Japanese Aircraft in War in the Pacific
FIGHTERS
A5M Claude
The A5M “Claude” was the Imperial Navy's first monoplane fighter, and saw extensive service over
China in the years before WWII. Carrier-borne fighter - A5Ms were the Japanese Navy's first
monoplane fighter, entering production a year behind the Ki.27. The A5m fought over China, SE Asia
and Indonesia, and the Philippines. In December 1941, it was still the most numerous IJN carrier-borne
fighter available. It had a strong resemblance to the American Boeing P-26 "Peashooter" fighter.
A6M2 Model 11
In February 1941, the Japanese company Nakajima started studying a new embarked seaplane
derived from the fuselage of the A6M2 Model 11 (Zero). Motorized by a Nakajima NK1C Skae
32 engine of 940 hp. It was commissioned in 1942. The Rufe was used over the Pacific Ocean
for reconnaissance and training missions. The A6M2-N Rufe was a modification of the basic
Mitsubishi A6M2 "Zero" fighter. It was determined that a fighter was needed to defend remote
areas where airbases had yet to be (or would not be) constructed.
A6M Zero
The Mitsubishi A6M Zero Fighter was one of the finest shipboard fighter aircrafts during
World War Two. The Zero's predecessor was Mitsubishi A5M Type 96 Claude, which
was used in China. The first A6M1 prototype was completed in March 1939 and flown
by Katsuzo Shima on 1 April 1939. On September 14, 1939 the aircraft was accepted by
the Navy as the A6M1 Type 0 Carrier Fighter. As a result of further testing Mitsubishi
Zuisei engine was replaced by Nakajima Sakae and the aircraft was designated A6M2.
On 31 July 1940 Reisen was accepted into production as the Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter
Model 11. In August 1940, 15 pre-production A6M2s were sent to China, where they
scored the first victory on 13 September when 13 Reisens led by Saburo Shindo attacked
27 Chinese I-15s and I-16s and shot down all of them without any losses.
A6M3
The first flight of the "Zero" fighter was April 1, 1939. Allied Intelligence applied the
name "Zeke" to the A6M, but it was better known as the "Zero", which was derived from
its type designation. Mitsubishi and Nakajima built 10,449 "Zero" fighters (more than
any other type of Japanese aircraft). The single seat fighter has lightweight all metal
construction and fabric covered control surfaces. The A6M3 was built after the Battle of
Midway with longer wings, folding wing tips (for carrier use), a more powerful engine
and had the longest range of all the Zeros.
A6M5
To many Japanese, the Reisen (Zero Fighter) was more than a superbly designed aircraft;
it was symbol of the legendary, albeit temporary invincibility of the Japanese Navy in the
Pacific theater. A major production version was the A6M5 introduced in 1943 to counter
the growing capability of Allied fighters. Airplane armament was two 20-mm cannon (in
wings) and three 52-caliber machine guns (two in wings and one in fuselage), plus under
wing launches rails for eight 22-lb. or two 132-lb. air-to-air rockets
A6M5c Zeke
Although it took over the engine and the armament of the A6M3 and some additional
weight, this new plane with shortened wings and reinforced skin had a higher top speed.
To ease production the folding mechanism of the wings was discarded. The skin is
reinforced so that the diving speed could be increased. Shortened exhaust pipes gave a
slight addition of power.
When it reached the front line in the autumn of 1943, it had to face the Hellcat, which
was superior on all counts (except maneuverability at lower speed). That would be
confirmed in June of 1944, when their US opponents slaughtered the A6M5c during the
Battle of the Philippines Sea.
Despite their inadequacy, the A6M5c continued to be mass-produced until the end of the
war, by lack of replacement. It so ended up to be the version of the Zero with the greatest
production figure.
A6M8
The A6M8 was the last production version of the Reisen. Bomb damage to the Nakajima
engine plants had resulted in a shortage of the Sakae radial engines, which had previously
powered the Zero Fighter. Consequently, the Navy finally accepted Mitsubishi's proposal
to use their more powerful MK8K Kinsei 62 (Ha-33/62) fourteen-cylinder air-cooled
radial engine.
