2nd Air Group

The 2nd Air Group was an Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service formation active during the Pacific War. It was established at Yokosuka on 31 May 1942 as a combined fighter and dive-bomber unit, initially equipped with Aichi D3A dive bombers and Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters. Its original operational purpose was to provide an air garrison for New Caledonia in support of Operation FS, the planned Japanese advance toward the South Pacific. The defeat at Midway led to the cancellation of that operation, and the group was instead sent to Rabaul, the principal Japanese air base in the Southwest Pacific area. The unit reached Rabaul on 6 August 1942, just before Allied forces landed on Guadalcanal and Tulagi. Its newer Model 32 Zero fighters and D3A dive bombers lacked the range to operate from Rabaul and return safely to Guadalcanal, but the group was nevertheless committed immediately. A small dive-bomber attack against Allied shipping near Tulagi on 7 August ended with heavy losses, including five of nine aircraft. The fighter element initially concentrated on the defense of Rabaul, then supported Japanese operations in New Guinea from Lae and Buna. It took part in the unsuccessful Japanese attempt to capture Milne Bay and later operated from Buka and the Shortland Islands, helping protect shipping and troop movements toward Guadalcanal. During the Guadalcanal campaign, the group contributed Zero escorts and reconnaissance sorties to repeated attacks by Mitsubishi G4M medium bombers. Its aircraft participated in operations on 12, 14, 27 September and in October 1942, while its dive bombers also attacked Allied naval forces around Guadalcanal. The group's missions were conducted in an increasingly contested environment characterized by long overwater flights, strong Allied fighter opposition, and difficult recovery conditions. On 1 November 1942, the formation was redesignated the 582nd Air Group. The redesignated unit continued fighting in the Guadalcanal and New Guinea campaigns and was expanded with aircraft and personnel from other Japanese air groups. As the 582nd Air Group, it supported Japanese forces during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, covered the attempted reinforcement of the island, and attacked Allied shipping and ground positions around Buna and elsewhere in New Guinea. It also helped cover the Japanese evacuation from Guadalcanal in February 1943. In April it participated in Operation I-Go, a major Japanese air offensive against Allied bases and shipping in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea. During Operation SE in June, a large dive-bomber strike suffered catastrophic losses. The fighter component was disbanded on 1 August 1943, with some pilots transferred to the 201st and 204th Air Groups. The remaining organization became a bomber formation and later absorbed D3A dive bombers and Nakajima B5N and B6N torpedo bombers associated with other naval air groups. It continued operations against Allied landings and shipping in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, including actions around Rendova, New Georgia, Vella Lavella, Lae, Arawe, Finschhafen and Cape Torokina. The 2nd Air Group therefore existed under its original designation for only part of 1942; its combat history is inseparable from that of the 582nd Air Group after the November redesignation.

The 2nd Air Group was created on 31 May 1942 at Yokosuka as a mixed Imperial Japanese Navy air formation. Its initial establishment included 16 Aichi D3A dive bombers and 16 Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters. Lieutenant Fumito Inoue served as the dive-bomber leader and Hikōtaichō, while Lieutenant Akira Kurakane commanded the fighter element. The unit was originally intended for New Caledonia as part of Operation FS. After the Japanese defeat at Midway caused that plan to be abandoned, the group was redirected to Rabaul and transported aboard the converted carrier Yawata Maru. The group arrived on 6 August 1942, immediately before the Allied landings at Guadalcanal and Tulagi. Its Model 32 Zeros had less range than earlier Zero variants, making direct operations from Rabaul against Guadalcanal hazardous or impractical. Despite this limitation, the group made an emergency dive-bomber attack against Allied vessels near Tulagi on 7 August. Nine D3As attacked with reduced bomb loads and were intercepted by carrier-based F4F Wildcats; five were lost, while the survivors ditched near the Shortland Islands and were rescued. The fighter squadron initially defended Rabaul. From late August it was temporarily sent to New Guinea, operating from Lae and Buna, while dive bombers also supported the Japanese attempt to seize Milne Bay. Both elements subsequently returned toward Rabaul. In September and October, detachments operated from Buka and the Shortland area, providing cover for Japanese shipping and troop movements toward Guadalcanal. Other fighters used Model 21 Zeros borrowed from elsewhere to escort G4M bomber raids and conduct reconnaissance over Henderson Field. The group also participated in attacks against Allied destroyers and shipping, usually under intense fighter opposition. On 1 November 1942, the unit was redesignated the 582nd Air Group. It continued to take part in the Guadalcanal campaign, including fighter cover for the damaged battleship Hiei and for transports led by Rear Admiral Raizō Tanaka. By mid-November, personnel and aircraft from the former 31st and 35th Air Groups had increased the formation to approximately 24 dive bombers and 36 fighters. The enlarged unit operated from Rabaul and Lae against Allied forces around Buna and continued attacks through the end of December. The 582nd Air Group covered the Japanese evacuation of Guadalcanal in February 1943. On 1 February, a dive-bomber attack near Savo Island sank one destroyer and damaged another, but the formation lost several aircraft and Reserve Lieutenant Norimasa Kitamura. In April, the group took part in Operation I-Go, attacking Allied shipping and escorting bomber missions against Port Moresby and Milne Bay. A June operation against shipping around Guadalcanal resulted in particularly severe losses, with 13 of 24 dive bombers and four Zero fighters destroyed. The fighter element was disbanded on 1 August 1943. The remaining organization became a bomber unit and later incorporated D3A, B5N and B6N aircraft from other naval formations. It remained active in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea campaigns, attacking Allied forces and shipping during landings and operations around Rendova, New Georgia, Vella Lavella, Lae, Arawe, Finschhafen and Cape Torokina. The original 2nd Air Group designation consequently represents the formation's early-1942 phase, while its later combat record belongs to the 582nd Air Group.

