The real combat history of the Ki-43

[Wild_Bill_Kelso]

(Shrug) The author Hiroshi Ichimura says, on page 44 quoting directly: "It was the 204th Sentai's turn to 'mix it' with the RAF on 21 February, when it's pilots claimed to have shot down eight Spitfires over Kaladan (No 136 Sqn actually lost two aircraft). The 204th then encountered two Hurricanes of No. 6 Sqn IAF and shot one of them down."

I assume that is the Kaladan river. I'd love a look at the 136 Sqn history but unless someone has access to that, who knows.

And who cares, the point I was making was about where the fighting took place relative to Spit V vs. Spit VIII units.

 

[EwenS]

I am not quite as unfamiliar with the geography as you seem to assume, but the fighting involving Spitfires took a few different patterns. I wasn't pulling that comment out of my ass.

As far as I could determine, the Spit VIII was used to escort bombers such as on raids into Burma, and notably, escorting transport aircraft flying 'The Hump', and they got into a couple of large-ish engagements that way. For example on 25 April 1944 64th Sentai Ki-43s attacked C-47s escorted by Spitfires from 81 Sqn RAF. The Troop Carrier Command lost 5 C-47s, 81 Sqn claimed one Ki-43. I assume those were Spitfire Mk VIII, and this seems to be confirmed in your post here

The Spit Vs seem to show up mainly defending their own air bases and nearby towns (i.e. in India), such as during a raid on 21 Feb 1944 when 204th Sentai engaged 136 Sqn Spitfire MK Vs over Kaladan and shot down two (claiming 8) plus 1 No 6 Sqn IAF Hurricane, for no loss. No 136 Sqn did not convert to Mk VIII until the next month so I assume these were Spit Vs.

On a similar raid against on 13 March, a large force of Ki-43s from 204 and 64th Sentais faced just four 81 Sqn RAF Spitfires, shooting down one but losing one to Aussie pilot Flg Off Larry Cronin. This shows a much better result from what I assume to be Spitfire Mk VIII.

It's hard to be certain of types because this author and a couple of other books I have usually don't indicate which type of Spitfire they are talking about, and don't always give the unit. But from the unit numbers I did check, that seemed to be the general pattern.

Except your assumption that the C-47 transports were flying the Hump is completely wrong. Not every transport was flying the Hump. Many of the squadrons, especially the RAF ones, were keeping the troops on the front line supplied or even moving them into the area around Imphal (5th Indian Div from the Arakan). On 28 March 81 Squadron had moved to Tulihal, just south east of Imphal. That was the great thing about the Burma campaigns. The troops relied on air supply.

From Bloody Shambles Vol 3 for 25 April 1944
"Eight Spitfires had been scrambled by 81 squadron at 0725, intercepting 30 plus south east of Palel, while 8 more fighters from 615 squadron also took off but failed to see anything. 81 squadron engaged, Flt Lt 'Bats' Krohn (JG348) claiming three Ki 43s damaged, Flg Ogg Don Rathwell (JG333) one destroyed, Lt White (JG196) one damaged and Flt Sgt B.E> Young, RNZAF (JF698), one probable and one damaged. Krohn's Spitfire was slightly damaged when he was pursued by four of the japanese fighters.

The interceptions by both the Spitfires and the P-38s had not, however, prevented the raiders inflicting considerable damagee on this occasion. Dakotas of 62 squadron had commenced flying supplies to Sapam at first light. The first pair to arrive,FD952 'N'flown by Flg Off C.R. Porter, and FL602 'X', flown by Flt Sgt E.J. Winters, had been unloaded and had taken off to return to their base, but were intercepted and shot down 60 miles south-west of Imphal with the loss of both crews.

