Chutaicho

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Chutaicho was the title given to the officer commanding a chutai, a unit of nine military aircraft belonging to the Empire of Japan. The position was usually held by a Captain in the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF), or a Lieutenant in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service. A buntaicho (commanding a buntai) was an equivalent position in support or non-operational units.

During World War II, these commanders flew monoplane fighters like the Nakajima Ki-43, Nakajima Ki-84 or Kawasaki Ki-61; or twin-engined planes such as the Mitsubishi Ki-46 or Kawasaki Ki-45.

In the IJAAF, the aircraft of such an officer was distinguished by a partly or totally scarlet, red, orange or yellow tail, with a sign identifying the sentai (wing/group) to which the chutai belonged. (However, the same colours were also used for Japanese Navy training aircraft.)