The Battle of the Coral Sea began on May 7th. An air strike was initiated by the ‘Zuikaku’ and ‘Shokaku’ but the pilots only hit the Japanese oiler ‘Neosho’ and USS ‘Sims’. The ‘Shoho’, hit by 1000lb semi-armour piercing shells and Mark 13 torpedoes from Yorktown’s VT5, sank around 1140.
Both Lexington and Yorktown hit the ‘Shokaku’, forcing it to retire to Truk. The Lexington though torpedoed at 1120 hours, was still able to recover its aircraft but had to be abandoned and was later sunk by US destroyers.
In the first major battle in the Pacific Theatre, the Japanese lost 80 aircraft, the Americans 60. A diversionary strike at US bases in the Aleutians preceded the occupation of Midway.
Over 30 ships, transports and auxiliaries with 2 invasion groups were supported by the 4th Kokusentai/ 2nd Koku-Teishin-Butai (Carrier Strike Force) with a mix of 40 A6M2s ,21 B5N2s and 21 D3A1s.
On June the 3rd, 36 aircraft from the ‘Ryujo’ and ‘Junyo’, struck Dutch Harbor around dawn, oil storage, port facilities and 2 PBY5s were destroyed. One A6M2’s fuel line was hit by a stray round and was forced to land on Akutan Island, flipping over on landing. The Reisen was later found intact and taken to the US were it was examined and flown. After some time, the 1st Koku-Kantai (Carrier Fleet) was located and VB6 and VB3 struck at the ‘Akagi’ and ‘Kaga’, only the undamaged ‘Hiryu’ managed to retaliate. With the Yorktown abandoned and later scuttled, Douglas SDB3s from the USS Hornet and Enterprise located the ‘Hiryu’ and sank her around 5 pm. The Japanese lost 4 heavy carriers, 1 cruiser, 330 aircraft and 210 pilots, the Americans 1 an, 1 destroyer and 150 aircraft.
In July, the 5th and 6th Koku-Kushu-Butais from Rabaul, flew towards Lunga Point, located by the USS Chicago, the force was intercepted by F4 Wildcats from VF5. 11 Wildcats and a SBD3 were lost for 16 G4Ms, D3As and A6Ms, most of which had run out of fuel.
Another force of G4Ms from Rabaul and Kavieng attacked the convoys off Lunga on August 8th but only managed to sink a transport and damage a destroyer, many G4Ms were lost. In October, SDB3s, F4F4s, P39s and P40s mauled the 25th and 26th Air Flotillas. 350 aircraft, along with 1 carrier, 2 battleships, 11 destroyers and 6’!’ Class submarines were lost. By November, the JNAF stood at 1,700, 460 being carrier based, many being outdated D3A1s and B5N2s; newer aircraft (like the A6M3) were rare.
April 1943 and the Japanese initiated an air campaign (Operation I-Go) to destroy US airpower in the Solomons. 110 A6Ms and 60 D3As attacked shipping off Guadalcanal and Savo and 150 Oro Bay and Port Moresby which was countered with only 70 Allied aircraft. After intercepting and deciphering Japanese radio traffic, P38 pilots from the 12th, 70th and 339th Fighter Squadrons sighted Yamamoto’s 2 G4M1s with 9 Zeke escorts at 0935 hrs, some 30 miles northwest of Kahili on the 18th. Intelligence later revealed that Yamamoto had died amongst the wreckage of his plane. Only 1 P38 failed to return.
In August, to cover the landings at Lac, Bus and 24 s (covered by low flying B25s) bombed the Wewak sector. Japanese units located in the South East were the 201st, 204th, 251st, 253rd and 262nd Kokutais with A6Ms, the 50 1st and 582nd Kokutais with D3s and a few Yokosuka D4Y2 Suisei dive-bombers, 705th, 751st and part of the 752nd Kokutai with G4Ms and the 851st, 938th, 953rd and 958th Kokutais with Aichi E13s, Mitsubishi F4M2s and Kawanishi H8K flying boats. On the 12th of October 1943, 85 B24s, 110 B25s, 120 P38s and 11 RAAF Beaufighters struck Simpson Harbour, Vunakanau, Lakunai, Tobera, Rapopo and Keravat airfields. With the withdrawal of the 7th Hikoshidan in November, the 4th Kokugun (Air Army) had 150-170 aircraft to combat the 800 fighters, 780 bombers, 170 recce aircraft and 320 transports of the 5th USAF and the 500 or so aircraft of the RAAF.
After the US landings at Green Island (February 15th, 1944), Admiralty Islands (February 29th) and Emirau (March 20th) Kenney renewed attacks on the 4th Kokugun’s bases (Boram, Wewak, Dagua and But) to prepare the way for Operation ‘Reckless’ (the landing of troops ~ Aitape and Hollandia).
By July, JAAF strength stood at over 2,000 aircraft of which 320 were actively engaged in the defence of Japan (the 4th, 5th, 13th, 244th, 246th and 248th fighter Sentais of the 17th, 18th and 19th Hikodan based at Tokyo, Osaka and Ozuki). With the arrival of the US 73rd Bomb Wing (VH) at Isley Field, Saipan, 110 B29s were able I strike at Musashino , Kobe , Nagoya and Akashi with some success.
The night of March 9-10th 1945 saw the first bombing of Tokyo by 330 B29s from the 73rd, 313th and 314th Wings. 83,793 Japanese citizens were killed and 40,918 injured. 14 B29’s never returned.
After the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima (August 6th) and Nagasaki (August 12th), Japan officially surrendered on the 2nd of September 1945.
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