More Dakotas from 194 squadron were also flying into the area, and that flown by Wt Off T Grynkieswicz, a Polish pilot, also failed to arrive He had left Agartala at 0710 in KG462 'F', and undoubtedly also fell victim to the Japanese fighters. Troop Carrier Command reported the loss the loss of five aircraft in total in the Imphal area on this date, and it is believed that the other two were USAAF C-47s. two claims for transport aircraft shot down were made by Capt Hiroshi Tagkiguchi of the 204th Sentai."



62 was based at Comilla which is south east of what is now Dhaka and north west of Chittagong. 194 was based at Agartala due east of Dhaka and north of Comilla.

At the time Troop Carrier Command was controlled by ACSEA and comprised 4 RAF Dakota squadrons and the 443rd TCG USAAF. The primary role for these units was the support of 14th Army in the field (RAF) and Stilwell's Chinese troops pushing into northern Burma (443rd). The 443rd was based at Sylhet, India (due west of Imphal). Only when not needed for that did the 443rd fly the Hump, and until spring 1945 that primary role kept them busy.

Control of transport operations over the Hump was a separate activity controlled by US Air Transport Command with C-46, C-47, C-54, C-87 and C-109 aircraft.

 

[Wild_Bill_Kelso]

Except your assumption that the C-47 transports were flying the Hump is completely wrong. Not every transport was flying the Hump. Many of the squadrons, especially the RAF ones, were keeping the troops on the front line supplied or even moving them into the area around Imphal (5th Indian Div from the Arakan). On 28 March 81 Squadron had moved to Tulihal, just south east of Imphal.

I appreciate the data, but not your tone or the claim that I am wrong or confused in any way. Tone that down a little.

I did not run across any examples of Spitfire V units escorting transports anywhere, though I am happy to learn of some. All I was doing there in my comment, was in good faith pointing out the process I used to come to my conclusion namely that Spit V units were mainly kept back in India, while the Spit VIII units were ranging further afield, including escorting transports. What specific route they were escorting those transports on in every specific case isn't really relevant, though again I'm always glad to see data.

From Bloody Shambles Vol 3 for 25 April 1944
"Eight Spitfires had been scrambled by 81 squadron at 0725, intercepting 30 plus south east of Palel, while 8 more fighters from 615 squadron also took off but failed to see anything. 81 squadron engaged, Flt Lt 'Bats' Krohn (JG348) claiming three Ki 43s damaged, Flg Ogg Don Rathwell (JG333) one destroyed, Lt White (JG196) one damaged and Flt Sgt B.E> Young, RNZAF (JF698), one probable and one damaged. Krohn's Spitfire was slightly damaged when he was pursued by four of the japanese fighters.

The interceptions by both the Spitfires and the P-38s had not, however, prevented the raiders inflicting considerable damagee on this occasion. Dakotas of 62 squadron had commenced flying supplies to Sapam at first light. The first pair to arrive,FD952 'N'flown by Flg Off C.R. Porter, and FL602 'X', flown by Flt Sgt E.J. Winters, had been unloaded and had taken off to return to their base, but were intercepted and shot down 60 miles south-west of Imphal with the loss of both crews.

More Dakotas from 194 squadron were also flying into the area, and that flown by Wt Off T Grynkieswicz, a Polish pilot, also failed to arrive He had left Agartala at 0710 in KG462 'F', and undoubtedly also fell victim to the Japanese fighters. Troop Carrier Command reported the loss the loss of five aircraft in total in the Imphal area on this date, and it is believed that the other two were USAAF C-47s. two claims for transport aircraft shot down were made by Capt Hiroshi Tagkiguchi of the 204th Sentai."



62 was based at Comilla which is south east of what is now Dhaka and north west of Chittagong. 194 was based at Agartala due east of Dhaka and north of Comilla.

At the time Troop Carrier Command was controlled by ACSEA and comprised 4 RAF Dakota squadrons and the 443rd TCG USAAF. The primary role for these units was the support of 14th Army in the field (RAF) and Stilwell's Chinese troops pushing into northern Burma (443rd). The 443rd was based at Sylhet, India (due west of Imphal). Only when not needed for that did the 443rd fly the Hump, and until spring 1945 that primary role kept them busy.

