Fourth Air Army (Japan)

This request was initially declined as the army considered its forces were spread too thinly throughout occupied territories.

The defeat of the Kawaguchi Detachment in the Battle of Edson's Ridge at the beginning of September brought about a change in the army's stance with a proposal being put forward to provide two fighter and two bomber air groups until Port Moresby was captured.

With further assessment of the situation and the Kokoda Track campaign being unsuccessful, on 18 November the Army and Navy reached an agreement whereby the 6th Air Division was committed to the New Guinea front.

[1] The first unit to arrive at Rabaul were 60 Nakajima Type 1 "Oscar" fighters of the 11th Sentai on 18 December which were later sent to New Guinea.

To meet this change the 7th Air Division was transferred to Wewak from the Dutch East Indies on 19 June.

Eventually he was promoted to major general in command of the 2nd Air Division based in Manchukuo.

[3] The appointment was noted with surprise by the Emperor who asked war minister Hajime Sugiyama whether Tominaga knew anything about the air force.

Illness among aircrew and lack of replacement aircraft were contributing factors in addition to the combat attrition.

This prompted a retaliatory raid on Wewak and other bases between 17 and 21 August which destroyed 100 of the 4th Air Army aircraft.

[1] By September the operational strength had built up to 60-70 aircraft and the airbase at Hollandia was strengthened to provide more depth to the 4th Air Army's dispersion.

In October the 7th Air Division was transferred to the 2nd Area Army which had been relocated to the East Indies and New Guinea.

[1] Remnants Headquartered at Wewak with additional bases Madang and other minor airfields A total of 300 aircraft had been assembled at Hollandia by 25 March of which only 150 were operational.

Major Genenral Masazumi Inadana arrived at Hollandia on 11 April to take over the 6th Air Division.

On 22 April the enemy captured the base and remaining aircraft effectively wiping out the 6th Air Division.

[1][6] The Fourth Air Army's move to Manado also included a change to its operational area.

Its task was to initially attack carriers and convoys in conjunction with the IJN's 5th Base Air Force.

In addition to special attacks on ships, the Fourth Air Army used its Nakajima L2D transport aircraft of 208th Sentai to drop Taiwanese Takasago Volunteers, the so-called Takasago Volunteers, and the Takachiho Paratroopers (Raiding Regiments 3 and 4) onto enemy airfields.

Tominaga put his proposal to General Tomoyuki Yamashita, commander of the 14th Area Army.