Airplane Model Special No. 51 (November Special Issue)

●Special Feature: Homeland Air Defense: Zero Fighters, Raiden Fighters, and Gekko Fighters of the 302nd Naval Air Group

The Imperial Japanese Navy's 302nd Naval Air Group (302nd Air Group), commonly known as the "Atsugi Air Group," engaged in interception missions as the main force in the air defense of the Kanto region, centered on the imperial capital of Tokyo. Formed in March 1944, it was the Navy's first dedicated air defense group. Equipped with Zero fighters, Raiden Fighters, Gekko Fighters, Ginga Fighters, and Suisei Fighters, they bravely confronted American aircraft invading the mainland toward the end of the war, making full use of their deadly diagonal guns. This time, we will feature the aircraft that served in the 302nd Naval Air Group.

[Table of Contents] 004... Feature Commentary: The Battle History of the 302nd Naval Air Group, the Hero of the Imperial Capital's Air Defense (Shigeru Nohara) 010... Painting and Markings of the 302nd Air Group's Aircraft (Yoshiyuki Kono) 016... Zoukei-Mura 1/32 Raiden Model 21 (Yoshiyuki Kono) 024... Actual Raiden Photograph 028... Tamiya 1/48 Gekko Model 11A (Banta Zama) 036... Actual Gekko Photograph 040... Fine Molds 1/48 Modified Zero Fighter Type 52 Night Fighter (Osamu Tsunoda) 047... AZ Model 1/72 Comet Night Fighter (Natsu) 052... Fujimi 1/72 Saiun Night Fighter (Yi Chang-gyeong) 056... Special Article 1: Unraveling the Truth about the German Air Force Ju 87 "Snake Stuka" (Takao Kunie) 062... Hasegawa 1/48 Ju87R-2 Stuka (Yuri Kitagawa) 068...Special Article 2: Zero A6S Seaplane and Battleship Yamato Hangar (Yasushi Kondo) 076...Uma Model 1/48 Harrier II Plus (Masaaki Sekiya) 084...Fine Molds 1/72 F-4F & F-4E Late Model (Toru Sakamoto) 091...Serial: History and Profile of the U.S. Navy Fighter Attack Squadron 100...Serial: Air Weapons and Equipment Encyclopedia 104...Serial: Modeling JASDF 123...Hikospe Control