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RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (Resurrected)

 
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RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 3/30/2017 8:22:25 AM   
adarbrauner

 

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Status: offline 		Nice writing

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Post #: 181
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 3/31/2017 5:53:41 AM   
Barb


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From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.164
Date: May 20th, 1942 Tokyo time

64th Sentai was tasked to provide escort for another ground support sortie by Type 99 light bombers of two Sentais based at Rangoon targeting Chinese ground troops around Lashio. However it was found out, that the Toungoo runway has not dry enough to support the Hayabusas. Several of the machines become stuck in the mud even before reaching the end of the runway, so the escort mission was cancelled. The stuck machines were later "rescued" by a borrowed water buffalo from local villagers.
However the Light bombers operating from all-weather Mingaladon airfield near Rangoon had no problems to take off so they proceeded with their mission without fighter support. No enemy planes intercepted, and the weather over target was clear, but the target was hard to locate and only minimal damage to the enemy was caused. Two of the light bombers returned to base with damage. In the evening the runways dried enough to support the weight of the Hayabusas and in an attempt to move the Sentai to a more operational base the 3rd Chutai went to Prome, while rest of the Sentai was moved to the Magwe.


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Post #: 182
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 4/3/2017 6:27:47 AM   
Barb


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From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.165
Date: May 21th, 1942 Tokyo time

Prome was hardly in better condition than Toungoo, but luckily the 3rd Chutai didn’t lost any planes to the soft ground. During the night the monsoon weather turned the Prome airfield to a big, although very shallow lake. Army engineers were doing what they could to drench the plain – digging canals, improvising dykes and dams. But it took several days to make the field compact enough to allow operations.

At least Magwe airfield was a little improvement over both Prome and Toungoo. Altough hardly better than a rough dusty strip in the summer it had a better water drainage so the strip remained operational most of the time. The Sentai spend the day setting up and flying several combat air patrols around the area, mainly to get accustomed to the surroundings.


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Post #: 183
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 4/4/2017 5:27:30 AM   
Barb


Posts: 2503
Joined: 2/27/2007
From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.166
Date: May 22th, 1942 Tokyo time

Ground crews caught up with the Sentai today after torturous voyage in Burmese Railway cars and set up a little tent city next to the airfield. Again several local patrols were flown, but nothing serious happened. The morale of the unit is still high, although the planes are in need of serious overhaul and the continuous movement of the unit prevents setting up a fully functional camp. Warrant Officer Shimizu, Takeshi had one of his teeth pulled out after several days of intense pain by a local "medical man". Enough to say that he thereafter declared that he would rather got shot at by the enemy fighter than to have another encounter with the "medical men".

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Post #: 184
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 4/5/2017 5:47:03 AM   
Barb


Posts: 2503
Joined: 2/27/2007
From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.167
Date: May 23th, 1942 Tokyo time

64th Sentai was again to provide a close escort for two Sentais of Type 99 Light Bombers attacking ground targets near Lashio. However the whole area around Magwe was shrouded in low rain clouds with very limited visibility. To take off in this kind of weather would probably mean the loss of every single plane as pilots would hardly find a way back. Thus the light bombers were again on their own. As the Chinese Air Force was mostly eliminated, they encountered no opposition except light AA fire that damaged two bombers over the target area. Weather there was also bad, so the bombs fell in a wide area. All planes returned safely, thanks to the high standard in navigation and skilled pilots of the light bombers.

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Post #: 185
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 4/6/2017 6:34:00 AM   
Barb


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From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.168
Date: May 24th, 1942 Tokyo time

Orders arrived to move to unit again. This time to Mandalay where another all-weather strip was repaired by army engineers after the capture from the enemy forces. As the weather over Magwe cleared enough to allow safe take offs the Hayabusas quickly departed for the new base. The ground crews had to finish the packing and complete move to a new location would take several days to undertake.


