The unit operated seaplanes with a primary mission to protect resupply convoys headed for Guadalcanal and to conduct aerial reconnaissance.

On 5 September, they built a forward base at Rekata Bay on Santa Isabel Island, which enabled the seaplanes to attack Lunga Point on Guadalcanal.

[2] In the morning of 14 September, three float Zeros of Kamikawa under Lieutenant (jg) Masashi Kawashima flew from Rekata Bay to conduct a reconnaissance mission over Henderson Field and check whether the Imperial Japanese Army managed to capture the airfield in their assault.

[4] That afternoon, Rear Admiral Jōjima committed most of the R-Area Air Force strength in a dusk attack on Henderson Field.

The attack cost the R-Area Air Force two F1M floatplanes (including Sanyō Buntaichō Lieutenant Yoneda killed in action) and one float Zero.

Simultaneously, Cactus Air Force targeted Rekata Bay with several Douglas SBD Dauntless and Grumman TBF Avenger bombers, where they were intercepted by three float Zeros of Kunikawa under Warrant Officer Haruzō Ōta.

[10] On the evening of 8 October, Lieutenant (jg) Watanabe led eight F1M floatplanes to cover high-speed transport Nisshin and five destroyers headed for Guadalcanal.

[1][12][13] Japanese made the final attempt to resupply Guadalcanal with 11 large transports and 11 destroyers under Rear Admiral Raizō Tanaka on 14 November.

[14][15] The Imperial General Headquarters decided to abandon the effort to recapture Guadalcanal and they planned a withdrawal of land units for January and February 1943.