The first A6M8 was completed in April of 1945. After completion of service trials at
Aomori, on May 25, 1945 the A6M8 was approved for manufacture as the Navy Type 0
Carrier Fighter Model 64. A second prototype was accepted in June, and both were
turned over to the Yokosuka Experimental Air Corps Proving Division throughout July.
Due to the chaotic conditions prevailing in Japanese industry in the closing months of the
war, none were actually delivered.
A7M Reppu Sam
The Mitsubishi A7M Reppu (Hurricane) single-seat carrier-based fighter was intended by
the famous aircraft designer Jiro Horikoshi to be the successor to the A6M Zero-sen
fighter The A7M2 was assigned the Allied code name Sam.
N1K2 GEORGE
GEORGE is the unlikely nickname for the best Japanese naval fighter produced in
quantity during World War II. GEORGE was actually the Kawanishi N1K2 Shiden, the
unlikely descendant of a floatplane fighter design, the N1K1 REX.
J2M2 Jack
In a complete departure from the Japanese design philosophy of maneuverability over all
else, the Raiden, known to the allies as Jack, was optimized for performance, basically
speed and rapid climb rate. The J2M2 entered service in December 1943.
The later J2M5 variant was able to climb at over 3,000 feet per minute up to almost
40,000 feet. Just over 500 Raidens were produced by the end of the war.
J71W Shinden
Single-engine interceptor fighter of canard configuration. All-metal construction. Two
J71W prototypes were completed in the spring of 1945 at the Zasshonokuma plant of
Kyushu Hikoki K.K. Quantity production in this plant and in the Handa plant of
Nakajima Hikoki K.K. had been undertaken, but no production aircraft had been
completed by the end of the war. Since the plane did not go further than the prototype
status, it got no allied designation.
J1N1-S Gekkos
Nakajima Hikoki K. K. J1N1-S Gekkos were the first Japanese aircraft designed and built
specifically to intercept and destroy other aircraft at night and in poor weather. Gekkos
achieved some notable successes during three years of service with the Japanese Navy.
Ki-27 Nate
The Nakajima Type 97 was one of the most maneuverable monoplane fighters to reach
front line status. The Nakajima Ki 27 type 97 Nate raised Japanese aviation to and in
many respects surpassed world standards. First monoplane interceptor of the Japanese
Army, it would be the plane with the highest production number before and during the
war. It was probably the most maneuverable fighter during World War II, but it was
offset by a marked lack of performances and of protection.
Ki-43-Ib Oscar
The Ki-43 was the single most numerous fighter operated by the Imperial Japanese
Army. Comparable to the A6M Zero-Sen, the Ki-43 was highly maneuverable but fragile
and tended to disintegrate when hit by .50 rounds. Later versions had some armor and
self-sealing fuel tanks but all models suffered from a lightweight armament (though the
IIIb tried to rectify this). The Ki-43 was popular with pilots and was the mount of a
majority of the Japanese army aces. Unfortunately it was kept in production long after it
was obsolete.
Ki-43-IIa Oscar
The worsening performances of the Oscar compared to those of the enemy fighters
pushed the Japanese to turn out the second version of the Oscar with a more powerful
engine and a better protection (self-sealing fuel tanks, armor for the pilot's seat). The
reduced wingspan and the modified exhaust pipes gave a few more mph. The bomb load
was significantly increased. That was not enough though to warrant the Oscar neither
superiority nor equality with the increasingly effective western fighters in 1943. It
continued fighting though, to defend homeland Japan and as a kamikaze.
Ki-44-IIb Tojo
The Ki-44 was a fast-climbing, heavily armed interceptor; it was, in point of fact, the first
Japanese aircraft of either service built with the pure interception role in mind. Its name,
in Japanese, means “Devil-Queller”. It was well chosen, because Allied four-engine
bombers were the very devil to the Japanese.
The Ki-44 was a complete departure from the standard maneuverability emphasis placed
on Japanese aircraft design. Though disliked by pilots, and deadly too less experienced
pilots, the Demon was moderately successful in the interception role. A notable mission
occurred when a small force of Ki-44-(unknown model) intercepted 120 B-29's on
February 19, 1945 and destroyed ten of them.
