Feature: Home Defense Air Battles -IJN 302nd Air Group: Zeros, Raidens & Gekkos
Frontline fighters of Japan’s dedicated air defense unit protecting the capital skies Known as the “Atsugi Air Group,” the Imperial Japanese Navy’s 302nd Naval Air Group (302 Kōkūtai) served as the core force defending the Tokyo metropolitan area. Established in March 1944 as the Navy’s first unit dedicated solely to homeland air defense, the 302nd operated aircraft such as the Zero, Raiden, Gekko, Ginga, and Suisei. Facing overwhelming American air raids in the final stages of the war, its pilots boldly engaged enemy bombers—often using the deadly oblique-firing guns unique to Japanese night fighters. This issue spotlights the aircraft that served with the 302nd Air Group through detailed builds, color profiles, and historical analysis.
Contents 004 — Feature Commentary: The Defenders of the Capital – The Combat Record of the 302nd Naval Air Group (Shigeru Nohara)
010 — Painting & Markings of the 302nd Aircraft (Yoshiyuki Kono)
016 — Zoukei-Mura 1/32 Raiden Type 21 (Yoshiyuki Kono)
024— Raiden Reference Photos
028 — Tamiya 1/48 Gekko Type 11 Ko (Banta Zama)
036 — Gekko Reference Photos
040 — Fine Molds 1/48 Modified Zero Type 52 Night Fighter (Osamu Kakuta)
047 — AZ Model 1/72 Suisei Night Fighter (Natsu)
052 — Fujimi 1/72 Saiun Night Fighter (Lee Chang-Kyung)
056 — Special Article 1: Uncovering the Truth Behind the Luftwaffe’s “Snake Stuka” Ju 87 (Takao Kunie)
062 — Hasegawa 1/48 Ju 87 R-2 Stuka (Yuri Kitagawa)
068 — Special Article 2: The Observation Seaplane Aichi E13A and Battleship Yamato’s Hangar (Yasushi Kondo)
076 — UMA Model 1/48 Harrier II Plus (Masaaki Sekiya)
084 — Fine Molds 1/72 F-4F & F-4E Late Type (Toru Sakamoto)
091 — Series: History and Profiles of U.S. Navy Fighter-Attack Squadrons
100 — Series: Aircraft Armament and Equipment Encyclopedia
104 — Series: Modeling the JASDF
123 — Hikospe Control.
