Japanese pilots and ground personnel of the 2SV
The Imperial Japanese Air Force during the Second World War was organizationally part of the ground forces and the navy. In 1940, the Army Air Forces had 36 fighter, 50 bomber, and 29 reconnaissance squadrons, and their personnel numbered 33,000 officers and non-commissioned officers. The functions of army aviation included providing support to ground units and combating enemy aircraft. Structurally, it consisted of five air armies, each of which had a specific area of operations. For better coordination between the ground forces and the Air Force in each theater of operations, aviation units were subordinated to the corresponding ground command. The uniform of the personnel of the Japanese Air Force was a mirror image of the army, with certain elements of blue clothing. The special flight uniform for Japanese pilots was divided into summer and winter, insignia of military ranks were worn on the sleeves or on the chest.
