CHAPTER 4 - WWII JAPANESE AIR SERVICE - SECTION 2
3. SERVICE
a. Hikojo Shireibu (Airfield Commands). Five Hikojo Shireibu have been identified. They are commanded by either a major general or colonel. While little is known of the organization's functions, the rank of the commander indicates that the headquarters may control several airfields. In some instances the commander holds a concurrent appointment as commander of the air depot or air school. Relationships of the Hikojo Shireibu to other units is not known. One of their functions is to provide Air-to-ground communications for Hikodan headquarters. They usually are commanded by a colonel lieutenant colonel.
b. Koku Chiku Shireibu (Air Senior Commands). Koku Chiku Shireibu are the administrative and servicing units on the brigade level. They are responsible for ground maintenance, supply, and administrative service for tactical units within an area. The Koku Chiku Shireibu are headquarters organizations, supervising the work carried out by the Hikojo Daitai (Airfield Battakions) and Hikojo Chutai (Airfield Companies). The Koku Chiku Shireibu are direct;y subordinate to the Hikoshidan (Air Divisions) and work in close cooperation with the Hikodan (Air Vrigades).
c. Hikojo Daitai (Airfield Batallions).
(1) The Hikojo Daitai provide ground service and perform administrative functions for tactical air units at the regimental level. These battalions assist maintenance personnel of tactical units, or, in their absence, maintain and service aircraft; Supply tatcical air units; provide air-ground communication for Hikosentai (Air Regiments); maintain telephone and telegraph lines within an airfield and to satellite fields; maintain and defend airfields; provide weather and sometimes photographic service. Aircraft maintenance normally provided is in the first and second echelon categories.
(2) Originally a Hikojo Daitai was assigned to service one Hikosentai , and moved with it. In the last two years, however, this system of pairing tactical and service units has been breaking down. The Hikojo Daitai still tend to specialize in maintenance of one type of aircraft, a practice which sometimes results in the presence of detachments from on Daitai at from two to five airfields in the presence at one major airfield of detachments from three or four Daitai .
(3) Normally a Hikojo Daitai is made up of four companies, namely, two maintenance compabies, a guard company, and a motor transport company (or platoon). There are usually one or more sections of specialized technicians such as armorers, sheet metal workers, and machinists. In some cases a materiel section is set up to handle supplies. Traffic control sections, which operate the airfields, have been noted. The organization appears to be flexible, specially to provide for sending balanced detachments to outlying airfields and strips. The commander usually is a captain or a major.
d. Hikojo Chutai (Airfield Companies). The Hikojo Chutai appear to perform much the same function as teh Hikojo Datai but more often appear at smaller airfields and at airfields where no tactical organizations are permanently assigned. There is evidence to indicate the the Hikojo Chutai are moredirectly concerned with the airfield than with the maintenance of aircraft. This may be particularly true where Hikojo Datai detachments are present. In many cases the Hikojo Chutai appear to specialize on one type of aircraft and to have dettachments at more than one field. The Hikojo Chutai normally are directly subordinate to the Koku Chiku Shireiby ; They are not elements of Hikojo Datai . The commander usually is a captain or first lieutenant.
e. Yasen Hikojo Settei Shireibu (Field Airfield Construction Commands). Six Yasen Hikojo Settei Shireibu have been identified. The function of these headquarters is not known; but, since those for which data are available are commanded by colonels, it appears probable that these Shireibu supervise several Yasen Hikojo Settei Tai (Field Airfield Construction Units).
f. Yasen Hikojo Settei Tai (Field Airfield Construction Units).
Sometimes translated Field Airfield Construction and Survey Units. These units construct airfields and in some cases operate the airfields until the proper operating organizations arrive. There are indicatitions that one of the principal duties is to survey and lay out the airfields. The units normally consists of four to six companies, each especializing in a phase of construction work. In addition to military personnel, the units sometimes supervise as many as 5,000 civilian laborers. The Yasen Hikojo Settei Tai obtained their trained construction personnel from the Koku Kichi Settei Renshubu (Airbase Construction Training Department).
g. Koku Joho Rentai and Tai (Air Intelligence Regiments and Units).
there appears to be no difference in the function of the two types of organizations Koku Joho Rentai and Koku Joho Tai. The organizational differences are not clear. Both types, however, are designed to obtain and disseminate information on enemy aircraft movements and on weather conditions, operating as part of the aircraft warning system. They use radio, visual observation and possibly radar, spreading their detachments and details over wide areas and providing their own communications networks for details in forward areas. Koku Joho Rentai originally were attached and operated in the area of Hikoshidan (Air Division).
h. Koku Tsushin Shireibu (Air Signals Commands).
The Koku Tsushin Shireibu appear to have been organized for control of lower signal echelons which have been multiplied in the course of expansion of the Army Air Forces.
i. Koku Tsushin Rentai (Air Signal Regiments).
