Hikōtai Transport Unit

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The Japanese Army Air Force Hikōtai Unit was an Imperial Japanese Army Air Service Air transport section (a ) whose mission was to transport personnel, weapons and equipment to occupied territories or the combat front in wartime. Such units supported Army airborne forces during their missions as well.

Fleet[]

These service operated various types of aircraft:

• Kawasaki Ki-3 (Liaison and communications)
• Nakajima Ki-4 (Liaison and communications)
• Kokusai Ki-76 "Stella" (Liaison)
• Kobeseiko Te-Gō (Liaison)
• (Communications)
• Mitsubishi Ki-7 (Liaison)
• Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah" (Liaison, communication and courier)
• (Air Ambulance/liaison)
• Tachikawa Ki-9 "Spruce" (Communications)
• Tachikawa Ki-17 "Cedar" (Communications)
• Kayaba Ka-1 (communications helicopter)
• Kawasaki Ki-56 "Thalia" (Merchant transport)
• Kokusai Ki-59 "Theresa" (Light transport)
• Mitsubishi Ki-1 (Heavy Bomber/Transport)
• Mitsubishi Ki-7 (Light transport)
• Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally" (Heavy Bomber/transport)
• Mitsubishi MC-20 (Transport version of Ki-21 bomber)
• Mitsubishi Ki-57 "Topsy" (Personnel transport)
• Nakajima Ki-34 "Thora" (Personnel transport)
• Nakajima Ki-6 (Light transport, version of Fokker 8 Super Universal)
• Nakajima Ki-49 (Transport modification of Ki-49 bomber)
• Douglas DC-2 (Transport, 2 purchased, 6 manufactured under license)
• Douglas DC-5 (Transport, 1 captured at KLM, evaluated and used for transport services)
• Tachikawa Type LO Transport Aircraft "Thelma" (Personnel transport)
• Tachikawa Ki-54 "Hickory" (Light transport)
• Kokusai Ku-8 "Gander" (Transport glider)

Manchoukuoan Air Transport Services[]

Within this unit in Manchukuo the Manchukuo Air Transport Company developed. This unit functioned as a paramilitary transport service inside of Manchukuo Air Force for the transportation of Japanese and Manchu military personnel. They were equipped with Junkers Ju 86 Z-2, among other airplanes.

References[]