino-Japanese War Russo-Japanese War World War I World War II
Commanders
Notable commanders	Saburo Sakai

The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service or Dai Nippon Teikoku Kaigun Koku Hombu was a major force in the Pacific War during World War II. The Japanese military acquired their first aircraft in 1910 and followed the development of air combat during World War I with great interest. They initially procured European aircraft but quickly built their own and launched themselves onto an ambitious aircraft carrier building program. They launched the world's first purpose-built aircraft carrier, the Hōshō, in 1922. Afterwards they embarked on a conversion program of several excess battlecruisers and battleships into aircraft carriers. The IJN Air Service had the mission of national air defence, deep strike, naval warfare etc. It retained this mission to the end. Image File history File links Naval_Ensign_of_Japan. ... Ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces Ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy is the ensign of IJN and is also presently the ensign of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and a prominent symbol of Japanese nationalism and expansion during World War 2 Showa period... The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ), or JMSDF, is the maritime branch of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan and formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II.[1] The force is based strictly on defensive armament, largely lacking... 1869 (MDCCCLXIX) is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Anthem: Kimi Ga Yo Imperial Reign Slogan: Fukoku Kyohei Enrich the Country, Strengthen the Military Imperial Japan at its fullest extent during World War II Capital Tokyo Government Constitutional monarchy Emperor  - 1852-1912 Emperor Meiji  - 1912-1926 Emperor Taishō  - 1926-1989 Emperor Shōwa Prime Minister (many other Prime Ministers... An Air force is a military or armed service that primarily conducts aerial warfare. ... Combatants Qing Empire (China) Empire of Japan Commanders Li Hongzhang Yamagata Aritomo Strength 630,000 men Beiyang Army, Beiyang Fleet 240,000 men Imperial Japanese Army, Imperial Japanese Navy Casualties 35,000 dead or wounded 13,823 dead, 3,973 wounded The First Sino–Japanese War (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Japanese... Combatants Imperial Russia Empire of Japan Commanders N/A N/A Strength 500,000 Soldiers 400,000 Soldiers Casualties 134,817+ KIA/POW, 170,000 MIA etc. ... Combatants Allied Powers: Russian Empire France British Empire Italy United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary German Empire Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Commanders Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Ferdinand Foch Herbert Henry Asquith Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Armando Diaz Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Franz... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000,000 Total dead: 50,000,000 Military dead: 8,000,000 Civilian dead: 4,000,000 Total dead 12,000,000 World War II (abbreviated WWII), or the Second World War, was a worldwide conflict... PO2/c Sakai in the cockpit of a Mitsubishi A5M Type 96 fighter (Hankow airfield, China in 1939). ... The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) (: 大日本帝國海軍 Shinjitai: 大日本帝国海軍   or 日本海軍 Nippon Kaigun), officially Navy of Empire of Greater Japan, also known as the Japanese Navy or Combined Fleet was the Navy of Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japans constitutional renunciation of the use of force... Combatants Republic of China U.S.A. (from 1941) U.K. (from 1941) Australia (1941) Netherlands (1941) New Zealand (1941) Canada (1941) U.S.S.R. (from 1945) Empire of Japan Commanders Chiang Kai-shek, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Josef Stalin (from 1945) Hideki Tojo The Pacific War was... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000,000 Total dead: 50,000,000 Military dead: 8,000,000 Civilian dead: 4,000,000 Total dead 12,000,000 World War II (abbreviated WWII), or the Second World War, was a worldwide conflict... Combatants Allied Powers: Russian Empire France British Empire Italy United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary German Empire Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Commanders Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Ferdinand Foch Herbert Henry Asquith Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Armando Diaz Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Franz... This page refers to the Japanese aircraft carrier. ...