Control of transport operations over the Hump was a separate activity controlled by US Air Transport Command with C-46, C-47, C-54, C-87 and C-109 aircraft.

Thanks for the data.

 

[Wild_Bill_Kelso]

I'm sorry, upon contemplation I think my reply was too snippy. Your contributions to the thread are extremely useful and very appreciated EwenS. I don't meant to imply that I think I know everything about this subject. Even though I've read a lot as we all have, there is always more to learn. Which is part of what makes it so great.

 

[Wild_Bill_Kelso]

Ok so on to the next part. Right here I'm just going to set the stage.

New Guinea: Green Hell

December 1942. Through December 1942, the IJN had been waging a lethal, brutal, nasty war in New Guinea, in an attempt to establish the southern coast as a staging area for air raids into Australia (and from the Australian point of view, rightly or wrongly they believed it would be a staging area to invade Oz). The Aussies had originally sent a very hastily thrown together squadron of Kittyhawks (P-40E, which they went into action with in many cases without having any training beyond flying the things to the battle area) and a handful of other planes, Hudsons and PBYs, some Wirraways, to support a force of beleaguered but very brave and tough Australian militia who were holding on to the region around Port Moresby. During 1942 the Australians sent in a couple more fighter (also Kittyhawk) squadrons to relieve the 75th FS RAAF, which was basically destroyed in the process of putting up an heroic defense, and the US threw in the also hard-pressed but very tough and well-led 49th Fighter Group, which also had P-40Es initially, and an oddball mix of other planes, including P-39s, some early B-26s (I think armed with torpedoes), PBYs, a few B-17s, some A-24 (Army version of SBD), some A-20s, and later some more Hudsons, and some B-24s and B-25s, and at the very end of the year, a few early model P-38s. Some of the heavy bomber units were based in North Australia.

Through the course of the year, the IJN slipped rather precipitously from fairly dominant, to running about even in increasingly harsh attrition losses, both to air combat and their airfields being bombed, and to operational accidents and the routinely extreme hazards of the theater. At the end of 1942 and beginning of 1943, the US Marine Corps and Navy started getting involved with the fighting in the Solomons and around Guadalcanal. The IJN, armed with A6M2 and later A6M3, D3A "Val" dive bombers, B5N "Kate", G3M and G4M twin engined torpedo / level bombers, and a variety of reconnaissance types, asked their hated rivals in the IJA / JAAF to send them some assistance, as their forces were getting stretched while losses of both machines and personnel was increasing to unsustainable levels. The JAAF brought in Ki-43s, Ki-45s, and Ki-61s, as well as Ki-48 and Ki-49 bombers. In Guadalcanal there was a mixture of USMC, USN, and USAAF units flying Wildcats, P-39s, P-38s, P-40s, and (I think) some Buffalos, as well as SBD bombers, TBFs, B-17s, B-25s, plus some RNZAF fighter (P-40) squadrons. I'm having a little trouble. running down all the units but I'm going to try to be as thorough as I can be. Later on in 1943 the first USMC F4U Corsair units arrived, and some P-47s. It was a really wild mix of aircraft.

New Guinea and the Solomons were a challenging environment. The author notes that fighter losses for the JAAF eventually became much higher in this theater than in China or Burma. At one point he mentions that 60% of the pilots in one Sentai had dysentary and / or malaria - but they still had to fly unless their fever was above a certain threshhold. The weather in or near New Guinea was incredibly wild. The 9,000-13,000' high Owen Stanely mountains, at such a latitude, could generate huge, terrifying thunderstorms out of nothing in a matter of minutes. Big storms, fog, and rain happened almost daily, typhoons were also common during the storm season. Navigation was a major challenge, many aircraft struggled to climb over the jagged mountain range. The Solomon's also had huge mountains (usually volcanoes) up to 8,000 -9,000 ft, and so had similar weather. Pilots crash landing in swamps, jungle, and coastal marshes might face giant saltwater crocodiles, tiger and bull sharks, and a wide array of veonomous snakes and insects, as well as numerous dangerous parasites and tropical diseases, things like leeches, worms, fungus. At ground level well below the mountain peaks, heat was sweltering humidity was very high, dust, dirt and mud was everywhere, and maintenance and living facilities for both Japanese and Allied forces were hellishly primitive and only slowly improved.

