901st Hikotai
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 4:04 pm
On 15 November the JNAAF formed its first decicated ASW air unit: 901st Hikotai. The unit listed in all scenarios as 901 Kokutai should be 901st Hikotai. Instead of controlling 8 seaplanes it controls 80 Betty bombers and Emily flying boats. "Many hundreds" of other aircraft were later assigned to ASW - probably in unidentified Hikotais. In addition to long range aircraft, the Navy assigned Q1W1, E11K1 and B5N2s, all equipped with MAD gear, a Japanese invention (although apparently it was also invented in the west about the same time). The Army similarly assigned former Ki-49 Bombers with MAD gear. [The Japanese Merchant Marine and World War II, Parillo]