Ki-45 KAIa Nick
What should have been the first long-range escort fighter of the Japanese Air Force had a
protracted development. Several engines had to be tried before the right one was found
and it entered service only five years (August of 1942) after the first studies. The Nick
never escorted long-range air raids as it had been designed. With Japan going into
defensive, it served as an interceptor of the allies heavy bombers by day and later by
night. It served in most areas of the Asia-Pacific area, without special distinction but was
popular because of its strength and its armament. It entered in the history in May of 1944
when it was employed for the first suicide attack in New Guinea, months before the first
kamikaze attack.
Ki-45 KAIb Nick
The advent of long-ranged twin-engine fighters in Europe and America did not go
unnoticed by Japan's military and naval staffs in the 1930s. Both services saw in this type
of fighter an answer to the inherent short range of contemporary single-engine fighters,
and so both services attempted to build such machines for themselves. The Imperial Navy
therefore had Nakajima design the J1N1, and the Imperial Army chose the Kawasaki Ki45 Toryu (Dragon Killer). Unlike the J1N1, however, the Army aircraft actually saw
service in its design role - without much success when faced with opposing single-engine
fighters; but, like its naval contemporary, it saw rather more success as a night fighter - a
job for which it had not been designed. The Ki-45-KAIb version was armed with a
37 mm Type 94 cannon. This weapon, originally a tank gun, was manually loaded.
Ki-45 KAIc Nick
Last version of the Nick to be mass-produced. Its armament was once more increased and
it specialized as a night fighter (the radar should have been installed in the nose, but it
was not yet ready at the end of the conflict). The obliquely firing machine guns, installed
on the field on theKi-45 KAI b, were replaced, directly on the factory floor, by 20 mm
guns. The Ki-45 KAIc was one of the interceptors that took on the packs of US B-29s
pounding Japan, but, just like the others, it could not stem the flow.
Ki-46-III KAI Dinah
Mitsubishi's Ki-46 series was code-named "Dinah" by the Allies. The prototype of this
sleek, multi-purpose Japanese aircraft flew in November 1939. It was originally specified
as a 600kph replacement for the Ki-15, and although the prototype did not quite meet this
performance requirement it was still faster than any contemporary Japanese aircraft.The
streamlined Perspex nose can identifies the Reconnaissance versions. Over 1,000 of the
Ki-46-II were produced.
Ki-61 KAIc Tony
The Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien ("Swallow")
fighter represented a major departure for
Japanese aircraft design in World War II. While other Japanese fighters were designed
with air-cooled radials and were optimized for maneuverability, the Ki-61 used a liquidcooled in-line engine and was designed for speed and power. The Hien proved initially
successful in combat against American fighters. As the war in the Pacific ground on,
however, the Ki-61 found itself increasingly outclassed, but it soldiered on until the end
of hostilities.
Ki-84-Ia Frank
The Hayate (gale) had the code name Frank and was the army's best production fighter of
World War II. The type was planned as successor to the Ki-43 with better protection and
heavier armament. The performance of Hayate was equal to, or higher than that of the
Allies' fighters. The aircraft was said to be "the decisive fighter to turn the fate of the
Greater East Asia", but it was a bit to late for that Total production was 3514 aircrafts.
The total number of aircrafts built puts Hayate next to the Zero or Hayabusa, but it is the
largest number of planes built in about a year in the Japanese aviation history.
Ki-84-Ic Frank
These were specialized bomber-destroyers, with the wing-mounted 20mm cannon
replaced with a pair of 30mm cannon; the total punch now being two fuselage-mounted
20mm cannon and two wing-mounted 30mm weapons. But the fuel and oil pressure
problems worried the engineers and the Army more than the armament did; it was hoped
that replacing the Ha-45-21 with the similar Ha-45-23 with a special low-pressure fuelinjection system would finally solve the problem. Unfortunately, few of these engines
were made prior to the destruction of Nakajima’s Musashi engine plant by B-29s, and
Ha-45 production never recovered. Nakajima transferred production of this engine to two
new plants, an underground one at Asakawa and a regular one at Hamamatsu, but having
to make this transfer disrupted delivery, and thus slowed Hayate production badly.
Ki-100 Tony
In early 1945 one of 275 engineless airframes was fitted with the Ha-112 radial engine.
