252 Kōkūtai (252 Air Group)
Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN)

Background
On September 20, 1942 at Rabaul the Genzan Kōkūtai figher butai of 36 A6M Zeros was expanded to 60 A6M Zeros. On November 1, 1942 the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) redesignated all Kōkūtai (Air Group) with three digit identifiers. The figher complement of the Genzan Kōkūtai became the 252 Kōkūtai (252 Air Group) also abbeviated 252 Ku.

Wartime History
On December 1, 1942 A6M Zeros from the 252 Kōkūtai (252 Air Group) and 582 Kōkūtai (582 Air Group) were flying patrols over a Japanese convoy of four destroyers including Isonami in the Solomon Sea off Gasmata bound for Buna. During the day, the Zeros reported engagements with B-17s.

Between December 23, 1942 to December 25, 1942 the first A6M Zeros from 252 Ku were flown from Rabaul to the newly constructed Munda Airfield on New Georgia. Immediately, they were attacked by American aircraft and neutralized within six days. On December 29, 1942 the surviving pilots were evacuated by four G4M1 Bettys escorted by nine A6M Zeros back to Rabaul. Later, in early August 1943 when the U.S. Army captured Munda Airfield many Japanese aircraft wrecks were captured including several A6M Zeros from 252 Kokutai including A6M2 Zero Tail 1157 assigned to either 252 Kokutai or 253 Kokutai that was salvaged for technical evaluation.


On January 25, 1943 Zeros from 252 Kokutai took off on an escort mission with Zeros from 582 Kokutai and 204 Kokutai to escort G4M1 Bettys over Guadalcanal. Lost was A6M2 Zero Tail 1140 that either ditched or force landed on the beach at Verahue west of Cape Esperance. Later, on February 10, 1943 the intact Zero was captured by the U.S. Army and studied by technical intelligence.

On January 26, 1943 six A6M Zeros from 252 Kokutai escort H6K Mavis pilot Kira to eastern Choiseul Island to rescue a downed Zero pilot from their Air Group. After rescuing the pilot while the flying boat was taking off a pair of enemy fighters P-39 pilot McCulla and P-39 pilot Fiedler approached low and made a single firing pass causing damage. Above, the escorting Zeros had not seen their low approach and immediately dove to intercepted, claiming one shot down, P-39 pilot McCulla and the other P-39 pilot Fiedler managed to escape.

On February 14, 1943 in the morning, four Zeros led by PO2c Tamotsu Okabayashi took off from Ballale Airfield on a combat air patrol and at 9:31am claim a "P-38" shot down. In fact, they shot down F-5A Lightning 42-12678 piloted by 2nd Lt. Ardell A. Nord (MIA). Next, they scramble fourteen Zeros ked by Ens. Chiyoyuki Shibata from Ballale Airfield to intercept a formation of nine PB4Y-1 Liberators escorted by ten P-38 Lightnings plus twelve F4U Corsairs from Marine Fighting Squadron 124 (VMF-124). During take off, A6M Zero pilot LS Gen'ichi Matsuda flipped upside down and did not participate, pilot unhurt. Also intercepting were thirteen A6M Zeros from 204 Kōkūtai and eleven A6M2-N Rufes from 802 Kōkūtai with a total of 42 Japanese fighters airborne. Lost in air combat was A6M Zero PO2c Yoshio Yoshida (MIA). A6M Zero pilot CPO Ryōichi Hanabusa returned with bullet holes in his plane.

During July 1943 the 252 Kokutai was transfered Taroa Airfield in Maloelap Atoll in the Marshall Islands to replace 201 Kokutai and inheriting many of their A6M3 Zeros. At least four 252 Kokutai Zeros were abandoned at Taroa Airfield including A6M3 Zero 3148, A6M3 Zero 3318, A6M3 Zero 3621 and A6M3 Zero 3685. The 252 Kokutai also operated from Tarawa Airfield, Taroa Airfield, Wake Island Airfield.

During early January 1944 the 252 Kokutai began operating from Tobera Airfield south of Rabaul.

On January 16, 1944 thirteen A6M Zeros took off from Tobera Airfield on a mission to intercept U.S. aircraft.

On January 17, 1944 sixteen A6M Zeros took off from Tobera Airfield on a mission to intercept U.S. aircraft.

On February 20, 1944 the Japanese ordered the withdrawal of all flyable aircraft from Rabaul northward to Truk.

Later, the 252 Kokutai operates A6M5 Model 52 Zeros from Dewey Boulevard Airfield in Manila on Luzon in the Philippines. On February 20, 1945 the U.S. Army liberated the area and captured several of their aircraft dispersed in the compound of the U.S. Embassy.


Tail Codes
The 252 Kokutai used different tail codes between various date ranges with a prefix of Y2 or 52 followed by three digits.

Y2-??? – March 15, 1943–August 1943
52-??? – September 1943

References
Kodochosho 252 Kōkūtai - February 14, 1943
Nippon News - Rabaul Kokutai footage of A6M3/A6M5 Zeros taking off and landing at Lakunai Airfield near Rabaul January 16, 1944
Glimpses of Micronesia “Maloelap: Japanese Naval Bastion on World War II” by William Bartsch Vol. 25, No. 3, 1985 pages 48-52
After The Battle Magazine No. 54 "Unknown Maloelap" by William Bartsch pages 28-41

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