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Post #: 186
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 4/7/2017 8:03:28 PM   
Barb


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From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.169
Date: May 25th, 1942 Tokyo time

64th Sentai started to settle up on the Mandalay airdrome. A paved runway with about 70 stands for fighters and dispersal area, complete with two hangars and several buildings that were not demolished by the retreating British were not a luxury but definitely better than anything the Sentai had seen since passing Bangkok on a way from Java to Burma two months ago. There were functioning showers with hot water after all! Of course a lot has yet to be done in a time to come to make this place fully habitable, but the morale was sky-high. The place was a little overcrowded as the 64th Sentai had to share it with 59th Sentai equipped with Hayabusas and 51st Independent Flying Chutai equipped with the Army Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Plane.

Although no offensive mission was ordered for today, the Sentai was kept at readiness in case of some unpleasant surprise planned by the enemy.

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Post #: 187
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 4/7/2017 8:11:20 PM   
MakeeLearn


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quote:

...the Sentai was kept at readiness....





Attachment (1)

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Post #: 188
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 4/18/2017 7:21:23 AM   
Barb


Posts: 2503
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From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.170
Date: May 26th, 1942 Tokyo time

The headquarters asked for a ground mission today to support the 138th Infantry Regiment at Mytkyina. The sweep by the 59th Sentai was to be followed by the heavy bombers of the 61st Sentai escorted by 64th Sentai.

Shortly after morning the 64th took to the skies to rendezvous with the 31 Type 97 heavy bombers. The 59th Sentai took of right after them, the 64th slowed by the bombers was to arrive at the target after the 59th cleared the skies. And so it was. The 59th Sentai encountered some 14 P-40E Warharks over the target area but dispersed them before the bombers covered by the 64th Sentai arrived. Finding the area clear the pilots of the 64th Sentai watched the bombers to drop a neat pattern on enemy ground positions. The 138th Infantry Regiment stormed the town of Mytkyina shortly afterwards, caught the enemy off balance causing him heavy casualties and a prisoner later reported, that about 50 casualties were caused by the accurate bombing.

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Post #: 189
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 4/19/2017 6:34:45 AM   
Barb


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From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.171
Date: May 27th, 1942 Tokyo time

Low clouds and strong storms prevented any mission to be flown on this day. Yet it was not spent in vain as men tried to improve their living quarters and even set up an Officer's club in the vicinity. A propagation car arrived and the evening was spent by watching the latest newsreel reports from the fronts.


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Post #: 190
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 4/20/2017 5:26:25 AM   
Barb


Posts: 2503
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From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.172
Date: May 28th, 1942 Tokyo time

3rd Chutai sent several combat air patrols to Toungoo airfield after reports of enemy aircraft prowling in the vicinity. However no contact was made.

64th Sentai was again to provide close escort for heavy bombers dispatched to harass retreating enemy troops after being driven out of Mytkyina two days previously. This time the 59th Sentai didn’t participate by sweeping the area, but no enemy air was expected. As it turned out the expectation was correct and the 31 Type 97 heavy bombers were able to accurately bomb enemy columns under cover of 21 Hayabusas of the 64th Sentai. Pursuing ground troops later reported about 100 enemy bodies in the area. All our planes returned to the base safely, although 2nd Lt. Ariyoshi, N. had a tense moments as his engine seized up just feets above runway. He successfully put his plane down.


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Post #: 191
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 4/24/2017 6:38:25 AM   
Barb


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From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.173
Date: May 29th, 1942 Tokyo time

