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Imperial Japanese Army Air Service

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Imperial Japanese Army Air Service Film: Aichi D3A Dive Bomber

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Imperial Japanese Army/Navy Air Force

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Imperial Japanese military song - Song of Army Aviation 陸軍航空の歌

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Imperial Japanese Air Force (NHK archives)p41

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Imperial Japanese Air Force (NHK archives)p55

The Imperial Japanese Army Air Service or Imperial Japanese Army Air Force or, more literally, the 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, Nanking, Canton, Chongqing, Rangoon, and Mandalay, this was not the primary mission of the IJAAS, and it lacked a heavy bomber force.