Buntaichō

The Buntaichō (分隊長) was a naval aviation position on an aircraft carrier in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service, normally held by a Lieutenant, who commanded a division of a specific aircraft type on the carrier (i.e., either dive bomber, torpedo bomber or fighter). There was one Buntaichō for each division within a squadron. The Buntaichō was one of the two flight command ratings in the naval air hierarchy, the other being the Hikōtaichō (飛行隊長), who commanded the whole squadron of a specific aircraft type. In some cases (e.g., on a light carrier), the senior Buntaichō commanded the whole squadron of the aircraft type that he was specialized in.

Combat role

During combat, each Buntaichō typically commanded one division consisting of 6-9 aircraft, called chūtai (中隊). If the Hikōtaichō was flying the same aircraft type as the Buntaichō, he would usually command the whole unit, while the Buntaichō would command one of the chūtais. For example, both during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, Lieutenant Commander Mamoru Seki (Shōkaku dive bomber Hikōtaichō) commanded all Aichi D3A dive bombers in the strike force, while Lieutenant Keiichi Arima (Shōkaku dive bomber Buntaichō) commanded one of the chūtais.

The Buntaichō was not necessary a pilot. For example, Lieutenant Keiichi Arima was an observer; his Aichi D3A dive bomber was piloted by Petty Officer First Class Kiyoto Furuta.

Aircraft marking

The position of Buntaichō was marked by two horizontal stripes on the tail of an aircraft. However, this marking should not be confused with the vertical stripes around the rear of the fuselage, which indicated the carrier to which the aircraft belonged.

See also

References
    Sources
    • Lundstrom, John B. (2005). The First Team: Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway (New ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-471-X.
    • Lundstrom, John B. (2005). First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign: Naval Fighter Combat from August to November 1942 (New ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-472-8.
    • Parshall, Jonathan; Tully, Anthony (2005). Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway. Dulles, Virginia: Potomac Books. ISBN 1-57488-923-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
    • Hata, Ikuhiko; Yasuho Izawa; Christopher Shores (2011). Japanese Naval Air Force Fighter Units and their aces, 1932-1945. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 9781906502843.
    • "Accounts - Keiichi Arima" (Interview). Interviewed by Joel Shepherd and Kan Sugahara.
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