Another escort mission was flown today this time to Akyab. At first the 11th Sentai with Hayabusas was tasked to clear the area of any enemy fighters encountered. About ten minutes after arriving over the area they spotted a large air formation approaching from the south and prepared to engage them. As it turned out, it was formation of the 36 Navy Type 1 Attack Bomber covered by 28 of the Type 0 Carrier Fighter the Navy sent to attack Akyab airfield at the same time as the army planes were in the vicinity. No harm was done thanks to the good visibility and keen recognition skills of the pilots. The Navy bombers laid a good concentration on the airfield damaging several buildings and destroying fuel dump.
Smokes from the bombing were already high in the air when the 64th Sentai arrived covering 22 of the Type 99 Light Bombers. 14 more bombers failed to make rendezvous on time so they trailed the main formation by several miles. However their target was a little further so no interference was caused by the smoke from the burning dump. Several gun positions along the coast were identified by previous reconnaissance and they were being targeted by the army bombers. Well dug in they presented a difficult target for the light bombs drooped and no direct hits were obtained. The trailing formation found the target area obscured by smoke from previous bombing, but failed to score any better.
The plane of 2nd Lt. Arizoshi, R. of the staff flight had to be grounded following the mission because of overheating engine while 3rd Chutai had to write off a Hayabusa flown by 2nd Lt. Takenaka, B. after the engine seizure. With no landing strip around he opted to bail out rather than risk landing and was back with the Chutai by the midnight.

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RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 4/25/2017 5:03:50 AM   
Barb


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From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.174
Date: May 30th, 1942 Tokyo time

While the 3rd Chutai got some rest, the rest of the Sentai participated in another escort mission to Akyab. After yesterday strike photos were developed the intelligence discovered several planes operational at the airfield. This time also the information about the Navy participation arrived on time and the operation involved some 200 planes in total.
First over the target area was the 11th Sentai with 27 Hayabusas in case the enemy prepared some reception. That was not the case and so they observed the Navy formation arriving few minutes afterwards. 36 of the Navy Type 1 Attack Bombers covered by 27 Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighters scored hits on the southern part of the runway, dispersal areas and supply dumps.

About an hour later the 1st Sentai with 26 Hayabusas arrived to sweep the area before main strike which followed. 27 of the Type 97 Heavy bombers and 25 of the Type 99 Light bombers covered by 20 of the 64th Hayabusas targeted the northern part of the airfield and destroyed several maintenance shops while also cratering the runway. Several enemy planes were observed to be near the maintenance area, and were probably damaged although no direct hits were obtained. Last to arrive was another formation of 14 Type 99 Light bombers who failed to link up with the main strike as on the day before. No explanation was passed to the other involved units, but the light bomber Sentai obtained new commanding officer several days later.

Enemy AA was weak and inaccurate and most of the planes returned safely to their bases. One Hayabusa of the 11th Sentai and one of the Navy attack bombers were lost due to landing accidents. 64th Sentai performed flawlessly and all its planes returned to base without mishap.

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Post #: 193
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 4/26/2017 6:05:36 AM   
Barb


Posts: 2503
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From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.175
Date: May 31th, 1942 Tokyo time

Another escort mission was flown today by the 64th Sentai, again in support of the 138th Infantry Regiment pursuing enemy troops near Myitkyina. 26 Type 97 Heavy bombers were successfully escorted to the target by 21 Hayabusas without loss. While the weather wasn't very cooperative with several thunderstorms around the target, the bombers at least targeted the enemy troops and not the friendly ones. The attacking 138th Infantry Regiment with support from 10th Tank Regiment overrun the enemy formations causing heavy casualties and captured almost 400 prisoners at the cost of 12 killed and 21 wounded. The remnants of the enemy troops retreated in the direction of Bhamo.

That evening the Radio Tokyo reported fall of the Philippines capital – Manila – where more than 30.000 men were captured after the final desperate stand.

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Post #: 194
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 4/27/2017 5:28:12 AM   
Barb


Posts: 2503
Joined: 2/27/2007
From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.176
Date: June 1st, 1942 Tokyo time

Low clouds and frequent rain squalls prevented effective air operations today. The day was again spent improving the living quarters and most of the men spend some time reading or writing letters to their families.