 

[EwenS]

The first F4U squadron in the Solomons was VMF-124 whose 24 aircraft arrived at Henderson Field Guadalcanal on 12 Feb 1943.

Time of the Aces: Marine Pilots in the Solomons (The First Corsair Ace)

The first P-47D èquipped unit was the 348th FG that arrived in Australia in May/ June 1943 to join the 5th AF. It moved up into New Guinea shortly after. With the ETO having priority for them it was late 1943 before any further units could begin to re-equip.

RNZAF P-40 details here

Episode 159 – The Curtiss P-40 in RNZAF Service – Part One « The Wings Over New Zealand Show

cambridgeairforce.org.nz

5th AF had its HQ in Australia and based its heavy bombers there in 1942/43. It supported MacArthur in New Guinea.

The 13th AF was formed in Jan 1943 with its HQ in the New Hebrides to command USAAF assets in the Solomons. Its early units were drawn from both 5th & 7th AF.

Edit. Also look at Cactus Air Force, as the command unit on Guadalcanal Aug 42 -Feb 43.

Cactus Air Force - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

And the successor command ComAirSols

AirSols - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Wild_Bill_Kelso]

Thanks, I have a lot of this but did not have 348 FG, that fills a gap. Do you have any sources for 18th Fighter Group in the Solomons? I have fragments but I'd like to see a full history of bases and aircraft used.

 

[Wild_Bill_Kelso]

So because the author of the Osprey Ki-43 book I've been using doesn't cite a lot of the Allied units in this chapter on New Guinea, I'm relying on some other sources, chief among them right now the South Pacific Air War series by Michael Claringbould and Peter Ingman. I have up to Volume 5 which came out in 2022, and takes the narrative through December 1942 (which is when the JAAF units first show up). Does anyone know if he's going to publish Volume 6 in this series? I kind of expected it to be out by now and was going to order it, but no dice.

Anyway, this will at least give the initial array of units on the Allied side. I can find the rest in other books and online. I'll have the first section posted shortly, maybe today.

 

[EwenS]

Thanks, I have a lot of this but did not have 348 FG, that fills a gap. Do you have any sources for 18th Fighter Group in the Solomons? I have fragments but I'd like to see a full history of bases and aircraft used.

Some additional information here

Pacific Wrecks - 18th Pursuit Group (18th PG) / 18th Fighter Group (18th FG)

The 18th Fighter Group (18th FG) was assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF) in the South Pacific (SOPAC). The 18th FG was comprised of the 12th Fighter Squadron (12th FS), 44th Fighter Squadron (44th FS).

pacificwrecks.com

 

[Wild_Bill_Kelso]

it's crazy some individual squadrons in that unit were flying three different aircraft types simultaneously - 70 FS for example flew P-39, then got some P-38s, and then gradually transitioned to P-40F. Scary how they had a couple of pilots captured and then executed. Japanese military was really over the top, it never ceases to amaze me how mean they were.

 

[Wildcat]

To add to your list, the RAAF had the following squadrons operating in or around New Guinea in December 1942 -
1 OTU - Hudson (Detachment of mainly experienced instructor pilots deployed to Port Moresby as a stop-gap transport unit)
4 sqn - Wirraway
6 sqn - Hudson
7 sqn - Beaufort (Australian-based but operating in the waters between Oz and New Guinea)
11 sqn - Catalina (Australian-based but operating over New Guinea)
20 sqn - Catalina (as above)
22 sqn - Boston
30 sqn - Beaufighter
33 sqn - Empire Flying Boats and assorted transport aircraft
36 sqn - Dakota (Australian-based but operating over New Guinea)
41 sqn - Empire Flying Boats (Australian-based but operating over New Guinea)
100 sqn - Beaufort (torpedo/Bomber-reconnaissance)

75 & 76 sqns (P-40's) had been redeployed to other areas by December 42. 75 returned to New Guinea in Feb 43 while 76 was sent to Darwin to relieve the 49th FG.