Although a sudden lash-up conversion this produced a staggeringly fine fighter, by far the
best ever produced in Japan. This aircraft, designated the Ki-100, was put into
production with desperate haste. One of the first Ki-100 units destroyed 14 F6F Hellcats
over Okinawa in their first major encounter - without loss to themselves. The easilyflown and serviced Ki-100 fought supremely well against Allied fighters and B-29
bombers to the very end of hostilities in the Pacific.
Ki-102a Randy
Aircraft derived from the Ki-96 but in two-seats version. Its variants were intended for
ground support (Ki-102b) high altitude interception (Ki-102a) or night fighter (Ki-102a)
They experienced only limited combat since they were held in reserve in the homeland to
repel a US landing, which never took place because the war ended beforehand.
DIVE BOMBERS
D1A Susie
To answer a specification of the Imperial Navy in 1933 for a carrier-based dive bomber,
Aichi made use of its connections with the German firm Heinkel and imported one of its
product, the He 66. It replaced the engine with a Japanese model and had it accepted by
the Navy in 1934. Used in China after 1937, they made their name famous when they
sank the US river gunboat Panay. When the Pacific War broke out, there were only 68
left and their role was restricted to second line. They were declared obsolete shortly
afterwards.
D3A Val
Although not a particularly powerful, or technologically advanced aircraft the Aichi D3A
Val managed to come as a shock to the Americans when it spearheaded the attack on the
American Fleet at Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941. For the year following Pearl
Harbor the Val ruled supreme devastating Allied shipping in the South-West Pacific and
Indian oceans. This was to last only until it started to come across well-defended ships
and better Allied fighters and by 1943 the Val had had its day and was no longer feared.
At Pearl Harbor 126 Val dive-bombers took part and the Japanese had over 250 in service
by mid 1942. By this period losses were heavy and by 1944 only kamikaze suicide
versions were in frontline service. Around 1,495 were finally produced.
D4Y Judy
The D4Y Judy was very fast for a bomber, over 300 mph, and carried its bomb load
internally which gave it clean lines that somewhat resembled the Heinkel He118, on
which the design was based. Unlike the German plane however, the D4Y did not have
crew or fuel tank protection. After the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944, in which
174 D4Y’s achieved little success due, more to unskilled aircrew, protection flaws and
superior U.S. fighter direction, the Judy was used for high-speed reconnaissance and as a
night fighter. There was even a single seat version developed solely for Kamikaze
attacks. It was a worthy successor to the D3A but came at a time in the war when
Japanese aviation was largely inferior to the Allies
Ki-30 Ann
The first Japanese design to mount a twin-row radial engine as well as having an internal
bomb bay, flaps and constant-speed propeller, the Ki-30 was an integral part of the
Japanese Army's modernization program in 1935. Available in sufficient numbers, the
type played a large part of the Sino-Japanese war. The Ki-30 supported the advance into
the Philippines in 1942 but was subsequently withdrawn from front-line service.
Ki-32 Mary
The Ki-32 was the last Japanese Army light bomber to be powered by a liquid-cooled
inline engine. Such was the type’s only outward claim to fame. It was fated to be
remembered more for its maintenance difficulties and its greater vulnerability to ground
fire than for any real advance in the aeronautical arts or notoriety in its mission as a
single-engine light bomber.
Ki-51 Sonia
The Ki 51 was classed as an assault aircraft and as such, could be used and was used as a
dive-bomber or level bomber. She was used as a reconnaissance aircraft and also antishipping. The type was responsible for sinking the submarine "Bullhead" very late in the
war. The Ki 51 was vulnerable however to Allied aircraft. The intended replacement was
the Ki 102 "Randy". Another use was the Armed Reconnaissance, which was effective
during the 1942 and early 1943 when there wasn't much Allied air activity, but after that,
her use was diminishing, much like the D3A1 "Val".
TORPEDO BOMBER
B4Y Jean
The first prototype flew in 1935. 205 built.
B5N Kate
TheNakajima B5N - Allied reporting-name 'Kate' - was the sole shipboard torpedobomber of the Japanese Navy at the start of the Pacific War. It was by then quite old,
having been designed to meet a specification of 1935, and was already judged to be
obsolescent. However, when first put into production it had been a very advanced
aircraft, and in war it out-performed any Allied ship borne torpedo-plane until the arrival
of the Grumman Avenger in mid-1942. In particular it was greatly superior to the
Douglas TBD Devastator - the carrier-borne torpedo-plane of the US Fleet at the Battle of
the Coral Sea and the decisive Battle of Midway. Total production of the B5N was 1,149
units.