The Japanese pilot training program was very selective and rigorous, producing a high-quality and long-serving pilot corps, called the Kokutai, who ruled the air in the Pacific during early World War II. However, this program, and a shortage of gasoline for training, did not allow the Navy to rapidly replace lost pilots with quality and timely replacements. The resultant decrease in pilot quality, among other factors, resulted in increasing casualties toward the end of the war. The Air Service was controlled by the Navy Staff of the Imperial Japanese Navy and the Navy Ministry. The Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff or Gunreibo Socho, was in charge of Imperial Japanese Navy planning and operations. ... The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) (: 大日本帝國海軍 Shinjitai: 大日本帝国海軍   or 日本海軍 Nippon Kaigun), officially Navy of Empire of Greater Japan, also known as the Japanese Navy or Combined Fleet was the Navy of Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japans constitutional renunciation of the use of force... The Japanese Naval Ministry was established at the end of the 19th century, along with the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). ...

The Japanese Navy Air Service as equal in functions to British Royal Navy Air Service Fleet Air Arm(FAA),American U.S Navy air branch and Italian Regia Marina air unit (Aviazione Ausiliara per la Marina) in wartimes. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... The Fleet Air Arm is the operational group of the Royal Navy responsible for the operation of the aircraft on board their ships. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... The Italian Regia Marina (literally: Royal Navy) dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification. ... The Aviazione Ausiliara per la Marina (A.A.M.) (Italian Navy Air Service) was the air section of Italian Navy during World War Two. ...

1st Air Fleet/Carrier Air Corps

Main article: 1st Air Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy

Planes from the Japanese aircraft carrier Shokaku preparing the attack on Pearl Harbor.

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The elite of the pilots were the carrier-based Air Corps (kokutai, later called koku sentai) whose size (from a handful to 80 or 90 aircraft) was dependent on both the mission and type of aircraft carrier that they were on. The large fleet carriers had three types of aircraft; fighters, level bombers/torpedo planes, and dive bombers. While the smaller carriers tended to have only two types of aircraft; fighters and dive bombers. The carrier-based kokutai numbered over 1500 pilots with over 1500 aircraft at the beginning of the Pacific War. Ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 1st Air Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy, also known as 1st Air Squadron, 1st Naval Air Fleet and 1st Carrier Air Corps was a air fleet in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service. ... From U.S. Naval Historical Center Public Domain Photographs [1] Japanese naval aircraft prepare to take off from an aircraft carrier (reportedly Shokaku) to attack Pearl Harbor during the morning of 7 December 1941. ... From U.S. Naval Historical Center Public Domain Photographs [1] Japanese naval aircraft prepare to take off from an aircraft carrier (reportedly Shokaku) to attack Pearl Harbor during the morning of 7 December 1941. ... Shokaku (Japanese: 翔鶴 shōkaku meaning flying crane) was an aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the lead ship of her class. ... Combatants United States Empire of Japan Commanders Husband Kimmel (USN), Walter Short (USA) Chuichi Nagumo (IJN), Mitsuo Fuchida (IJNAS), Shigekazu Shimazaki (IJNAS) Strength 8 battleships, 8 cruisers, 29 destroyers, 9 submarines, ~50 other ships, ~390 planes 6 aircraft carriers, 9 destroyers, 2 battleships, 2 heavy cruisers, 1 light cruiser, 8...

11th Air Fleet/Land Based Air Fleets

The IJN also maintained a shore-based system of air fleets called Koku Kantai and Area Air Fleets called homen kantai containing mostly twin engine bombers and seaplanes. The controlling unit was the 11th Air Fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Nihizo Tsukuhuru.

Strength

Each Air Fleet contained one or more Air Flotillas (commanded by Rear Admirals) each with two or more Air Groups. Each Air Group consisted of a base unit and 12 to 36 aircraft, plus 4 to 12 aircraft in reserve. Each Air Group consisted of several Air Divisions or hikotai of 9, 12 or 16 aircraft; this was the main IJN Air Service combat unit and was equivalent to the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service's Air Company. Each hikotai was commanded by a junior lieutenant or Warrant Officer or an experienced Chief Petty Officer, while most pilots were non commissioned officers. There were usually for sections in each division, each section or shotai had 3 or 4 aircraft and by mid 1944 it was common for a shotai to have 4 aircraft. There were over 90 Air Groups at the start of the Pacific War and each was assigned either a name or a number. The named Air Groups were usually linked to a particular navy air command or a navy base. They were usually numbered when they left Japan. The Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (more traditionally called the Japanese Army Air Force) was Imperial Japans land-based aviation force. ...