 

[BiffF15]

it's crazy some individual squadrons in that unit were flying three different aircraft types simultaneously - 70 FS for example flew P-39, then got some P-38s, and then gradually transitioned to P-40F. Scary how they had a couple of pilots captured and then executed. Japanese military was really over the top, it never ceases to amaze me how mean they were.

You might want to listen to Dan Carlin podcast Hardcore History, "Supernova In The East". He delves into the why.

 

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

If I have this correctly, the RAAF Command in New Guinea was 9 Group, formally under North East Area, on 1 January 1943 North East Area gave up command of 9 Group, but during December 1942 NE Area directly commanded the squadrons etc. in Australia, 9 group those in New Guinea. The Empire flying boats had left 33 squadron some months earlier, on 28 September the squadron reported 1 DH84, 6 Tiger Moth, 1 Miles Falcon, 4 Anson, 13 Pilots, 9 W.A.G., 39 Ground staff, total 61 personnel. Reported to have removed the Falcon but picked up a couple of O-49 by December.

1 December 1942 the RAAF was something like (Squadrons)

NE Area: 9 Group, plus 7 (GR, Beaufort, Townsville Qld), 11 (GR, Catalina, Cairns Qld), 20 (GR, Catalina, Cairns Qld), 33 (Tran, Various, Townsville Qld), 41 (Tran, Empire, Townsville Qld), 75 (Ftr, Kittyhawk, Cairns Qld), 5 CFlt (Comm, Anson/DH84/Walrus, Garbutt Qld)
9 Group: 4 (AC, Wirraway, Bomana New Guinea), 6 (Bmb, Hudson, Port Moresby New Guinea), 22 (Bmb, Boston, Port Moresby New Guinea), 30 (Ftr, Beaufighter, Port Moresby New Guinea), 100 (Bmb, Beaufort, Milne Bay New Guinea), 1 R&C (Comm, Anson/DH84/Fox Moth/Tiger Moth, Port Moresby New Guinea)

R&C Rescue and Communication. On the 14th 6 Squadron moved to Milne Bay. On the 25th 33 Squadron moved to Port Moresby.

The 1 OTU detachment "flight" with Hudsons reported arriving at Wards on 14 December 1942, doing around 15 sorties a day (504 sorties in December), lost 2 aircraft to strafing on the 26th, departed 11 January.

 

[Wild_Bill_Kelso]

You might want to listen to Dan Carlin podcast Hardcore History, "Supernova In The East". He delves into the why.

Big fan of Dan Carlin, and have listened to "Supernova in The East" but I don't remember him getting into details about 18th FG squadrons...

 

[Wild_Bill_Kelso]

Ok time to bite the bullet. Thanks for all the help up above.