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Post #: 195
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 4/28/2017 5:53:00 AM   
Barb


Posts: 2503
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From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.177
Date: June 2nd, 1942 Tokyo time

Another escort mission was flown against the same retreating enemy columns, now in the vicinity of Bhamo. 20 Hayabusas were dispatched to cover 31 of the Type 97 Heavy bombers targeting enemy columns. The bombing results were not observed because of low mist in the target area. All planes returned safely.

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Post #: 196
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 5/2/2017 6:11:38 AM   
Barb


Posts: 2503
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From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.178
Date: June 3rd, 1942 Tokyo time

Weather again forced the cancellation of any operations as the whole Burma was shrouded in low clouds pouring oceans of water on the already wet soil. However Lt.Col Kato managed to organize a little Go contest with the units stationed at the Mandalay airfield. A champion turned out to be from the 46th Maintenance unit assigned to the 59th Sentai.

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Post #: 197
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 5/4/2017 6:24:45 AM   
Barb


Posts: 2503
Joined: 2/27/2007
From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.179
Date: June 4th, 1942 Tokyo time

Another ground support mission was flown today after a previous request by the 33rd Division facing a mix of Chinese and British units on a road to Lashio. 30 Heavy bombers provided the striking force, while the 64th Sentai dispatched all 21 Hayabusas as a fighter escort. No enemy opposition was encountered in the air, bombing was accurate and the target area was well covered by the bombs. Two formations of Type 99 Light bombers numbering 22 and 14 followed about an hour later but their bombing was not very accurate and some bombs even fell close to the friendly troops. 33rd Division, reinforced with tanks, artillery and two regiments of infantry, pressed on with assault and by the night managed to breach the enemy position in several places forcing him to retreat during the night. Almost 2000 enemy soldiers were killed or captured before nightfall.

When the pilots and planes of the 64th Sentai returned to the airfield they were surprised to find two of the Army Type 100 Transport aircraft parked on the runway. Lt.Col. Kato had hardly stopped the engine and hastened to the operations hut. There he was greeted by Lt.Gen. Sugawara, Michio, the Commander of the 3rd Air Division to which 64th Sentai was assigned. With him came 20 pilots. Fresh from the air school they were sent here to the front line to replace the men with ample combat experience and amid the combat operations. The order came from the highest places, and even Sugawara's objections were rejected.

When the old hands of the 64th Sentai were debriefed after the last mission, some were told to pack and report back at the operation room right after dinner. The pilots were called in one by one and handed the sealed orders. Several of the men, all seasoned warriors, couldn’t keep their tears hidden as they saluted Lt.Col. Kato, turned about and boarded the waiting planes.

quote:


W/O Kizuka, J. of the staff flight, W/O Uchida, V. of the 1st Chutai, W/O Kikuchi, A. and 2nd Lt. Oba, U. of the 2nd Chutai– were posted to the 1st Sentai flying Hayabusas as a combat replacement pilot.

2nd Lt. Fujimoto U. of the staff flight, W/O Chuyaburo, P., W/O Shimizu, Takeshi and 2nd Lt. Koda, I. of the 1st Chutai – were posted to 13th Sentai still in Japan about to be equipped with the new Type 2 Two-Seat Fighter.

2nd Lt. Fujimoto, S. of the staff flight and 2nd Lt. Hashimoto, K. of the 2nd Chutai – were posted to the 70th Sentai in Manchuria to provide operational training flying the Type 97 Fighter.

W/O Chojiro, V. of the 1st Chutai and W/O Mitsumasa, T. of the 2nd Chutai - were posted to the newly formed 246th Sentai in Japan, currently engaged in operational training on Type 97 Fighters.

2nd Lt. Ban, H. of the 1st Chutai – was attached to the 1st Hikotai of the Imperial Manchurian Air Force at Manchukuo to train the Manchurian pilots on Type 97 Fighters.

Major Hinoki, Yohei, commander of the 1st Chutai, W/O Shibazama, N., W/O Okamoto, J. of the 1st Chutai and W/O Ohmori, Sokochi of the 2nd Chutai - were assigned to the 5th Sentai in Tokyo still training in Type 97 Fighters.

