Kato Hayabusa Sentotai - War diary of 64th Sentai (Resurrected)

[Barb]

64th Sentai war diary entry No.122
Date: April 8th, 1942 Tokyo time

Another fighter sweep to Meiktila area followed closely by bomber formation with two other fighter Sentais as cover was the order of the day. As ground troops were to attack the Meiktila they requested some close air support to soften up the defenders before the final attack. All went according the plan, and ground troops occupied Meiktila that evening with relative ease. No enemy was encountered in the air, and all planes and pilots returned safely. Radio Tokyo announced that the last allied stronghold in Dutch East Indies – Soerabaya was captured by victorious Japanese armies.

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64th Sentai war diary entry No.123
Date: April 9th, 1942 Tokyo time

A day off for pilots, but not for the ground crews as usually. Lt. Col Kato managed to organize a quick baseball match between air units and ground troops garrisoned in or around Chiang May. Weather was fine and every man enjoyed the event, even if the ground troops had won.

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64th Sentai war diary entry No.124-125
Date: April 10th to 11th, 1942 Tokyo time

Full attention of the 64th Sentai was turned to Magwe, another town with airfield in central Burma. On both of these days a fighter sweeps went to look for the enemy, but on both occasions the enemy failed to show up for a fight. Nevertheless the 3rd Chutai lost one of its Hayabusas to a landing accident on the 10th. All went well until 2nd Lt. Ishimori N. came in to land. One of his landing gears failed to deploy, and the other couldn’t be raised up again. After circling around the airfield trying to lower the other gear, he decided to try to land after all. In the end the Hayabusa was a wreck and pilot was lucky to escape the wreckage with just some bruises and a little gash above his right eye.

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64th Sentai war diary entry No.126
Date: April 12th, 1942 Tokyo time

As the frontline moved forward, and repairs on captured enemy airfields were made to allow operations, the 64th Sentai prepared itself to move again. While the 3rd Chutai was destined to remain in Chiang Mai for a few more days, the rest of the Sentai packed and prepared to move to Meiktila, central Burma. The move was not an easy one, and two Hayabusas suffered light damage landing on the recently cratered enemy airfield.

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64th Sentai war diary entry No.127
Date: April 13th, 1942 Tokyo time

While the 64th Sentai started to settle in Meiktila providing some area CAP and dusk and dawn readiness in case some enemy showed up, the 3rd Chutai was called on to perform a sweep to Magwe. The weather over target was not very welcoming and one Hayabusa was again slightly damaged on landing.

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64th Sentai war diary entry No.128
Date: April 14th, 1942 Tokyo time

A rather quiet day, as the 3rd Chutai had a day off and the rest of the 64th was on the usual CAP and readiness duty. A new arrival joined the Sentai at Magwe – W/O Hayashi, M., who had seen some combat over Philippines, but so far failed to secure any victory.

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64th Sentai war diary entry No.129-130
Date: April 15th to 16th, 1942 Tokyo time

On both days the Sentai was performing usual CAP and readiness duty, but for the 3rd Chutai. Still stationed at Chiang Mai, it was called to perform fighters sweeps on both days to Mandalay. With full strength of 12 Hayabusas they swept the area, but on both occasions the enemy opposition failed to materialize.

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64th Sentai war diary entry No.131
Date: April 17th, 1942 Tokyo time

The 3rd Chutai bids farewell to Thailand and prepares to move forward to Burma. Keeping some CAP and readiness over Chiang Mai while packing and preparing to move was the job of the day. Air echelon departed to shortly rejoin the 64th Sentai in Meiktila on the evening, with the ground element following.

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64th Sentai war diary entry No.132
Date: April 18th, 1942 Tokyo time

3rd Chutai spend just this day with its Sentai and moved to Prome before the sun set. The ground element was to catch up in few days, meanwhile the pilots have to do what they can to keep their machines ready to flight with some help of mechanics borrowed from other units stationed at Prome.

For the rest of the 64th this was just another quiet day spent flying CAP and keeping readiness in case any enemy planes showed up...