New Guinea: Green Hell

December 1942
IJN Fighter Units - Tainan Ku (A6M2), No. 3 Ku (A6M2), Kanoya Ku (A6M2), No. 6 Ku (A6M2, A6M3), No. 2 Ku (A6M3) (total 77 A6M fighters), (later ) 582 Ku (A6M2), 252 Ku (A6M2), 251 Ku (A6M3)
IJN Bomber Units - Kisarazu Ku (G4M1), Misawa Ku (G4M1), Takao Ku (G4M1), Kanoya Ku (G4M1) (total 79 G4M), 582 Ku (D3A), 701 Ku (G3M2)
IJN Recon / Utility - 14 Ku (A6M2-N), H6K, E13, F1M, E8N2 (other units)
JAAF Fighter Units - 11th Sentai (Ki-43-1), 1 Sentai (Ki-43-1 Jan 1943), 24th Sentai (Ki-43-II, April 1943) [In April - May 1943 all three of these Sentai began to convert to Ki-43-II]
JAAF Bomber Units - 45th Sentai (Ki-48)
USAAF Fighter Units (North Australia and New Guinea) - 8th FG [35 and 80 FS], (P-400 & P-39D), 35 FG [39 and 41 FS] (P-400 & P-39D), 49th FG [7, 8, 9 FS] (P-40E) (total 75 fighters), 339 FS (P-38F & G)
USAAF Bomber North Australia and New Guinea - 3rd BG [8, 89 BS] (A-20A), [13, 90 BS] (B-25C), 19th BG [28, 30, 93 BS] (B-17E), 22nd BG [2, 408, 19, 33 BS] B-25 Marauder, 38 BG [71 405 BS] (B-25), 43rd BG [64, 64, 65, 403] (B-17F), 90th BG (B-24)
USAAF and RNZAF Fighter Units (Solomons) - 18th FG (P-40s, P-39s), 44th FS (P-40), 347th FG (P-39), 67th FS (P-39 - later absorbed by 347 FG), 14 RNZAF (P-40), 15 RNZAF (P-40)
USAAF Bomber Units (Solomons) - 5th BG (B-17s), 42nd BG (B-26, Hudson), 307th BG (B-24)
USAAF Recon (North Australia and New Guinea) - 8th PRS (F-4 Lightning)
USAAF Recon (Solomons) 4th Reconnaissance Group (F-4 Lightning)
RAAF Fighter units - 76* and 76 RAAF* (P-40E), 30 RAAF (Beaufighters)
RAAF Bomber units - 100 RAAF (Beauforts, with British torpedoes**), 22 RAF Boston,
RAAF Recon / Utility - 6 RAAF (Hudson***), 1 RAAF (DH 89, DH 82), 11 RAAF (Catalina), 20 RAAF (Catalina), 41 RAAF (Empire Flying Boat), 33 RAAF (DH-82, DH-84)
USN Fighter units Marine Aircraft Group 23**** (F4F-4), VF-17 (F4F-4), VF-5 (F4F-4), VF-71 (F4F-4)), others
USN and USMC Bomber units VS-3, VS, 5, VT-8 (SBD, TBF)
USMC Fighter Units (Solomons), VMF 214 (F4U ? from July 1943), VMF 223 (F4F-3, F4F-4), VMF -112, 121, 122, 123, 124, 212, 224 (F4F ... units moved in and out)

* Both were withdrawn to Darwin in September, per posts above
** Due to the British torpedoes these Beauforts were the most deadly long range ship killers in the Allied force [EDIT -apparently not!]
*** Though designated as recon planes, these routinely clashed with IJN and later JAAF aircraft
**** This uni was made up of both USN and USMC squadrons flying out of Henderson field)

More USN units came with the USS Enterprise and other carriers.

The IJN, having begun to experience difficulty in this Theater, asked for help from their bitter rivals in the IJA / JAAF. One aspect of their rivalry was that the IJN fighter pilots doubted the abilities of the main JAAF fighter - the Ki-43. Like many people today, including a few active in this forum, they felt that the armament of two nose mounted machine guns in the Ki-43 was feeble and grossly insufficient especially for tackling US heavy bombers. First combat for the JAAF here was near Rabaul on 23 Dec 1942, when 11th Sentai Ki-43 pilots intercepted a 43 BG B-17F. In spite of using all their ammunition they failed to down it. On 26 Dec 15 Ki-43s from 11th Sentai atacked Buna with strafing runs, and got bounced by 4 x 9th FS / 49 FG P-40E. US pilots claimed 5, JAAF claimed 6, but actual losses were 2 x Ki-43-1 and 1 x P-40E. On Dec 28 and 31 11th Sentai clashed with P-38s, making several claims but i don't see any confirmed Allied losses. 1 Ki-43 was heavily damaged and had to force land back at base.

