Yokosuka P1Y - 522 Kōkūtai?

[Franklin]

Hi all,

Which Kōkūtai or Hikōtai this Yokosuka P1Y belonged?

Was the 522 Kōkūtai, as indicated in the instructions of this old Revell kit?

Best regards,
Franklin

[fontessa]

Hello Franklin,

Which Kōkūtai or Hikōtai this Yokosuka P1Y belonged?
Was the 522 Kōkūtai, as indicated in the instructions of this old Revell kit?

This Kugisho P1Y belonged to 522 Kokutai. 522 Kokutai was called 轟部隊 (Todoroki Unit). We can see the painting "576 - 轟" on vertical tail. 522 Kokutai was activated on 1 March 1944 and was disbanded on 10 July 1944.

fontessa

[Franklin]

Thank you for your help, Fontessa.

What the number 576 mean?

Where the 522 Kokutai was based at this time?

Franklin

[fontessa]

Hello Franklin,

What the number 576 mean?

Probably identification number inside the Kukutai.

Where the 522 Kokutai was based at this time?

Toyohashi: 37 mi ESE of Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture/C Honshū.

fontessa

[Franklin]

Thank you again, Fontessa.

[Eugen Pinak]

Hi all,

Which Kōkūtai or Hikōtai this Yokosuka P1Y belonged?

Was the 522 Kōkūtai, as indicated in the instructions of this old Revell kit?

The kanji is indeed 522 Ku, but the plane number is strange. For P1Y it had to be in 200-299 series.

[fontessa]

Hello Eugen,

I don't know plane number assignment system. Do you mean 200 - 299 was assigned to 522 Kokutai's P1Ys?

fontessa

[Eugen Pinak]

Hello Eugen,

I don't know plane number assignment system. Do you mean 200 - 299 was assigned to 522 Kokutai's P1Ys?

fontessa

According to Administrative order No.45 from 1 October 1936, all IJN planes were to have numbers in the following series:
recon - 1 to 99
fighter - 101 to 199
dive bomber - 201 to 299
torpedo bomber - 301 to 399
training - 401 to 899(?)
No matter, if unit was mixed or consisted of only one class of planes, those numbering pattern was kept until 1 August 1944, from which only two last digits were to be used. By the end of the war different numbering patterns emerged locally, as standard organization of IJN air units dissolved more and more into special attack and other "ad hoc" units.

As 522 Ku was dive-bomber unit, its P1Y were to carry numbers in 201-299 series.

[fontessa]

Hello Eugen,

Thanks. I found Administrative Order No.45 in JACAR (Ref. No. C13071969100).

fontessa

[Eugen Pinak]

Hello Eugen,

Thanks. I found Administrative Order No.45 in JACAR (Ref. No. C13071969100).

fontessa

You're always welcome.