Due to the limited range of the Yokosuka B4Y, the Kisarazu Air Group was forced to deploy from bases in Shanghai and Nanjing.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the start of hostilities with the United States, it also performed patrol duties protecting the entrance to Tokyo Bay.

From March 1942, the Kisarazu Air Group was re-equipped with Type 1 Mitsubishi G4M bombers, and continued training with the new equipment until the end of August 1942.

During a bombing mission against Allied ships near Guadalcanal, the Kisarazu Air Group shared credit for sinking the American destroyer USS Colhoun (DD-85).

On September 2, 1942 nine aircraft each from the Kisarazu and the Misawa Air Groups again bombed Henderson Field, causing little damage and suffering no losses.