Teishin Shudan History . The Imperial Japanese Army developed an airborne paratroop force in the late 1930s , but the program did not receive much attention by the Imperial General Headquarters until review of the success of similar German paratroop units during the Blitzkrieg of 1940 . Army paratroops were first deployed in combat during the Battle of Palembang , on Sumatra in the Netherlands East Indies , on 14 February 1942 . The operation was well - planned , with 425 men of the 1st Parachute Raiding Regiment seizing Palembang airfield , while the paratroopers of the 2nd Parachute Raiding Regiment seized the town and its important oil refinery . Paratroops were subsequently deployed in the Burma campaign . Following this success , in July 1943 , the 1st Glider Tank Troop was formed , with four Type 95 Ha - Go light tanks . This unit was eventually expanded to battalion size , with a tank company using 14 Type 2 Ke - To light tanks , an infantry company , and a motorized transport company . The paratroop brigades were organized into the " Teishin Shudan " as the first division - level raiding unit , at the main Japanese airborne base , Karasehara Airfield , Kyūshū , Japan . It was commanded by a major general , and was organized as follows : The unit had an estimated 5 , 575 personnel . However , as with similar airborne units created by the Allies and other Axis powers , the Japanese paratroops suffered from a disproportionately high casualty rate , and the loss of men who required such extensive and expensive training limited their operations to only the most critical ones . For the most part , the Teishin Shudan was deployed as elite light infantry . Two regiments of " Teishin Shudan " were formed into the 1st Raiding Group , commanded by Major General Rikichi Tsukada under the control of the Southern Expeditionary Army Group , during the Philippines campaign . Although structured as a division , its capabilities were much lower , as its six regiment s had manpower equivalent to a standard infantry battalion , and it lacked any form of artillery , and had to rely on other units for logistical support . Its men were no longer parachute - trained , but relied on aircraft for transport . Some 750 men , mainly from the 2nd Raiding Brigade , of this group were assigned to attack American air bases on Luzon and Leyte on the night of 6 December 1944 . They were flown in Ki - 57 transports , but most of the aircraft were shot down . Some 300 commandos managed to land in the Burauen area on Leyte . The force destroyed some planes and inflicted numerous casualties , before they were annihilated . The remainder of " Teishin Shudan " remained based in the Philippines until the end of the war . Equipment used by " Teishin " units . Army Paratrooper Uniform . The uniforms of Japanese Army paratroops during the Palembang Campaign in first stages of the war was similar to that of German Luftwaffe paratroops . The padded leather helmet was later replaced by a steel one , although photographs suggest that the German helmet was actually issued to Japanese parachute troops . The troops wore standard infantry equipment with additional ammunition bandoleers . In the Philippines campaigns later in the war , the uniforms were changed to the standard Army Khaki colour uniform with brown belts and harness , the yellow star in the cap and kepi plus dark or light brown boots and gloves . In both cases Japanese Army paratroopers wore badges depicting a golden kite , similar to pilot wings , as well as a roundel emblem depicting an opened parachute and star . Weapons . Some heavy weapons were dropped in special parachute containers . In the later stages of the war , it was planned that the " Teishin " units be equipped with some advanced weapons , including experimental anti - tank weapon s like the Type 4 70 mm AT Rocket Launcher and Type 5 45mm recoilless gun , but this never occurred . Armoured support was to be provided by Type 95 Ha - Go light tank among other types . It was also intended that the " Teishin " units use the Special No . 3 Flying Tank " So - Ra " or " Ku - Ro " , amongst the Maeda Ku - 6 Flying Tank an experimental winged tank which never went into production .