The 24th Air Flotilla (第二十四航空戦隊, Dai-Nijūyon Kōkū-Sentai) was a combat aviation unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the Pacific Campaign of World War II. The flotilla, mainly consisting of land-based bombers, fighters, and flying boats, reported to the IJN's 4th Fleet. As originally organized, the flotilla's core units were the 4th Air Corps, Yokohama Air Corps, and 1st Air Corps.Bullard, pp.32-33.
Organization The 4th Combined Air Group (第4連合航空隊, Dai-yon Rengō Kōkutai) was original unit of the 24th Air Flotilla, therefore, describe this section from the 4th Combined Air Group. Date Higher unit Unit name Aviation units and vessels 15 November 1940 (original) Combined Fleet 4th Combined Air Group Chitose Naval Air Group, Yokohama Naval Air Group, Seaplane tender Kamoi 15 January 1941 11th Air Fleet 24th Air Flotilla(renamed) Chitose Naval Air Group, Yokohama Naval Air Group, Seaplane tender Kamoi, MV Goshū Maru 10 April 1941 11th Air Fleet 24th Air Flotilla Chitose Naval Air Group, Yokohama Naval Air Group, 1st Air Group, Seaplane tender Kamoi, MV Goshū Maru 20 December 1941 4th Fleet 24th Air Flotilla Chitose Naval Air Group, Yokohama Naval Air Group, 1st Air Group, MV Goshū Maru 16 February 1942 4th Fleet 24th Air Flotilla Chitose Naval Air Group, Yokohama Naval Air Group, 1st Air Group, 4th Air Group, MV Goshū Maru 1 April 1942 11th Air Fleet 24th Air Flotilla Chitose Naval Air Group, Yokohama Naval Air Group, 1st Air Group, MV Goshū Maru 1 December 1942 11th Air Fleet 24th Air Flotilla 201st Naval Air Group, 552nd Naval Air Group, 752nd Naval Air Group 5 August 1943 12th Air Fleet 24th Air Flotilla 531st Naval Air Group, 752nd Naval Air Group 1 December 1943 12th Air Fleet 24th Air Flotilla 281st Naval Air Group, 531st Naval Air Group, 752nd Naval Air Group 20 February 1944 dissolved
Commanding officers Rank Name Date Note1 Rear-Admiral Ryūnosuke Kusaka 15 November 1940 2 Rear-AdmiralVice-Admiral Eiji Gotō 15 April 194115 October 1941 3 Rear-Admiral Minoru Maeda 1 June 1942 4 Rear-AdmiralVice-Admiral Michiyuki Yamada 20 January 19436 February 1944 KIA on 6 February 1944 at Ruot (Battle of Kwajalein).Posthumly promoted to Vice-Admiral on same day.x vacant post 7 February 1944 After unnoticed death of Rear-Admiral Yamada.
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