The Koku Tsushin Rentai originally were attached to Hikoshidan (Air Divisions). They comprise headquarters, including supply sections, and two batallions , one a wire and the other a radio batallion. The regiment is responsible for wire and radio communications between all Air Force headquarters within the Hikoshidan's area. air-ground and intra-field communications are left to signal sections of the ground service organizations. In operations, the Koku Tsushin Rentai is subordinate to the organization to which it is attached. It is usually commanded by a lieutenant colonel.
j. Koku Tsushin Tai (Air Signal Units). The functions of the Koku Tsushin Tai are not definetily known, and it is not clear whether there is an unmistakable distinction between these units and the Koku Kotei Tsushin tai (mentioned below)
k. Koku Kotei Tsushin tai (Air Fixed Signal Units).
There are indications that the Koku Kotei Tsushin tai are responsible for communicatrions between major Air Force headquarters ( Hikoshidan and higher).
l. Kosoku Rentai and Tai (Navifation Aid Regiments and Units).
Kosoku Rentai and Kosoku Tai operate direction finding and other equipment. They assist operational units by giving locations and directions during flight and by otherwise facilitating flight. Detachments are widely scattered.
m. Taiku Musentai (Antiaircraft (?) Radio Unit).
Function of teh newly organized Taiku Musentai are not yet known. The translation of Taiku as "antiaircraft" is questionable; "Air ground", also suggested as a translation, is equallyunsatisfactory at present.
n. Yasen Koku Shurisho (Field Air Repair Depots).
The Yasen Koku Shurisho and their Bunsho (branches) are equipped to make extensive repairs on aircraft being responsible for fourth and sometimes third echelon maintenance. These depots also habdle aircraft supplies for air units. Beginning in March 1944. Dokuritsu Seibi Tai (Independent Maintenance Units) have appeared as subordinate units of Yasen Koku Shurisho .
o. Ido Koku Shuriban (Mobile Air Repair Sections).
The Ido Koku Shuriban are small, mobile organizations equipped to perform second and sometimes third echelon aircraft maintenance.
p. Kisobu (Meteorological Department).
See Section II. Paragraph 1b (3) and (4) above.
q. Chuo Kishobu (Central Meteorological Department).
Headed concurrently by the Chief of the Kishobu, this organization appears to be the central office handling meteorological data and reports on the working level.
r. Kisho Kansokujo (Meteorological Observatory).
The Kisho Kansokujo are weather observation stations.
s. Kisho rentai (Meteorological Regiments).
The Kisho rentai appear to supervise the meteorological service with the area controlled by a Kokugun (Air Army). They contain batallions and companies which are scattered over wide areas. The regiments are commanded by lieutenant colonels.
t. Yasen Kisho Tai (Field Meteorological Units). The Yasen Kisho Tai operate over wide areas with scattered detachments performing observation service. Their relationship to other meteorological organizatins is not clear. They are commanded by lieutenant generals and majors.
u. Kisho Tai (Meteorological Units).
Kisho Tai so far identified bear names which indicate they are permanently situated in China and Manchuria. Their functions appear to be the same as those of the Yasen Kisho Tai , the principal difference being in degree of mobility. They are commanded by majors and possibly by lieutenant colonels.
4. SUPPLY
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a. General.
For major supply organizations, specifically, Koku Hombu (Air Headquarters), Koku Gijutsu Kenkyujo (Air Technical research Laboratory), Koku Kosho (Air Arsenal), Koku honsho (Air Main Depot), and kokusho (Air Depots), see Sectio II, Paragraph 1b aove.
b. Yasen Koku Hokyusho (Field Air Supply Depot). Evidence now available indicates the the Yasen Koku Hokyusho supply air units only with bombs, other ammunitions and fuel.
c. Sempaku Kokusho (Shipping Air Depots). Only two Sempaku Kokusho have been identified. Their functions are not yet known.
d. Kokurobu : Kokuro Rentai (Air Route Departments: Air Route Regiments).
(1) The Kokurobu aid and expedite the movement of ferry and transport flights. Each is subordinate to a Kokugun (Air Army). The Kokuro Rentai appear to be operating units under the Kokurobu , and probably maintain detachments at airfields along designated routes.
(2) In January 1944, there were eight air routes under the Imperial General Headqurters as follows:
2.1 Southeast (Japan-New Guinea);
2.2 Celebes (Philipines-Celebes-Java-Singapore);
2.3 Borneo ((Philippines-Borneo-Singapore);
2.4 French Indo-China (Formosa-FIC-Burma);
2.5 China (Japan-Shanghai-Canton);
2.6 Manchuria (Japan-Korea-Manchuria);
2.7 Manchuria-China (Manchuria-Shanghai-Formosa);
2.8 Hokkaido (Japan-Hokkaido).
e. Koku Yosobu (Air Transport Department). See Section II, paragraph 1c, above.
f. Koku Yosobu Shisho (Air Transport Department Branches). The Koku Yosobu Shisho are believed to be responsible for air transport and the ferrying of replacement planes. Details of the ferrying system, as organized in January 1944, have not yet been determined.
g. Yuso Hikochutai (Air Transport Squadrons). The Yuso Hikochutai are engaged in air transport under the Kokugun (Air Armies). These units sometimes are referred to as Yuso Hikotai