2nd Lt. Nakamura, Saburo of the staff flight, W/O Inokuchi, G. of the 1st Chutai – were posted to the Air Training and Instruction Department to help train new pilots.

W/O Kaoki, F. and W/O Renzo, E. of the 2nd Chutai – were posted to the 4th Sentai in Japan, another operational training unit about to be equipped by Type 2 Two-Seat Fighter.

Thus most of the old guard departs the scene...

< Message edited by Barb -- 5/4/2017 6:25:46 AM >

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Post #: 198
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 5/9/2017 6:03:07 AM   
Barb


Posts: 2503
Joined: 2/27/2007
From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.180
Date: June 5th, 1942 Tokyo time

Lt.Col. Kato and 2nd Lt. Chiba worked all night to get the new pilots assigned to a flight position as well as preparing a crash training program to get them quickly through the learning process to be effective members of the Sentai.

What is more important, the Sentai had to be ready for a mission in the morning. The pilots were brought to operational room much earlier than usually and were briefed not only on the mission, but also all other things necessary, as well as what training could they perform during the mission. The new faces were eager to take on the enemy, but the 64th Sentai was far from being efficient fighter outfit right now.

The mission, bombing of Comilla Airfield in the East Bengal was staged in cooperation with the Navy forces. 26 of the Navy Type 1 Attack bombers escorted by 27 of the Navy Type 0 Fighters formed the first wave of the attack. Coming in at 5,000 ft. they encountered heavy and accurate AA fire over target which damaged 7 bombers, but the Navy managed to put a number of their bombs on runway and dispersal area, damaging or destroying several of the Hudson type bombers, and several hits were scored on ammunition dump. Following them a hour later the formation of 26 Type 97 Heavy bombers covered by 21 Hayabusas of the 64th Sentai arrived and was greeted with furious AA fire. 5 of the bombers returned with serious damage and one exploded over the target after a direct hit. The bombing focused on the dispersal area, and several of the planes on ground were damaged or destroyed.
That none of the 64th Hayabusas were lost on the flight in or back was quite a feat, but the work of Lt.Col. Kato and 2nd Lt. Chiba was effective.

Each new pilot was assigned as a wingmen to a seasoned hand with orders to stick to him all the time. On the way to the target and back several training exercises were staged. One at a time, a Shotai would fly ahead of the main formation and the pilots would practice mock combat till past the slow flying bombers. Then they reformed and rejoined the formation while another Shotai sped forward. Lt.Col. Kato, flying slightly above the formation with W/O Hayashi, M. as his wingmen observed the exercise and took notes. These were of the greatest benefit to the pilots in the evening, when Lt.Col. Kato called his pilots together and they dissected every move they made to the detail.
It was a hard day for everyone, but the work has to be done to make the 64th Sentai an effective unit once again.

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Post #: 199
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 5/9/2017 6:05:34 AM   
Barb


Posts: 2503
Joined: 2/27/2007
From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		I am out of pre-written updates, I have 15 more turns scanned and prepared to be written and more than 3 hundreds turns to scan yet to get up to date :D

Work and family permitting I will try to move along and have an update for each work day prepared in advance again.

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RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 5/9/2017 10:02:23 PM   
Ol_Dog


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Post #: 201
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 5/10/2017 5:34:26 AM   
Barb


Posts: 2503
Joined: 2/27/2007
From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.181
Date: June 6th, 1942 Tokyo time

Bad weather intervened and low clouds hanging over the Burma precluded most of the flying. The Sentai was scheduled for the escort mission, but bombers got rained in, and the mission was cancelled. Enemy planes too remained on the ground - given the rain falling down in quantities it would be very hazardous just to take off. New arrivals spend the time settling down and finding their ways around.

3rd Chutai remained in reserve at Prome resting and in maintenance of their planes for this and several following days.