Imperial Japanese Military

Administration Imperial General Headquarters Components Imperial Japanese Navy (Dai Nippon Teikoku Kaigun)         Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service     Major battles     List of ships     List of aircrafts     Main admirals Imperial Japanese Army (Dai Nippon Teikoku Rikugun)         Imperial Japanese Army Air Service         Railways and Shipping Section     Uniforms Rank insignia Naval rank insignia Army rank insignia History of the Japanese Military Military History of Japan during World War II

The Imperial Japanese Army (大日本帝國陸軍 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun) was the official armed force of Japan from 1867 to 1945. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan_-_variant. ... The Imperial General Headquarters or Daihonei, as part of the Supreme War Council was the supreme command for Japanese military forces during the World War II era. ... Image File history File links Naval_Ensign_of_Japan. ... The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) (: 大日本帝國海軍 Shinjitai: 大日本帝国海軍   or 日本海軍 Nippon Kaigun), officially Navy of Empire of Greater Japan, also known as the Japanese Navy or Combined Fleet was the Navy of Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japans constitutional renunciation of the use of force... Boshin War (1868-1869): Naval Battle of Hakodate (Imperial Navy victory over the remnants of the Shoguns Navy of the Republic of Ezo. ... This is the list of ships of Japans medieval Navy, the Imperial Japanese Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. ... This is the list of aircrafts of the Imperial Japanese Navy and the Japan Self-Defence Forces, including ones in the past and ones in the present time. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The Imperial Japanese Army (: 大日本帝國陸軍 Shinjitai: 大日本帝国陸軍 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun) was the official ground based armed force of Japan from 1867 to 1945 when it was Imperial Japan. ... The Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (more traditionally called the Japanese Army Air Force) was Imperial Japans land-based aviation force. ... The Japanese Army Railway and Shipping Section was the logistics unit charged with shipping personnel, materiel and equipment from metropolitan Japan to the combat front overseas. ... Imperial Japanese Army Uniforms tended to reflect the uniforms of those countries who were the principal advisors to the Imperial Japanese Army at the that time. ... The following graphs present the rank insignia of the Japanese navy during World War II. These designs had been used between the years 1931 to 1945, but were discontinued after World War II, when the Imperial navy had been dissolved. ... The following graphs present the rank insignia of the Japanese military during World War II. These designs had been used between the years 1938 to 1945, but were discontinued after World War II, when the Imperial military had been dissolved. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

Air Group identification

• Air Groups 200 to 399 - Fighter groups.
• Air Groups 400 to 499 - Float planes
• Air Groups 600 to 699 - mixed aircraft types.

Aircraft strength 1941

The IJN had over 3,089 aircraft in 1941 and 370 trainers.

• 1,830 first line aircraft including the following:
  • 660 fighters, mostly Mitsubishi Zeros
  • 330 Carrier based strike aircraft
  • 240 twin engined bombers
  • 520 seaplanes, and flying boats.

Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero Model 52 The Mitsubishi A6M was a light-weight carrier-based fighter aircraft employed by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945. ... A DeHavilland Single Otter floatplane in Harbour Air livery A seaplane is an aircraft designed to take off and land on water. ... Boeing 314 A flying boat is an aircraft that is designed to take off and land on water, in particular a type of seaplane which uses its fuselage as a floating hull (instead of pontoons mounted below the fuselage). ...

IJNAS vs US first encounter (1932)

• During the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1932 Lt Robert Short (US Army Reservist) while piloting a Boeing 218 with Chinese markings shot down at least 2 IJNAS aircraft before he was killed in action. See link on January 28 Incident to Lt. Robert Short.