On 5th Jan 1943 11th Sentai Ki-43-1 pilots intercepted a raid by B-17s from 43 BG and B-24s from 90 BG on their way to attack shipping near Rabaul. The Ki-43 made head on attacks and shot down 2 x B-17Fs, one managing to crash land on a sand bar with the crew being rescued. Thus once again, we can see that somewhat amazingly, even the Ki-43-1 could shoot down US heavy bombers. Between 5-10 January 1943, 11th Sentai was tasked with escorting a convoy of troop carrying cargo ships to Lae, and got in several engagements with Allied fighters and bombers. The author doesn't give details of these fights but notes that 11th Sentai made 283 sorties and made 15 claims, but lost 23 x Ki-43 with 6 pilots killed.

On 26 January 1st and 11th Sentai sent 30 x Ki-43-1 to escort 8 x Ki-48 on a raid against Allied troops. They engaged 6 x P-38 from 339 FS, 8 x USN F4F-3, and 10 x P-40E. Losses were 2 x P-38, 2 x P-40, and 1 x F4F, for 5 x Ki-43 plus 1 crash landed, with 4 pilots killed. On 31 Jan 11th Sentai engaged 8 x F4F and 12 x SBD in the Solomons (Gizo Strait) 250 miles west of Guadalcanal. 2 x F4F were shot down for 4 x Ki-43-1. Later that same day one Ki-43 pilot, WO Naoharu Shiromoto scrambled to intercept a raid by P-38s, and shot two down (allegedly confirmed by IJA ground forces) with two others colliding. On 1- 4 February 11th Sentai, having relieved shot up IJN units, was attempting to cover the evacuation of Guadalcanal. They made several claims for P-40s, F4F, P-39, and SBD, a C-47 and an RAAF Boston, for the loss of one Ki-43 with pilot. These don't seem to be confirmed claims though.

On 6 Feb 29 x Ki-43 of 11 Sentai escorted 9x Ki-38 on a raid in New Guinea. Top cover were attacked by P-38 and P-40s, losing 4 x Ki-43, their CO Maj Katsuji Sugiura being killed, and 3 x Ki-48, claiming 2 x P-38. The 1st Sentai CO was later killed when his undercarriage wouldn't retract, and he was flying back to base and got jumped by P-38s and P-40s on 5 March. In April and May 24th Sentai arrived with the improved Ki-43-II, and quickly shot down 2 x B-24s.

Losses
Between Dec 1942 and May 1943, 11th Sentia lost 19 pilots, and claimed 28 Allied aircraft. Actual Allied losses to this unit were 10 planes: 4 x B-17, 2 x P-40, 2 x P-38, 1 x Hudson and 1 x C-47. In addition, in combination with other Japanese fighter units 6 more planes are confirmed lost - 2 x F4F, 2 x SBD, 1 x P40, and 1 x TBF.

This is just the beginning. It was going to get a lot worse for the Japanese forces.

 

[Wild_Bill_Kelso]

As a possibly interesting addenda to the above, in the appendix of Claringbould's meticulously detailed South Pacific Air War, he tallies up all the losses in the New Guinea and Solomons area for both sides from Dec 1941 through 31 December 1942.

