IJA 19ｔｈ Sentai Pilot Statue

[SHINDENKAI]

Hi,

Would like to share my IJA Pilot Statue.

This statue was obtained last year at Tokyo Victory Show.

I have no idea when they were produce, probably post war and were given to the survivors.

I've seen a wooden version, but don't know what this example was made from.

On the wooden base there is a brass plate.

飛行第十九戦隊 (Hikou Dai Jyu Kyu Sentai) - 19th Air Combat Group

Unfortunately, some characters were scrubbed and only 記念(Kinen) - Memorial are visible

Bottom of the wood base has hand written:

鹿児島県知覧出撃 (Kagoshima Ken Chiran Syutsugeki) - Sortied from Chiran, Kagoshima Prefecture.

Here are the photos of the statue:

Front



Back



Left



Right



Brass Plate Characters



Wood Base Characters (Bottom)



The 19th Sentai was formed Dec 1943 in Northern part of Ise.

The main fighter which they used was the Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien 飛燕　(Flying Swallow), Allied code name "Tony".　Kawasaki Ki-61 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

During June 1944, they were deployed to the Philippines as convoy escorts, and were also engaged with U.S. Carrier Task Force fighters.

October 1944, Operation Sho-Go (捷号作戦), with achieving numerous victories lots of 19th Sentai pilots were perished.

November 1944, at Aichi prefecture 19th Sentai able to recover and were fought bravely against the mighty B-29 Super fortress. Downing and damaging numbers of the enemies.

January 1945, deployed to Luzon and flew as Kamikaze suicide aircraft against enemy warships at Lingayen Gulf.

March 1945, Operation Ten-Go (天号作戦), Kamikaze attacks were conducted against Okinawa invading carrier forces. They were flown from Yilan, Taiwan. The special attack unit name 誠 (Makoto) - Devotion was given. Most of them were perished during the raid.
The rest of the ground crews that were left at Northern Luzon were joined with the army ground troops and fought till the end.

August 1945, 19th Sentai was surrendered at Port of Hualien, Taiwan.

Total of 400+ pilots and crews gave their lives.

Photo of 19th Sentai Ki-61 Hien. Notice the "19" Sentai insignia on the tail.



Regards,
Taka

[ghp95134]

Shindenkai,

Thanks for sharing your statue. It would be nice to know the name of the anniversary event. I'll bet if you knew anyone involved in forensic science, you could find someone to "lift" the obliterated kanji. Police investigators can do that to serial numbers that have been filed down. But perhaps brass is too soft for the acid used? Any way, just a thought.

--Guy

[harryamb2]

thank you Taka for all that info.

[Alan M]

A very poignant piece Taka , i like your statue very much . Thanks for a very interesting post .