938 Air Group

[Spearfish]

Can anyone provide me information on the 938 Air Group?
I am seeking information on when it was activated, its commanders, bases, aircraft and strength at various times.

[ijnfleetadmiral]

What I have for this unit:

Air Group 938
Activated on 15 April 1943 (assigned to 8th Fleet HQ its entire existence)
Deactivated on 10 August 1945

Commanding Officers
??? - 15 April 1943 - 25 February 1944
LCDR YAMADA Tatsuto (58) - 25 February 1944 - ???
??? - ??? - 10 August 1945

Executive Officers
??? - 15 April 1943 - 25 February 1944
LCDR YAMADA Tatsuto (58) - 25 February 1944 - ???
??? - ??? - 10 August 1945

Air Officers
LCDR YAMADA Tatsuto (58) - 15 April 1943 - 25 February 1944
??? - 25 February 1944 - 10 August 1945

[fontessa]

938th Naval Air Group
Organized on 15 April 1943 and operated in the Solomon Islands. Dismissed on 10 December 1944 with the bottom of supplies. The troops remain in Rabaul without returning to Japan and transferred to 85th Guard.

Brief history
15 April 1943: Activated with 16 Petes had mounted on 神川丸 Kamikawa Maru at Shortland Islands
July 1943 - September 1943: Reconnaissance and gun bombing at Rendova Island
1 November 1943: Withdraw to Buka Island
12 November 1943: Participated in the 4th Bougainville Island Air Battle as a reconnaissance team
18 January 1944: Cooperating with the withdrawal of Choiseul Island Army garrison
10 March 1944: Supporting the 17th Army's Cape Torokina attack
15 March 1944: Advance into Buin
15 March 1944 - : Engaged in patrol of Bougainville Island, transporting goods to Rabaul
10 December 1944: Disbanded

Personnel
Commanding Officers
CDR / CDR TERAI Kunizo 寺井邦三 (50): 15 April 1943 - 25 February 1944 (42 C13072090500 / 14 C13072096000)
LCDR / CDR YAMADA Tatsuto 山田龍人 (58): 25 February 1944 - 10 December 1944 (15 C13072096000 / 49 C13072102200)
Executive Officers
(ADD) LCDR YAMADA Tatsuto 山田龍人 (58): 25 February 1944 - 10 December 1944 (15 C13072096000 / 49 C13072102200)
Hikochos
LCDR / LCDR YAMADA Tatsuto 山田龍人 (58): 15 April 1943 - 25 February 1944 (42 C13072090500 / 15 C13072096000)
VACANT: 25 February 1944 - 10 December 1944
Hikotaichos
LT / ??? YAMAGATA Yorio 山形頼夫 (63): 15 April 1943 - ??? (43 C13072090500)
LTJG / LT NOSHIRO Ayaho 野城英保 (69): 25 February 1944 - 10 December 1944 (18 C13072096000 / 49 C13072102200)
Medical Officers
LT / ??? KUSAMA Takuji 草間卓次 (???): 15 April 1943 - ??? (3 C13072090600)
Supply Officers
LT / ??? KATO Tatsusaburo 加藤達三郎 (???):15 April 1943- ??? (48 C13072090500)
26 April 1943 - 29 May 1943 (KIA)
**********
Hikocho: Air Officer
Hikotaicho: The officer between Air officer and Division Officer
ADD: additional post

fontessa

[ijnfleetadmiral]

Thanks for the info!

[Spearfish]

Gentlemen
Very many thanks for such a fantastic response.

[Larry D.]

Here is a little additional information on 938:



938 Kōkūtai
(FPO Designation: U-255)


Formed 15 April 1943 as a seaplane reconnaissance air group at Shortland Island naval base in the North Solomons, the seaplane anchorage actually being on Poporang Island (a.k.a. Faisi Is. or Faisi-Poporang in the Shortlands Group) and Rekata seaplane anchorage at Rekata on Santa Isabel Island/Solomons using the crews and seaplanes formerly assigned to 11th Seaplane Tender Division (Sanuki Maru and Sanyo Maru). Equipped with Mitsubishi F1M Type 0 observation seaplanes (PETE) and Yokosuka E14Y1 Type 0 small reconnaissance seaplanes (GLEN). The group’s aircraft allowance (10 Mar 44) called for 16 reconnaissance seaplanes, and its personnel allowance (1 Oct 43) for 65 officers and warrant officers, and 580 petty officers and men. Assigned to Eighth Fleet.

15 Apr 43 – Feb 44: Bases - Kōkūtai HQ at Shortland with detachments at:
Rekata/Santa Isabel Is. (15 Apr 43 – c. 1 Sep 43)
Buka/N Bougainville (1 Oct 43 – c. 1 Mar 44)
Rabaul/New Britain Is. (c. 1 Oct 43 – Feb 44)
May – Dec 43: with an average strength of 16-20 floatplanes, flew armed patrols and night reconnaissance from Shortland and escort for convoys departing Rabaul with supplies and reinforcements for garrisons in the Central and North Solomons. The group’s floatplanes made frequent attacks on U.S. PT boats encountered in the Central Solomons from July onward and managed to drop small bombs or shoot-up and damage a number of them.
Mar 44 – 10 Dec 44: Bases - Kōkūtai at Buin/S Bougainville (few aircraft)
10 Dec 44: disbanded at Rabaul with one floatplane remaining.


Commander:
Cdr. Kunizō TERAI (Apr 43 - Feb 44?) 12/43
Lt.Cdr. Tatsuo YAMADA (Feb 44? - Dec 44?)

Sources:
JM#116; JM#122; IGHQ Directive #1905; JICPOA JNAF OB (Microfiche F-2076):185; JICPOA Bulletin 16-45; Thorpe-JNAF.
JM#99, JM#140; JM#142; McAulay-Into the Dragon’s Jaws:19; Cressman-Official Chronology.
JM#116.
JM#116; McAulay-op cit:97.