Allied Losses
P-39 / P-400 - 88
P-40E - 53
F4F- 30

B-25 - 41
B-17 - 40
SBD - 38
B-26 - 34
Hudson - 25
A-24 - 22
Wirraway - 18
TBD-1 - 15
PBY - 13
Beaufort - 10
Boston / A-20 - 9 (all in December)
B-24 - 9 (all in December)
F-4 Lightning - 3

Total 476 aircraft lost, 827 crew fatalities

Japanese Losses
A6M2 - 109
A5M4 - 6
A6M2-N - 5 (seaplane version of Zero)
F1M2 - 5
Ki-43-1 -4

G4M1 - 36
G3M2 - 6
B5N - 37
D3A1- 36
H6K - 36
E-13 - 5
E8N2 -3

Total 286 aircraft lost, 493 crew fatalities

Losses from 9 September to 31 December 1942 break down as follows:
(Cause of loss shown after dash)
Allied
P-40E - A6M 7, Oscars 1, Flak or Unknown 3, Accident - 8, Weather 1
P-39 - Flak or Unknown 2, Weather 2
P-38 - Flak or Unknown 1, Accident 1
Beaufighter - Flak or Unknown - 3
Beaufort - Flak or Unknown -2, Accident 3
A-20/ Boston - Flak or Unknown - 4*, Accident - 3
B-17 - Zero - 2, Flak or Unknown - 4, Accident - 4, Weather - 2
B-24 - Zero - 1, Flak or Unknown - 2, Accident - 6, Weather - 1
B-25 - Zero - 3, Flak or Unknown - 5, Accident - 3, Weather - 2
B-26 - Accident - 4, Weather 1
C-47 - Zero 2, Flak or Unknown - 2, Accident - 1
Hudson - Oscars 1, Flak or Unknown - 2, Accident - 2
Wirraway - Accident - 3
F-4 Lightning - Accident - 1

Japanese
A6M2 - P-40 - 4, P-39 - 2, B-17 - 5, B-24s - 2, Flak or Unknown 1, Weather 1
Ki-43-I - P-40 -1, P-38F -2, Wirraway*** - 1
A6M2-N - Hudson 2 (these losses were during a bombing / strafing attack)
D3A** - P-39 - 3, P-38F - 1, Flak or Unknown 3
G4M** - B-24 1, Weather 3
G3M - P-40 - 3, Accident 1

Several flying boats and seaplanes were also destryed on both sides in this period, but are not listed in this summary.
A lot of aircraft were also destroyed on the ground by bombing and strafing attacks, but these are mostly not counted (except for the two Rufes).

Accidents include mechanical problems and navigational errors away from the combat zones.
Weather incicates where severe weather was listed as the likely cause.

* Several A-20s were lost due to prematurely detonating ordinance, apparently due to a problem with parafrag fuses . Some B-17, B-24 and B-26 also mysteriously blew up.
** G4M and D3A were used as fighters to attack seaplanes and enemy bombers on numerous occasions
*** Famous engagement in which a Wirraway shot down a Ki-43!

 

[Wild_Bill_Kelso]

You can see from that list how many losses were just to accidents, maintenance problems, navigation problems, weather, and just 'unknown'. Many aircraft were seen to fly into a cloud and were just never heard from again. Some crashed on mountains and made harrowing journeys back to friendly lines, often losing half or more along the way.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

You can see from that list how many losses were just to accidents, maintenance problems, navigation problems, weather, and just 'unknown'. Many aircraft were seen to fly into a cloud and were just never heard from again. Some crashed on mountains and made harrowing journeys back to friendly lines, often losing half or more along the way.

That part of the world is one of the most difficult flying environments anywhere.

 

[PAT303]

You can see from that list how many losses were just to accidents, maintenance problems, navigation problems, weather, and just 'unknown'. Many aircraft were seen to fly into a cloud and were just never heard from again. Some crashed on mountains and made harrowing journeys back to friendly lines, often losing half or more along the way.

Same over Darwin, approx 26 were lost in combat but overall 117 were destroyed, most from weather or accidents, many were lost after hitting tree's

 

[Wildcat]

RAAF Bomber units - 100 RAAF (Beauforts, with British torpedoes**), 22 RAF Boston,

** Due to the British torpedoes these Beauforts were the most deadly long range ship killers in the Allied force

Unfortunately not. RAAF Beauforts were equipped with junk American Mk13 torpedos with the same abysmal failure rate as experienced by the USN.