343rd Naval Air Group
| 343rd Naval Air Group | |
|---|---|
Kawanishi N1K2-J "343 A-15" of 301st Fighter Squadron/343rd Naval Air Group, Matsuyama air base, 10 April 1945.
|
|
| Active | January 1, 1944–July 10, 1944 December 25, 1944–postwar |
| Country |
 Empire of Japan
|
| Allegiance | Empire of Japan |
| Branch |
 Imperial Japanese Navy
|
| Type | Naval aviation unit |
| Role | Fighter, interceptor fighter |
| Size | various |
| Part of |
First generation 1st Air Fleet 61st Air Flotilla Second generation 25th Air Flotilla 3rd Air Fleet 5th Air Fleet 72nd Air Flotilla |
| Garrison/HQ |
First generation Kagoshima, Japan Tinian, Marianas Peleliu, Palau Second generation Matsuyama, Japan Kanoya, Japan Kokubu, Japan Ōmura, Japan |
| Nickname(s) |
First generation Hayabusa Corps (隼部隊) Second generation Tsurugi Corps (剣部隊) |
| Aircraft flown |
A6M Type 0 "Zeke" N1K1-J Shiden "George" N1K2-J Shiden-Kai "George" C6N1 Saiun "Myrt" |
| Engagements | |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |
First generation 隼 (Hayabusa, used in Japan homeland) 43 (outside Japan homeland) |
| Identification symbol |
Second generation 343 with squadron code example; 343 A-xx (301st FS) |
The 343rd Naval Air Group (第三四三海軍航空隊 Dai San-Yon-San Kaigun Kōkūtai?) was an aircraft and airbase garrison unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the Pacific campaign of World War II. Created in 1944 due to the desperate situation of Japan in the closing stages of the war, the 343rd was composed of the best surviving ace fighter pilots the Imperial Navy had at the time, with Captain Minoru Genda in command. This unit was equipped with the best airplane Japan had, the Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden Kai, nicknamed George by the Allies, this aircraft could compete with Allied planes at the time, the F6F Hellcat, the P-51 Mustang and the F4U Corsair. This unit achieved success however it was far too late to have any affect in the war.
IJN 343rd Air Group (343 Kōkūtai Naval Fighter Group), commanded by Minoru Genda, which was constituted on 25 December 1944. The new 343rd Kōkūtai consisted of the best pilots, including Kaneyoshi Muto. The unit was issued the best equipment available and was also equipped with the new Nakajima C6N Saiun, codenamed "Myrt" long-range reconnaissance aircraft.
On 18 March 1945, one of the "Myrts"' managed to spot U.S. carriers en route to Japan. The following morning, 343 Kōkūtai's Shidens intercepted 300 American aircraft. Many of the 343 Kōkūtai Shiden force were N1K2s. When the Shidens encountered VBF-17 Hellcats, three aircraft were lost on both sides in the initial attack; one Hellcat and two Shiden were shot down by enemy ground fire, two fighters collided in mid-air, and one Hellcat crashed while trying to land. Then the other Shiden dove on the Hellcats, downing another one. In the end, the 407 Hikōtai lost six fighters versus downing eight VBF-17 Hellcats.
...
Wikipedia