Japanese Anti-Aircraft Divisions

[moet36]

Hello there again. I have a query about the Japanese Armed Forces in WWII. I have read in the past of the existence of four anti-aircraft divisions formed in the homeland to counter the American bombing campaign. Does anyone know when and where formed and any order of battle and organisation details, many thanks in advance.

[tom!]

Hi.

There is a nice overview in Joan Pinyol´s "The Rising Sun In Arms".

1. AAA Division: Formed 26.12.1944


2. AAA Division: Formed 06.05.1945


3. AAA Division: Formed 06.05.1945


4. AAA Division: Formed 06.05.1945


There are also OOBs and some organisation details in that book. Due to copyright issues I´m not sure if I´m allowed to post them here...

Yours

tom!

[Joan Pinyol]

In the summer of 1944 the Allied Forces captured the air bases in the Mariana Islands, af-ter the awful battles of Saipan, Guam and Tinian. This fact allowed to the Allied air forces tactical operations over Japanese archipelago. It compelled the Japanese High Command to increase the anti-aircraft defences of the Homeland towns, Army and Navy bases and military industrial plants and arsenals. In that time the Homeland anti-aircraft defence was or-ganized into four brigade size units: the Eastern Army District group with HQ in Tokyo, the Nagoya group, the Central Army District group with HQ in Ōsaka and the Western Army District group with HQ in Kokura. The number of units assigned to these groups was grow-ingly increased during the second half of 1944. In December the Eastern group was upgraded to the 1st Anti-Aircraft Division, and in May 1945 the rest of the groups were converted to divisions.



1st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division
History Date
Formed from Eastern Army Anti-Aircraft Artillery HQ 26 Dec 1944
Assigned to 12th Area Army by the IGHQ Army Order no. 1244 6 Feb 1945
Active in Tokyo 15 Aug 1945
Disbanded according with the terms of the cease-fire agreement 9 Oct 1945

Assignments From To
Eastern District Army 26 Dec 1944 6 Feb 1945
12th Area Army 6 Feb 1945 15 Aug 1945

Location (HQ) From To
Tokyo 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945

General Officer Commanding in Chief From To
Lieutenant General Takashi Kanaoka 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
Order of Battle
Assigned anti-aircraft artillery HQs From To
6th Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery HQ 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945

Assigned anti-aircraft artillery regiments From To
111th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
112th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
113th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
114th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
115th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
116th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
117th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
118th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
119th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 1 July 1945 15 Aug 1945

Divisional troops From To
2nd Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
3rd Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
4th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
44th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
49th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
50th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
95th Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
96th Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
48th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 15 Apr 1945 15 Aug 1945
49th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 15 Apr 1945 15 Aug 1945
50th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 15 Apr 1945 15 Aug 1945
51st Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 15 Apr 1945 15 Aug 1945
1st Machine Cannon Battalion 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
4th Machine Cannon Battalion 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
1st Independent Machine Cannon Battalion 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
1st Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
2nd Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
13th Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
14th Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
15th Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
16th Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
34th Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
1st Searchlight Regiment 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
1st Independent Searchlight Battalion 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
1st Strategic Balloon Squadron 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
101st Strategic Balloon Squadron 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
Medical Detachment 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945
Staff Officers
Chief of Staff From To
Colonel Sueo Saitō 26 Dec 1944 15 Aug 1945



2nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division
History Date
Formed by from Nagoya Anti-Aircraft Artillery HQ 6 May 1945
Assigned to 13th Area Army by the IGHQ Army Order no. 1324 6 May 1945
Active in Nagoya 15 Aug 1945
Disbanded according with the terms of the cease-fire agreement 19 Sep 1945

Assignments From To
13th Area Army 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945

Location (HQ) From To
Nagoya 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945

General Officer Commanding in Chief From To
Major General Kanji Irie 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
Order of Battle
Assigned anti-aircraft artillery regiments From To
124th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
125th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945

Divisional troops From To
5th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
12th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
47th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
97th Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
52nd Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
53rd Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
54th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
12th Machine Cannon Battalion 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
106th Machine Cannon Battalion 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
23rd Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
24th Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
25th Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
42nd Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
43rd Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
44th Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
11th Independent Searchlight Battalion 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945


3rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division
History Date
Formed from Central Army Anti-Aircraft Artillery HQ 6 May 1945
Assigned to 15th Area Army by the IGHQ Army Order no. 1324 6 May 1945
Active in Ōsaka, Ōsaka Prefecture 15 Aug 1945
Disbanded according with the terms of the cease-fire agreement 11 Sep 1945