B6N Jill
The B6N Tenzan (Heavenly Mountain), despite its beautifully sleek design and its
potential for greatness, was doomed to be a very obscure WWII aircraft. Designed as a
replacement for the B5N Kate of Pearl Harbor fame, it certainly improved on the
performance of its predecessor, and in some respects it was equal or even superior to its
Allied contemporaries, the Fairey Barracuda and the Grumman TBF Avenger. But the
world the Jill (as the Allies code-named it) was born into was very different from the
world of the Kate. It was escorted by Zero fighters barely improved over the version used
during the “glory days” of Japanese naval aviation, and it was all but helpless against the
slashing, overwhelming attacks of the Hellcats and Corsairs it was called upon to face in
its brief career.
B7A Grace
The Aichi B7A Ryusei (Shooting Star) was one of the largest and one of the most
powerful of Japan's carrier-based aircraft. It is believed that had Japan been able to
launch strikes with this formidable war bird from carriers, the Ryusei would have had a
devastating impact on Allied shipping. Just how much damage the Ryusei (Allied codename "Grace") attack-bomber could have done is debatable. It was severely hindered by
not being able to be used in carrier strikes, thus limiting it's operational value. At the very
least, the Ryusei would have become dreaded to the Allies. The Ryusei could not have
won the war, but it could have delayed the end of it significantly the first prototype flew
in 1942. Entered production in 1944. 114 built
LEVEL BOMBERS
G3M Nell
In the early nineteen-thirties Mitsubishi developed the successful Ka-9 twin-engine longrange reconnaissance aircraft. It followed this up with a twin-engine bomber/transport
originally designated the Ka-15. The prototype was first flown in July 1935. Service
trials made it clear that Mitsubishi had developed an excellent aircraft notable for its
exceptional range. In June 1936 it went into production - designated the Navy Type 96
attack bomber Model 11 its Mitsubishi designation was G3M1.
The new aircraft soon demonstrated their capabilities on 14 August 1937 when a force of
G3M2s based on Taipei in Formosa attacked targets in China 1,250 miles away - the first
transoceanic air attack in history.
In all 1,048 G3Ms were built (636 by Mitsubishi and 412 by Nakajima), many of which
were converted for use as transports. In the Pacific War the allies designated the bomber
versions 'Nells' and the transports 'Tinas'.
The G3M remained in service throughout the war, although by 1943 the majorities were
being employed in second-line duties. The Mitsubishi G4M - allied codename ‘Betty’,
succeeded it. Mitsubishi G3Mss and G4Ms achieved their most spectacular operational
success on 10 December 1941, when off the coast of Malaya they sank - with torpedoes the British battleship 'Prince of Wales' and battle cruiser 'Repulse'.
G4M1 Betty
The British heavily influenced the Japanese Navy during the formative years of their
naval air arm. One lesson they took to heart was the idea of supporting the carrier-based
planes with land-based attackers, long-ranged multi-engine bombers. The Japanese were
also influenced by the vast distances to and from their possessions in the Pacific Ocean
area; to them, range became the paramount desideratum for a land-based naval bomber.
So it was that the G4M, or Type 1 Attack Bomber, entered service; a land-based twinengine bomber with enormous range and good speed, it suffered throughout most of its
operational career from a well-deserved reputation as a dangerous firetrap.
G4M2 Betty
Referred to as ‘Betty’ by the Allied Forces, the Mitsubishi G4M2 was a seven-crew longrange bomber used by the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II. Mitsubishi built
2,446 G4M (all variants) in total. The ‘Betty’ could reach a maximum speed of 292 mph,
had a maximum range of 2,694 miles, and could weigh as much as 27,558 pounds at
take-off (18,049 pounds empty). The G4M2 was armed with four 20 mm cannons, two
7.7 mm machine-guns, one 1,764 pound torpedo and 2,205 pounds worth of bombs.
The Mitsubishi G4M, nicknamed "Betty" by the Allied Intelligence Service, was the first
heavy bomber in use in the Imperial Japanese Navy.
