Help with 343rd Kokutai war diaries

[CHen10]

I found the 343rd kokutai's war diary for April 1945 but I can't find 22 June 1945 or 8 August 1945. On 22 June 1945 the 343rd kokutai claimed 7 F4Us over Okinawa while on 8 August 1945 the 343rd kokutai claimed 6 P-47s/P-51s over Yawata, Kitakyushu. I want to find the war diary entries for these days so I can see which pilots made the claims.

I found this war diary and wondered if people have the diary for the days I mentioned above.

It will be something like this:

[Data in English is under preparation]第３４３海軍航空隊戦闘詳報第５号　昭和２０年４月１２日奄美大島・喜界島索敵攻撃　（戦闘第７０１飛行隊・戦闘第３０１飛行隊）

 

[Shinpachi]

Yes, the combat log for the 343-ku at JACAR is limited from January 1, 1944 to June 3, 1945 only.

Japan Center for Asian Historical Records, National Archives of Japan

 

[CHen10]

Are the war diaries anywhere online or do you know who made the victory claims that day?

I have these claims:

22 June 1945:
7 F4Us claimed by N1K2-J
2 F4Us went down
-Kanno Naoshi - 1 F4U - Probably one of the two F4Us that went missing

8 August 1945
6 P-47s/P-51s claimed by N1K2-J
4 P-47Ns shot down by N1K2-J
1 P-47N crashed due to engine failure
-Nakao Hideo - 1 P-51 (Actually a P-47) - One of the four P-47Ns that was shot down over Yawata that day

 

[Shinpachi]

War History Series Vol.17 says -
"On June 22, 50 Shiden(N1K1-J) took off at 09:00 to control the sky of Kikai-jima to escort attackers coming back. Shot down 7 enemies. Lost 5. Source: Admiral Teraoka's diary "

 

[Shinpachi]

Commander of the 343-ku Minoru Genda writes in his book "Story of IJN Air Corps (海軍航空隊始末記)" -
"On August 8, we intercepted almost 300 enemies with our 24 but I have nothing to comment on this combat in particular."

 

[CHen10]

War History Series Vol.17 says -
"On June 22, 50 Shiden(N1K1-J) took off at 09:00 to control the sky of Kikai-jima to escort attackers coming back. Shot down 7 enemies. Lost 5. Source: Admiral Teraoka's diary "

View attachment 775577

Are you sure it says N1K1? I'm pretty sure they were N1K2s.

These two images are very interesting. Thanks

 

[Shinpachi]

It says Shiden, not Shiden-kai

 

[CHen10]

Yeah it does say Shiden which is strange. Every book I've read that describes this encounter mentions Shiden-Kais whether it's "Genda's Blade" by Henry Sakaida or "J2M/N1K aces" by Yasuho Izawa. So would you say that the report you have is more accurate than those books I mentioned?

 

[Shinpachi]

Shiden = Shiden Model 11.
Shiden-kai = Shiden Model 21 + later experimental models.
It was not wrong to call Shiden-kai as Shiden on the diary.

Production:
Shiden : 1,007
Shiden-kai : 415

 

[CHen10]

I guess it makes sense to refer to the Shiden-Kai as just Shiden.

Also do you have similar documents for the 203rd Kokutai on 10 July 1945? It seems those documents aren't on Jacar either.

 

[SaparotRob]

Anyone remember the old tv commercial for the Yellow pages phone book? "If it's out there, it's in here."


View: https://youtu.be/VgkDBjGhNc0

I'm sure if there is any information on the 203 Kokutai out there, it's in here.

 

[CHen10]

Laugh Anyone remember the old tv commercial for the Yellow pages phone book? "If it's out there, it's in here."


View: https://youtu.be/VgkDBjGhNc0

I'm sure if there is any information on the 203 Kokutai out there, it's in here.

For some reason, the thumbnail picture reminds me of Nice in Nice by The Stranglers

 

[Shinpachi]

Also do you have similar documents for the 203rd Kokutai on 10 July 1945? It seems those documents aren't on Jacar either.

No, I do not have them of the day. However, as far as I have checked main war events in Japan on July 10, 1945

B-29s attacked Osaka/Sakai and Sendai Cities.

35 B-24, 34 B-25, 70 small planes and 2 PBM in Okinawa attacked Kyusyu area widely from 11:40 to 13:50
There were no Japanese fighters in service but patrol planes on the day.

 

[CHen10]

Yeah I couldn't find any Japanese fighter claims that day either, but I did find this information by Fukubayashi Toru:

Jul. 10, 1945, P-47 (507FG, 464SQ) crashed offshore Amami-Oshima, Island Kagoshima- ken.
Maj. Frank J. COLLINS got out of the plane and was drifting in a rubber raft. He was taken prisoner in Tokuno-shima Island.

Jul. 10, 1945, Japanese fighters attacked P-47 (507FG, 464SQ) while it was supporting the rescue operation for Maj. COLLINS (see above), and crashed in the sea near Amami-Oshima, Kagoshima-ken.
F/O Neal T. McGINNIS was killed.


Do you know who the "Japanese fighters" were?

 

[Shinpachi]

Those Japanese fighters may be Japanese garrison.
According to the history of Amami-Oshima Island,

"Amami Oshima was subject to heavy air raids by the US Forces many times between March 1945 and July 10, 1945. On the 10th, 67 P47 fighters attacked the island three times. They targeted Japanese military positions and villages located around the Oshima Strait. The Japanese side fought back fiercely and shot down 10 U.S. planes."

Source: 日本の為に戦ってくれた英霊を忘れない 奄美大島

 

[Shinpachi]

Maj. Frank J. COLLINS was shot down by IJN Amami-Oshima Garrison and captured by IJA MP on July 10, 1945.
Interrogation report is available in JACAR with Ref. Code C11110240100

 

[CHen10]

That makes sense. When it said Japanese fighters I assumed it meant aircraft but now it's clear it meant garrison.