Assignments From To
15th Area Army 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945

Location (HQ) From To
Ōsaka, Ōsaka Prefecture 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945

General Officer Commanding in Chief From To
Major General Kiyoshi Kawai 5 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
Order of Battle
Assigned anti-aircraft artillery regiments From To
121st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
122nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
123rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945

Divisional troops From To
11th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
13th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
22nd Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
45th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 15 June 1945 15 Aug 1945
57th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
58th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
11th Machine Cannon Battalion 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
47th Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
48th Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
49th Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
50th Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
51st Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945


4th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division
History Date
Formed from Western Army Anti-Aircraft Artillery HQ 6 May 1945
Assigned to 16th Area Army by the IGHQ Army Order no. 1324 6 May 1945
Active in Kokura 15 Aug 1945
Disbanded according with the terms of the cease-fire agreement 24 Sep 1945

Assignments From To
16th Area Army 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945

Location (HQ) From To
Kokura 5 May 1945 15 Aug 1945

General Officer Commanding in Chief From To
Lieutenant General Hanji Ito 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
Order of Battle
Assigned anti-aircraft artillery HQs From To
4th Anti-Aircraft Artillery HQ 5 June 1945 15 Aug 1945

Assigned anti-aircraft artillery regiments From To
131st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
132nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
133rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
134th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
135th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
136th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945

Divisional troops From To
21st Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
23rd Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
24th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
43rd Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 15 June 1945 15 Aug 1945
55th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
56th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
98th Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
5th Machine Cannon Battalion 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
21st Machine Cannon Battalion 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
11th Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
12th Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
26th Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
27th Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
28th Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
31st Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
32nd Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
33rd Independent Machine Cannon Company 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
21st Independent Searchlight Battalion 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
21st Strategic Balloon Squadron 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
1st Machine Cannon Training Unit 6 May 1945 15 Aug 1945
Staff Officers
Chief of Staff From To
Lieutenant Colonel Seitarō Terao 5 May 1945 15 Aug 1945

[Joan Pinyol]

Nagoya Anti-Aircraft Artillery HQ
History Date
Formed in Nagoya 17 Aug 1944
Assigned to Central District Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 1108 21 Aug 1944
Assigned to 13th Area Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 1244 6 Feb 1945
Converted to 2nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division by the IGHQ Order no. 1324 6 May 1945

Assignments From To
Central District Army 21 Aug 1944 6 Feb 1945
13th Area Army 6 Feb 1945 6 May 1945

Commanding Officer From To
Major General Kanji Irie 22 Aug 1944 5 May 1945
Order of Battle
Assigned anti-aircraft artillery regiments From To
124th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 22 Aug 1944 6 May 1945
125th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 6 Sep 1944 6 May 1945

Brigade troops From To
12th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 22 Aug 1944 6 May 1945
47th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 22 Aug 1944 6 May 1945
5th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 6 Feb 1945 6 May 1945
52nd Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 15 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
53rd Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 15 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
54th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 15 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
87th Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 21 Aug 1944 6 Sep 1944
97th Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 26 Dec 1944 6 May 1945
98th Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 26 Dec 1944 8 Apr 1945
12th Machine Cannon Battalion 22 Aug 1944 6 May 1945
106th Machine Cannon Battalion 15 Oct 1944 6 May 1945
23rd Independent Machine Cannon Company 28 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
24th Independent Machine Cannon Company 28 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
25th Independent Machine Cannon Company 28 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
42nd Independent Machine Cannon Company 28 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
43rd Independent Machine Cannon Company 28 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
44th Independent Machine Cannon Company 28 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
11th Independent Searchlight Battalion 22 Aug 1944 6 May 1945


Central Army Anti-Aircraft Artillery Unit
History Date
Formed in Ōsaka from Central Army Air Defence HQ (Unit 4166) 1 June 1944
Assigned to 15th Area Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 1244 6 Feb 1945
Converted to 3rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division by the IGHQ Order no. 1324 6 May 1945

Assignments From To
Central District Army 1 June 1944 6 Feb 1945
15th Area Army 6 Feb 1945 6 May 1945

Commanding Officer From To
Major General Kiyoshi Kawai 1 June 1944 6 May 1945
Order of Battle
Assigned anti-aircraft artillery regiments From To
121st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 1 June 1944 6 May 1945
122nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 1 June 1944 6 May 1945
123rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 1 June 1944 6 May 1945
124th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 1 June 1944 22 Aug 1944