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Post #: 202
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 5/11/2017 5:55:44 AM   
Barb


Posts: 2503
Joined: 2/27/2007
From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.182
Date: June 7th, 1942 Tokyo time

Weather cleared up sufficiently to allow a mission for today. In request for continual ground support near Bhamo where a corps of Chinese forces were located, 27 of the Type 97 Heavy bombers were dispatched to be covered by 64th Sentai on close escort. To find the bombers in the solid overcast was not an easy task, but Lt.Col. Kato led the Santai successfully to the rendezvous point. All 21 planes of the 64th Sentai participated with half of the pilots a new arrivals – fortunately no one become lost.
The overcast was also present in the target area, so bombing was not very effective, although a small supply dump was hit. Three of the bombers took some hits over the target area, with one crewmen killed. 64th Sentai flying above the bombers was not targeted. The weather disallowed excessive practicing – it took quite an effort to keep the planes together.

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Post #: 203
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 5/12/2017 5:12:41 AM   
Barb


Posts: 2503
Joined: 2/27/2007
From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.183
Date: June 8th, 1942 Tokyo time

Mission similar to the one flown on the day before was flown today. Again 27 of the Type 97 Heavy bombers were dispatched to be escorted by 21 of the 64th Sentai Hayabusas… Weather along the way was more lenient than yesterday and practicing was an order of the day. As the formation neared the target area several rain storms forced them to take evasive course several times. But the bombers finally found their target point and released the bombs. The bombing results were mostly unobserved due to foliage.

On the way back home one of the 4 damaged bombers diverted to Mandalay – a home to the 64th Sentai with wounded crewmen aboard. Landing successfully the men was rushed to the primitive hospital but died of his wounds later that night.

As the bomber was flyable, its the crew decided to return home. Lt.Col. Kato quickly got few land lines hot and obtained a permission to board the bomber with a radio picked up from another Hayabusa – he had requested for the mission to be repeated tomorrow and to fly along with the bomber formation to better see and coordinate the training of his Sentai via radio without having to actually fly the plane. The approval was granted so he boarded the bomber and departed the base…

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Post #: 204
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 5/12/2017 10:02:33 AM   
cantona2


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From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		Looking forward to the new updates

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Post #: 205
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 5/15/2017 5:56:39 AM   
Barb


Posts: 2503
Joined: 2/27/2007
From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.184
Date: June 9th, 1942 Tokyo time

On this day the prearranged mission was flown along the same pattern as yesterday. 27 of the Type 97 Heavy bombers took off, but one was soon forced to return leaving the 26 in formation. Flying aboard the commanders plane was Lt.Col. Kato. 64th Sentai fell under the command of 2nd Lt. Chiba for the time being.

21 Hayabusas took to the skies and made rendezvous with the bomber formation at the meeting point although the bombers were a minute early. Lt.Col. Kato used his radio to give directions and the whole formation looked like a flying circus. Using bombers as targets, the pilots of the 64th Sentai practiced interceptions from various positions – dead ahead, from ahead and above, diving attacks through the formation, beam attacks, etc. as weather permitted. Encountering almost solid storm front nearing the target forced the cancellation of the exercise. Just as the last plane slid into its position, the formation disappeared in a darkness – visibility was so bad that everyone was flying on its own for a few minutes. Luckily the formation exited the front just as quickly and was able to reform. The bombers initiated their bombing runs, dropping several bomb loads into the target area. Fire from the ground damaged 3 bombers, but no one was hurt and the formation took course for home. More practicing took place along the way back.

The bomber formation leader landed at Mandalay with Lt.Col. Kato aboard, and the pilots had a long afternoon debriefing and going over tactics. It was again arranged to repeat the mission tomorrow to test the new ideas and get more practicing.

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Post #: 206
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 5/17/2017 5:33:27 AM   
Barb


Posts: 2503
Joined: 2/27/2007
From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.185
Date: June 10th, 1942 Tokyo time

Running the same mission with altered timetable was no fun either. Of the 30 dispatched bombers two had to return, and with the bomber leader flying from Mandalay with Lt.Col. Kato aboard it made a total of 29 Type 97 Heavy bombers. 64th Sentai again dispatched 21 Hayabusas.

