@CV12Hornet , @McPherson , @Dorknought : in late 1942 11th Air Fleet, the land-based planes at Rabaul, were commanded by this man:
http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/T/s/Tsukahara_Nizhizo.htm
Now note his dates of rank. Tsukahara became VAdm on 15th November 1939. Mikawa, meanwhile, was VAdm on 15th...