Hikōtaichō

The Hikōtaichō (飛行隊長) was a senior naval aviation position in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service, normally held by a Lieutenant Commander or a very senior Lieutenant, who commanded all flight personnel in an air group.

For example, during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, the first strike wave against the United States Navy carriers was commanded by Lieutenant Commander Shigeharu Murata (Shōkaku Hikōtaichō), where Shōkaku contributed Nakajima B5N torpedo bombers and Zuikaku contributed Aichi D3A dive bombers.

In another example, during the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway, Lieutenant Takehiko Chihaya (Akagi Hikōtaichō) was an observer; his Aichi D3A dive bomber was piloted by Petty Officer First Class Kiyoto Furuta.

[1] In carrier-based units, the position of Hikōtaichō was marked by three horizontal stripes on the tail of an aircraft.

[2] However, this marking should not be confused with the vertical stripes around the rear of the fuselage, which indicated to which carrier the aircraft belonged.

Aircraft flown by Lieutenant Hideki Shingō ( Shōkaku fighter Hikōtaichō ) taking off from carrier Shōkaku during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands . Notice the three horizontal stripes on the tail of the aircraft that indicate Hikōtaichō position.