Combatants Republic of China Empire of Japan Commanders Chiang Kai-shek, Chen Cheng, Yan Xishan, Feng Yuxiang, Li Zongren, Xue Yue, Mao Zedong. ... Combatants Republic of China, 19th Route Army, 5th Army Empire of Japan, Imperial Japanese Army, 2nd Independent Tank Company, Shanghai Expeditionary Force Commanders 19th Route Army: Jiang Guangnai (Chinese: 蔣光鼐), 5th Army: Zhang Zhizhong (Chinese: 張治中) Commander: Yoshinori Shirakawa (Japanese: 白川義則), Chief of staff: Kanichiro Tashiro (Japanese: 田代皖一郎) Strength 50,000 90,000 Casualties...

See also

• List of military aircraft of Japan
• Imperial Japanese Navy Aviation Bureau
• Organization of Japanese Navy Air Service (WWII)
• List of Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force Service personnel (WWII)
• List of Japanese Carrier Aircraft (WW2)
• List of Japanese carriers and land air corps equipped with the Mitsubishi Zero
• List of Japanese Navy Air Force aces (Mitsubishi A6M)
• Daitai Transport Unit
• List of radar models of the Imperial Japanese Navy
• List of bombs used by the Imperial Japanese Navy
• List of weapons on Japanese combat aircraft
• List of Aircraft engines in use of Japanese Navy Air Force
• List of foreign aircraft captured by Japanese forces in WW2
• List of Japanese Navy Air Force Trainer aircrafts(WW2)
• Japanese marine paratroopers of World War II
• Giretsu special forces operations
• WWII Battle of Japan (Air War)

This list of military aircraft of Japan includes prototype, pre-production and operational types regardless of era. ... The Imperial Japanese Navy Aviation Bureau of the Ministry of the Navy of Japan was responsible for the development and training of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This is a list of Imperial Japanese Navy and Air Force service personnel of the Naval Aviation Bureau during World War II. // Eikitchi Katagiri: Chief of Naval Aviation Bureau Kazume Kinsei: Higth Ranking Officer of Naval Aviation Bureau. ... This if a list of Japanese Carrier Aircraft designs during World War Two,why if used in Japanese Navy Great Main Carriers amongst Japanese Army Scort Carriers during wartimes. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This is a list of Imperial Navy Air aces flying the Mitsubishi Zero fighter during the Pacific War. ... Japanese Navy Air Service Daitai Unit was an Imperial Japanese Navy Air transport section with mission to transport personnel,weapons and equipment to Japanese occupied territoires or to a combat front in wartimes. ... A list of electronic warfare of Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II // Land-Based Radar Type 2 Mark 1 Model 1 Eary Warning Radar (11-Go Eary Warning Radar) Type 2 Mark 1 Model 1 Modify 1 Eary Warning Radar (11-Go Model 1 Eary Warning Radar) Type 2... Aerial bombs in use between Japanese Navy(WW II) Type 3 No. ... This is a list of offensive/defensive weapons aboard Japanese combat aircraft (fighters, bombers, reconnaissance, etc) in use by the Japanese Army and Japanese Navy Air Services. ... If a list of Aircraft engines in use of Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force during World War II // In this list I included all engines provided from Axis and allied powers, acquired before the conflict or captured through wartime. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with List of Japanese trainer aircraft during World War II. (Discuss) It is a list of Japanese Navy Air Force Trainer aircraft during WW2. ... The Imperial Japanese Navy fielded marine paratroopers during World War II. The troops were officially part of the Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF or Rikusentai), the navys marine corps. ... The Imperial Japanese Army Giretsu special forces unit was active in 1944 and 1945. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Japan campaign. ...

External links

• http://www.combinedfleet.com/kaigun.htm (see the section of Japanese Navy Aircraft)
• http://www.warbirdpix.com/ (link with somes photos of Axis Aircraft (German, Italian and Japanese Army and Navy)
• http://www.j-aircraft.org/xplanes/ (about advanced Japanese Army and Navy aircraft)
• http://uk.geocities.com/sadakichi09/ (over Japanese Navy and Army armaments, vehicles, Aircraft, electronic warfare and somes local special Japanese weapon technology )
• http://www.j-aircraft.com/captured/ (somes captured aircraft or aircraft in evaluations)
• http://www.j-aircraft.com/ (general resources of Japanese aircraft)