With much better weather both pilots and bomber crews got more practicing. This time the 1st Chutai of the 64th Sentai (8 planes) took the role of the defenders while the 2nd Chutai (13 planes) were send ahead to stage an ambush. Bombers passively took their course toward target covered by 1st Chutai only. About half an hour into the flight the 2nd Chutai managed to jump the formation from the sun – they got among the bombers before 1st Chutai could intervene. Nearing the target the exercise was interrupted and normal cruising dispositions were assumed. Good visibility offered bombers a nice clear bombing run and bombs fell into the target area. 3 bombers again took hits from ground fire, but nothing fatal to the planes, nor crews. On the way back from the target the roles reversed – 1st Chutai went forward to attack and 2nd Chutai remained with the bombers. This time the interception was not so easy, and 1st Chutai was effectively engaged by the 2nd before it got to the bombers.

Lt.Col. Katos bomber landed in Mandalay again, and more work awaited the pilots on the ground to dissect the lessons of today. The bomber crew stayed for a quick dinner party thrown out by, but departed in the evening for their home base with best wishes.

News latter arrived that the incessant bombing broke the morale of the Chinese Corps at Bhamo and they retreated when a mixed force of three regimental combat teams of the 56th Division and assorted artillery arrived, exposing remnants of several Indian, Ghurka, Burma and British battalions and brigades. The attack of the mixed force of the Japanese Army took number of prisoners and dispersed several units. Total casualties for the engagement at Bhamo were about 1300 men for the allies at the cost of 110 our own. Banzaii!

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(in reply to Barb)
Post #: 207
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 5/18/2017 5:23:57 AM   
Barb


Posts: 2503
Joined: 2/27/2007
From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.186
Date: June 11th, 1942 Tokyo time

Days of intensive flying were not behind and on this day another mission was flown up to the Lashio. 21 Hayabusas of the 64th Sentai departed to escort a mixed force of 29 Type 97 Heavy bombers and 16 Type 99 Light bombers to bomb allied positions around Lashio. Light rain did not hamper the formation and target area was clear enough to allow a good pattern. Target area was thereafter hidden in the cloud of smoke as the formation departed the area. 3 of the heavy bombers sustained light damage from ground fire. All planes returned to base, although signs of fatigue started to appear on the pilots of the 64th Sentai – especially on the newly arrived not accustomed to the high operational tempo.

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(in reply to Barb)
Post #: 208
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 5/18/2017 5:24:17 AM   
Barb


Posts: 2503
Joined: 2/27/2007
From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.187
Date: June 12th, 1942 Tokyo time

Weather took over the flying on the Burmese skies – countless clouds, rains, storms, and winds flew overhead for the day. Pilots enjoyed the day off and made most of it. Machines and mechanics were not that happy, of course.

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(in reply to Barb)
Post #: 209
RE: Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (... - 5/19/2017 5:29:27 AM   
Barb


Posts: 2503
Joined: 2/27/2007
From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Status: offline 		64th Sentai war diary entry No.188
Date: June 13th, 1942 Tokyo time

A mission requiring both 64th Sentai and its 3rd Chutai was planned for today. According to the plan the 3rd Chutai should sweep Akyab area first, followed by bomber formation covered by the main part of the 64th Sentai. But weather over Mandalay turned worse and the escort part of the mission was cancelled.

3rd Chutai successfully took off from Prome and sweeped the area according the plan before the bomber formation – 28 of the Type 97 Heavy bombers arrived without escort and laid a pattern neatly across the Akyab airfield. One of the bombers got light damage from ground fire, but all planes returned safely. The repeat of the mission was planned for the next day as the airstrip remained operational based on the later recon flight.

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(in reply to Barb)
Post #: 210
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