Hikōtai Transport Unit
The Japanese Army Air Force Hikōtai Unit was an Imperial Japanese Army Air Service Air transport section whose mission was to transport personnel, weapons and equipment to occupied
territories or the combat front in wartime. Such units supported Army airborne forces during their missions as well.Fleet
These service operated various types of aircraft:
- Kawasaki Ki-3
- Nakajima Ki-4
- Kokusai Ki-76 "Stella"
- Kobeseiko Te-Gō
- Mansyu Ki-97
- Mitsubishi Ki-7
- Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah"
- Tachikawa Light Ambulance
- Tachikawa Ki-9 "Spruce"
- Tachikawa Ki-17 "Cedar"
- Kayaba Ka-1
- Kawasaki Ki-56 "Thalia"
- Kokusai Ki-59 "Theresa"
- Mitsubishi Ki-1
- Mitsubishi Ki-7
- Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally"
- Mitsubishi MC-20
- Mitsubishi Ki-57 "Topsy"
- Nakajima Ki-34 "Thora"
- Nakajima Ki-6
- Nakajima Ki-49
- Douglas DC-2
- Douglas DC-5
- Tachikawa Type LO Transport Aircraft "Thelma"
- Tachikawa Ki-54 "Hickory"
- Kokusai Ku-8 "Gander"
Within this unit in Manchukuo the Manchukuo Air Transport Company developed. This unit functioned as a paramilitary transport service inside of Manchukuo Air Force for the transportation of Japanese and Manchu military personnel. They were equipped with Junkers Ju 86 Z-2, among other airplanes.