Brigade troops From To
11th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 1 June 1944 6 May 1945
12th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 1 June 1944 22 Aug 1944
13th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 1 June 1944 6 May 1945
22nd Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 14 Aug 1944 6 May 1945
57th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 15 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
58th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 15 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
11th Machine Cannon Battalion 3 June 1944 6 May 1945
12th Machine Cannon Battalion 3 June 1944 22 Aug 1944
47th Independent Machine Cannon Company 28 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
48th Independent Machine Cannon Company 28 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
49th Independent Machine Cannon Company 28 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
50th Independent Machine Cannon Company 28 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
51st Independent Machine Cannon Company 28 Apr 1945 6 May 1945


Eastern Army Anti-Aircraft Artillery Unit
History Date
Formed in Tokyo from Eastern Army Air Defence HQ (Unit 1900) 1 June 1944
Converted to 1st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division 26 Dec 1944

Assignments From To
Eastern District Army 1 June 1944 26 Dec 1944

Commanding Officer From To
Major General Takashi Kanaoka 1 June 1944 26 Dec 1944
Order of Battle
Assigned anti-aircraft artillery regiments From To
111th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 1 June 1944 26 Dec 1944
112th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 1 June 1944 26 Dec 1944
113th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 1 June 1944 26 Dec 1944
114th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 1 June 1944 26 Dec 1944
115th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 1 June 1944 26 Dec 1944
116th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 1 June 1944 26 Dec 1944
117th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 1 June 1944 26 Dec 1944
118th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 1 June 1944 26 Dec 1944

Brigade troops From To
95th Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 1 June 1944 26 Dec 1944
96th Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 1 June 1944 26 Dec 1944
1st Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 1 June 1944 26 Dec 1944
2nd Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 1 June 1944 26 Dec 1944
44th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 15 Oct 1944 26 Dec 1944
3rd Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 1 Nov 1944 26 Dec 1944
4th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 1 Nov 1944 26 Dec 1944
1st Searchlight Regiment 1 June 1944 26 Dec 1944
1st Machine Cannon Battalion 1 June 1944 26 Dec 1944
4th Machine Cannon Battalion 1 June 1944 26 Dec 1944
50th Field Machine Cannon Company 1 June 1944 26 Dec 1944
1st Strategic Balloon Squadron 1 June 1944 26 Dec 1944


Western Army Anti-Aircraft Artillery HQ
History Date
Formed in Kokura from Western Army Air Defence HQ (Unit 8060) 1 June 1944
Assigned to 16th Area Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 1244 6 Feb 1945
Converted to 4th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division by the IGHQ Order no. 1324 6 May 1945

Assignments From To
Western District Army 1 June 1944 6 Feb 1945
16th Area Army 6 Feb 1945 6 May 1945

Commanding Officer From To
Major General Shigejirō Ihara 1 June 1944 1 Apr 1945
Major General Hanji Ito 1 Apr 1945 5 May 1945
Order of Battle
Assigned anti-aircraft artillery regiments From To
131st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 1 June 1944 6 May 1945
132nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 1 June 1944 6 May 1945
133rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 1 June 1944 6 May 1945
134th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 1 June 1944 6 May 1945
135th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 1 June 1944 6 May 1945

Brigade troops From To
21st Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 1 June 1944 6 May 1945
23rd Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 1 June 1944 6 May 1945
24th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 1 June 1944 6 May 1945
43rd Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion 15 Oct 1944 6 May 1945
55th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 15 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
56th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 15 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
34th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 1 June 1944 6 Feb 1945
5th Machine Cannon Battalion 1 June 1944 6 May 1945
21st Machine Cannon Battalion 15 June 1944 6 May 1945
11th Independent Machine Cannon Company 28 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
12th Independent Machine Cannon Company 28 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
26th Independent Machine Cannon Company 28 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
27th Independent Machine Cannon Company 28 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
28th Independent Machine Cannon Company 28 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
31st Independent Machine Cannon Company 28 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
32nd Independent Machine Cannon Company 28 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
33rd Independent Machine Cannon Company 28 Apr 1945 6 May 1945
21st Independent Searchlight Battalion 1 June 1944 6 May 1945
21st Strategic Balloon Squadron 1 June 1944 6 May 1945