Japanese Paratroopers...

[Doug Ford]

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s165/FLYINGMEDIC/JapParatroopers.jpg

[nbkky71]

Wow... never knew that the Japenese fielded airborne troops. Did they ever make any combat jumps?

[Jim K.]

IIRC, they seized some territory in Malasia and there was one jump in the Philippines. I think they were all navy personnel; one source describes them as "Japanese marines", a common error, but Japan had no Marine Corps as such. The troops (who wore anchors on their helmets rather than the red star) were Imperial Navy personnel, specially trained as landing parties or paratroops.

Google "Japanese Paratroopers" for much more information.

Jim

[GUNHEEP]

Jim

are you sure the japanese did not have a marine corps? I know a guy who sold a samurai sword to a japanese collector...this guy came straight from japan for this sword...barely speak a work of english..after he sold the sword to the japanese man, my buddy asked him what branch the sword was, because he could not identify as army or navy? The japanese guy said it is marine...
He told me marine items are rare because the japanese had very few marines...

Andy

[Michaelp]

I think the "Naval landing Force" previously mentioned were the Japanese version of Marines.
All kinds of mythical stuff about them-6ft tall, etc exists.
Vets cang get stories pretty tangled up, sometimes.
Lots of stories are just what they heard or saw and mistook for something else.

[Nick Riviezzo]

Did the Japs employ Kamakazi paratroops? You know,2 grenades and no 'chute!. Sorry, i just couldn't help myself. Nick

[Griff Murphey]

That's sure a small aircraft. Note the overhead bins! Must be a former airliner or staff puke bird. I know they copied Lockheed Hudsons but this looks too small even for a Hudson.

[Art]

The Japanese Marines were indeed called "Naval Infantry" and were considered some of the best troops in the Imperial military.

As to the paratroopers. Yes the Japanese did have them. They just didn't use them much against us, probably because of terrain and logistical reasons. My dad's unit, the 61st NCB was building an airstrip at San Pablo on Samar when they became the only unit ever attacked by Japanese paratroopers. The Japanese bombed Samar regularly and the SeaBees were told to work until the Jap planes were directly overhead and then to duck under their equipment. Well on this occassion the Japanese planes appeared overhead but there were no explosions. When the SeaBees peeked out Japanese paratroopers were floating down on the airstrip. The Japanese paratroopers were all killed but did succeed in doing some damage to the installations. I understand this was the only airborne attack launched by the Japanese against American forces.

Oh, the Japanese made a nifty little submachine gun in limited quantities and I understand the bulk of the production went to paratroopers.

[Nick Riviezzo]

Little use 'cause when they "PLF" on their swords they look like little Jap Popcicles!!! Nick

[larrymarak]

Did the Japs employ Kamakazi paratroops? You know,2 grenades and no 'chute!. Sorry, i just couldn't help myself. Nick

Yes. Japanese army paratroopers were committed to suicide missions. These Giretsu task forces successfully landed at a Marine airbase on Okinawa and destroyed a number of planes and fuel farms before they were all killed. A follow-up mission was schedualed to land airlanding troops at the B-29 base in the Marianas and destroy the B-29s on the ground. This one way raid was schedualed for Aug 15th, a week after the surrender ended the war.

The Army and the Navy fielded separate paratroop and airlanding formations. Army paratroops carried SMGs, not carbines.