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64th Sentai war diary entry No.133
Date: April 19th, 1942 Tokyo time

3rd Chutai was sucked up into action immediately upon arrival at Prome - on this day they were to provide close escort for Army Type 99 Light bombers on their way to attack enemy ground positions near Magwe. Meeting the bombers near Prome, the 3rd Chutai kept a sharp eye on the skies around, but no enemy interfered with the formation. Just light AA fire was encountered over the target damaging several of the light bombers. While the bombing results were unknown at the time, the pattern was right on target.

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64th Sentai war diary entry No.134
Date: April 20th, 1942 Tokyo time

As the 64th Sentai spent the day resting without any enemy interference, they were not even called on to provide CAP and readiness duty as usual. On the other hand 3rd Chutai was kept busy by another escort mission. Formation of about 37 Type 99 Light bombers was going to bomb the same target as yesterday. With a better visibility and no clouds or rains around the bombing was again accurate. AA fire was again heavy and accurate, but managed to damage only two light bombers over the target, and both managed to return safely.

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64th Sentai war diary entry No.135
Date: April 21st, 1942 Tokyo time

An operation was planned using the 64th Sentai as one of five Sentais participating. The operation called for a heavy bombing of Shwebo Airfield – 64th Sentai and 59th Sentais were to provide both sweeping and close escort for three bomber formations. First in was the 1st Chutai of the 64th with a Staff Shotai. Encountering no enemy they circled the area for a while and departed just as the main force was staring its bombing run. First in were 25 Type 97 Heavy bombers with 3rd Chutai as close escort followed by two formations of 18 and 19 Type 99 Light bombers closely watched from above by 59th Sentai. The bombing was excellent and AA fire damaged just one of the light bombers.

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64th Sentai war diary entry No.136
Date: April 22nd, 1942 Tokyo time

While the 64th Sentai sent 2nd Chutai with a staff Shotai again to Shwebo – in case any allied planes were there expecting the bombers – and returned empty-handed, the 3rd Chutai was again assigned a bomber escort duty – this time to strike enemy ground positions near Mandalay. Two Sentais of Type 99 twin engine light bombers participated again, sending 18 and 19 planes respectively. While the flak was accurate, the damage was limited to one of the bombers lightly damaged. On the other hand the bombing was excellent even through the rain squalls everywhere around, and the ground troops later reported a number of enemy bodies discovered in the area where bombs fell.

[Barb]

I am going to take a little vacation till the next week.
I would like to have some comments from you regarding the AAR. Do you like it at all? Would you appreciate something? Should I focus more on something, etc. I know you cannot influence the current events in the game as the PBEM is more then year forward, but any hints or comments would be appreciated. [;)]

[adarbrauner]

you are doing a great effort in trying to confer realism in to game mechanics....which is more valuable than the mechanics and simulation themselves for its literary value.

[Ol_Dog]

Sgt Zack said "The only ones who know where you are are the enemy."

Your AAR is different, but very welcome. I check every day.

[Bif1961]

Very interesting read from the most successful Ki43 unit.

[Barb]

64th Sentai war diary entry No.137
Date: April 23rd, 1942 Tokyo time

Another big mission was flown on this day by the 64th Sentai. The target were some Chinese troops around the Shwebo. 64th Sent again one Chutai and Staff Shotai for a sweep to Shwebo area, but again failed to make any contact with the enemy. 3rd Chutai was again part of the close bomber escort together with 59th Sentai – First came in a formation of 17 Type 97 heavy bombers with 23 Type 99 light bombers well covered by both fighter formations and laid a good bomb pattern on target. Trailing behind them came 24 Type 97 heavy bombers and 14 Type 99 light bombers which failed to make rendezvous on time with the formation and spent most of the flight to target in an effort to make up the loss. These too bombed nicely, even without fighter protection as no enemy was present. Flak was again heavy and accurate damaging several of the bombers. One of the Type 99 light bombers was seen to crash land on the way home, but the crew escaped safely and returned to the base.

P.S.: Thanks for comments

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64th Sentai war diary entry No.138-144
Date: April 24th to April 30th, 1942 Tokyo time

Several quiet days followed with just normal CAP and readiness duties, while the ground crews tried to catch up on the maintenance. One or two planes at the time were taken off line and thoroughly checked, etc.

[Barb]

Can anyone host a signature picture for me?