Imperial Japanese Army Air Service

Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
大日本帝國陸軍航空部隊 Dainippon Teikoku Rikugun Kōkūbutai
Rising Sun Flag
Active	1912–1945
Country	Empire of Japan
Branch	Imperial Japanese Army
Type	Air force
Role	Aerial warfare
Part of	Armed Forces of the Empire of Japan
Engagements	World War I Mukden Incident Sino-Japanese War II Battles of Khalkhin Gol World War II Battle of Singapore
Commanders
Ceremonial chief	Emperor of Japan
Notable commanders	Hajime Sugiyama Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni Shunroku Hata Masakazu Kawabe
Insignia
Roundel

The Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS) or Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF; Japanese: 大日本帝國陸軍航空部隊, romanized: Dainippon Teikoku Rikugun Kōkūbutai, lit. 'Greater Japan Empire Army Air Corps') was the aviation force of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA). Just as the IJA in general was modeled mainly on the German Army, the IJAAS initially developed along similar lines to the Imperial German Army Aviation; its primary mission was to provide tactical close air support for ground forces, as well as a limited air interdiction capability. The IJAAS also provided aerial reconnaissance to other branches of the IJA. While the IJAAS engaged in strategic bombing of cities such as Shanghai, Nanjing, Canton, Chongqing, Rangoon, and Mandalay, this was not the primary mission of the IJAAS, and it lacked a heavy bomber force.

It did not usually control artillery spotter/observer aircraft; artillery battalions controlled the light aircraft and balloons that operated in these roles.

The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service was responsible for long-range bomber and attack aircraft, as well as strategic air defense. It was not until the later stages of the Pacific War that the two air arms attempted to integrate the air defense of the home islands.