Translation of Model Art No. 416

pg. 50

W.O. Shigeyuki Noguchi

W.O. Shigeyuki Noguchi was known as a person of uncommon ability. He was in the 1st Chutai of the 45th Sentai from the beginning of the Pacific War until the end. Consequently, he was called Master of the Chutai.

Born in Awaji-shima island of Hyougo prefecture, Noguchi completed Army NCO student pilot training and was send to 45th Sentai. He was posted to the 1st Chutai at Nonko (in Japanese. "Nun-chiang" or "Nenjian" in Chinese) in the north of Manchuria.

On the eve of war, 7 Dec 1941, he advanced to Tenga airfield in Canton from which he participated in the first attack on Hong Kong. In Jan 1942, Noguchi received training on the Type 99 twin-engine light bomber (Ki-48-I) at Tokorozawa airfield. Afterwards he returned to Nonko. In April he moved to Hakujoshi (in Japanese. "Pai-cheng-tzu" or "Baicheng" in Chinese. In Manchuria) airfield. During air maneuvers over Tokyojo (in Japanese. "Tung-ching-cheng" in Chinese. In Manchuria), two third of his airplane's fuselage and horizontal stabilizer were damaged by an air collision. But Noguchi returned to Harbin by using his consummate skill and cool judgment. In Nov, the 45th Sentai assembled at Kagamigahara airfield in Gifu Prefecture. The next day, on 11 Dec, they cast off from the Yokosuka naval port on the carrier Ryuuho. But the carrier was damaged by an enemy submarine south of Hachijo-Jima Island, so they had to return to Yokosuka. After this, they reorganized at Hokota Army Air School and moved onto Truk island by the carrier Zuikaku in Jan of 1943. At the end of Jan, they deployed to Cocopo Airfield on New Britain Island.

Noguchi participated in the attacks on Guadalcanal airfield and afterwards in the air battle of East New Guinea. Wewak and But were his airfields during the intense air war. On Sep 26, Noguchi was chased and attacked by three Grumman fighters over Finschafen airfield. But Noguchi's grass cutting flying and rear gunner's counterattack enabled him to escape unhurt. Noguchi's backseat gunner claimed one of the Grummans shot down.

In Oct, the 45th Sentai returned to Hokota Army Air School on the Japanese mainland where they traded in their airplanes for the Type 2, two-seat fighter, Ki-45 Kai. In Feb 1944, they deployed to Clark Airfield in the Philippines. Then they moved to Saravia on Negros Island where they trained and flew escort missions for convoys. On 17 Sep, during the 1st attack on Morotai Island, they bombed the anchorage ground and landing point through the night. Afterwards, Noguchi had to make an emergency landing at Davao. At the air battle of Leyte, the 45th Sentai fought bravely escorting convoys and other duties. On 3 Jan 1945, Noguchi sailed forth alone from Clark airfield to attack at Lingayen Gulf, again managing to return alive.

After this, due to attrition, Noguchi flew the only Type 2, two-seat fighter of the 1st Chutai. Taking off from Aparri Airfield with Capt Taii Kamiyama and Sgt Gunsou Matsushita, they retreated to Taichung and Heito Airfields in Taiwan. In Feb, Noguchi returned to Hokota Army Air School and flew air transport missions to the Philippines on several occasions. While attempting to rehabilitate the Sentai, the unit greeted the end of the war at Noshiro Airfield in Akita Prefecture while in the middle of transitioning from the Ki-45 Kai to the Ki-102 Otsu. In Jun 1945, W.O. Jun-i Noguchi was given the Rikugun-Bukokisho Otsu together with the Sentai leader Takahashi for distinguished results in the air battles of the Philippines.

PHOTO CAPTIONS: pg. 51 Upper

pg. 51 Lower

Photo: In Oct 1944, Type 2, two-seat fighters Model Hei belonging to the Hokota Instructional Air Division are lined up on Hokota Airfield in Ibaraki Prefecture.

Text: Hokota Army Air School which had taken charge of tactical studies and education for army light bombers, was recomposed into the Hokota Instructional Fighter Air Division by army order Otsu No. 29 on 20 June 1944. One month before, the 45th Sentai lost its military potential in the air battles of East New Guinea. Afterwards, they changed airplanes from the Type 99 twin-engine light bomber to the Type 2, two-seat fighter (Ki-45 Kai), at Hokota. Through combat experience, it was learned that daytime attacks with only light bombers sustained heavy casualties. This was especially due to low speed.

The Type 2, two-seat fighter had been developed as a twin-engine fighter from the beginning. It was faster and had heavier armament (12.7mm MG x 2, or a 37mm MG installed in the nose) than the Type 99 twin-engine light bomber. Also, it could make surprise attacks. The Type 2, two-seat fighter could meet every demand, such as ground support or anti-shipping attacks. The new Sentai leader, Takahashi, wasted little time changing flaps and rear MG to 12.7mm, and attaching bomb racks under the blade-root attachment which two 250kg bombs to be installed. The Chief of Army Weapons wrote Takahashi up for this conversion stating, "Remodel of first assortment weapon without permission is simply intolerable." Most assault units equipped the Ki-45 Kai Hei with a 37mm MG in the nose. They called it the Type 2 twin-engine assault plane, or Type 2, two-seat fighter Kai (Ni Shiki Sohatsu Shugeki Ki or Ni Shiki Shoushu).

Pg. 52 Upper:

Lower: A Ki-102, Otsu Assault Plane; the latest airplane of the 45th Sentai, at Hokota Airfield in Ibaraki Prefecture just after the end of the war.