• 1943

  Disbandment of fighter element

  [1]2nd Air Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The fighter component was disbanded on 1 August, after which the formation operated as a bomber unit.

• 1942

  Formation at Yokosuka

  [1]2nd Air Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 2nd Air Group was established on 31 May as a mixed Aichi D3A and Mitsubishi A6M formation.

• 1942

  Arrival at Rabaul

  [1]2nd Air Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit reached Rabaul on 6 August and was immediately drawn into the Guadalcanal campaign.

• 1942

  Redesignation as 582nd Air Group

  [1]2nd Air Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit received its new designation on 1 November.

A frontline naval aviation formation organized for expeditionary fighter escort, dive-bombing, reconnaissance, air defense and anti-shipping operations.

• Dive bomber

  Aichi D3A

  The D3A was the group's principal dive-bomber type during its early operations. It was used against Allied shipping around Guadalcanal, Tulagi, Savo Island and New Guinea, and remained in the later 582nd Air Group after the original redesignation.

• Fighter

  Mitsubishi A6M Zero

  Model 32 and borrowed Model 21 Zero fighters formed the group's fighter component. They performed air defense, escort, reconnaissance and cover missions across the Guadalcanal and New Guinea theaters until the fighter element was disbanded in August 1943.

• Torpedo bomber

  Nakajima B5N and B6N

  After becoming a bomber formation, the 582nd Air Group absorbed Nakajima B5N and B6N torpedo bombers from other naval air groups, broadening its role beyond dive bombing and allowing continued attacks against Allied shipping.

• 1943Operation I-Go

  Solomon Islands and New Guinea

  The formation conducted dive-bomber and fighter missions against Allied shipping and bases, including attacks associated with Port Moresby and Milne Bay.

  Outcome. The offensive did not reverse the strategic balance and imposed heavy losses on Japanese air units.

  Source
• 1942Guadalcanal Campaign

  Solomon Islands

  The group participated in fighter defense, bomber escort, reconnaissance and anti-shipping operations connected with the struggle for Guadalcanal and Henderson Field.

  Outcome. The Japanese campaign failed, and the unit continued under the 582nd designation.

  Source
• 1942New Guinea Campaign

  New Guinea

  Detachments operated from Lae and Buna, supported the Milne Bay operation, and later attacked Allied forces and shipping around Buna and other New Guinea locations.

  Outcome. Japanese operations were unsuccessful and the air group suffered continuing attrition.

  Source

• 1942

  Redirection from New Caledonia to RabaulStrategy

  Background

  The group had been intended to support Operation FS, but the plan was canceled after the Midway defeat and the formation was redirected to the Southwest Pacific.

  Action taken

  Japanese naval authorities sent the unit to Rabaul for operations against Allied advances in the Solomons and New Guinea.

  Aftermath

  The group entered combat almost immediately after the Allied landings at Guadalcanal.

  Source

• 1942

  Redesignation as the 582nd Air GroupOther

  Background

  Japanese naval aviation reorganized its formations during the Guadalcanal campaign.

  Action taken

  The 2nd Air Group was redesignated on 1 November 1942.

  Aftermath

  The formation continued combat operations under the 582nd name and was reinforced with personnel and aircraft from other units.

  Source

1. 12nd Air Groupen.wikipedia.org