It was first used in southeast China in spring 1941. Over Guadalcanal in 1942, the G4M
earned the nickname "Hamaki" (flying cigar), because it often started burning as soon as
it was hit by enemy fire. Later versions had more protection, but the Betty always stayed
vulnerable to American fighters, even with 20 mm defensive guns.
G4M2e Betty
Fitted with shackles and having their bomb bay doors removed, this version of the Betty
would carry the Ohka piloted suicide aircraft.
P1Y Frances
It was one of the best Japanese aircraft produced during the war. This land-based bomber
of the Japanese Navy was undertaken at the same time as a horizontal and a dive-bomber.
Its maneuverability qualitified it to become a fighter too and it had a range superior to
most plane of its category. It was handicapped by the lack of experienced pilots and of
raw materials.
Ki-21 Sally
The most important Japanese army bomber, in production up to 1944. Served in every
theatre where the Japanese army was engaged. Already obsolete at the time of the Pearl
Harbor attack, the KI-21 type 97 heavy bomber remained the backbone of the Japanese
Army Air Force’s bomber squadrons throughout the war. The Sally entered service in
1937 and flew against US forces in the South Pacific, but by the end of the war the plane
was used mostly as a transport.
Ki-48 Lily
The appearance on the Chinese front in 1937 of the Russian SB-2 was a shock for the
Japanese: their fighter the Nate, which had just entered service was unable to catch up
with it. They initiated a plane that would be the equal of the Soviet plane (one of the
specification was that it could operate under Siberian cold). Entered in service on the
Chinese front in 1940, the plane worked wonders: its speed and maneuverability shielded
it from Chinese interceptors. It was used not only in tactical duties but in long-range
bombardments too.
The Lily found it more difficult from 1942 onwards in face of the western fighters:
without immunity granted by speed, its many drawbacks showed up: lack of protection
and defensive armament, and laughable bomb load. Further developments did little to
address those problems and the plane would suffer high losses everywhere it was
engaged. Its last campaign was in the Philippines in 1944. In Okinawa in 1945, it was
only assigned to night missions and to kamikaze duties.
Ki-49 Helen
The Ki-49 was designed to an Army specification of 1938 as a replacement for the
Mitsubishi Ki-21 'Sally' twin-engine bomber - but it was initially only slightly faster than
the Ki-21, had a poor ceiling and never achieved a significant advance in range or
offensive weapons load, although it was the first Japanese bomber to carry a 20mm
cannon as part of its standard defensive armament. Although used in almost every
combat area of the Pacific war, the Donryu was never very successful. Many were
destroyed during the Leyte campaign, and by the end of 1944 almost all surviving
Donryus were being used in non-combatant roles or as suicide machines, or else equipped with ASV radar or magnetic-mine detectors - as ocean patrol aircraft.
Ki-67 Peggy
Remarkable heavy bomber: it was not only the best in its category in wartime Japan, but
its maneuverability was such that it could outshine pure fighters and a fighter was tried at
the end of the war as the Ki-109. The development was chaotic. The potential of the
plane was so promising that the army asked for too many versions and tests so that it took
until October of 1944 for the plane to enter service. It served mainly in torpedo missions
against the US armada heading towards Japan. It conducted several raids against the
bases of US B-29s in the Marianas.
RECON AIRCRAFT
J1N1-R Irving
The Japanese gained many ideas from foreign aviation developments; some were good,
like the idea of long-range land-based twin-engine bombers to support naval operations in
the broad reaches of the Pacific. And some were not so good, like the European vogue for
heavy twin-engine aircraft as long-range multi-seat escort fighters. Germany had the
Messerschmitt Bf-110; France, the Potez 63 series; and Japan was not immune-the
Imperial Army had the Kawasaki Ki-45, and the Imperial Navy had the subject of our
present paper-the Nakajima J1N. The Gekko(Moonlight), given the Allied code-name
Irving, began its career as a long-range escort fighter prototype. Failing in that role, it was
reconfigured as a reconnaissance plane, and finally, it was converted into a night fighterthe best one utilized by the Japanese Navy. In night fighter guise, it was not really
outclassed until the advent of the B-29 Superfortress over the Home Islands.
C5M Babs
Prewar civilian design used in China, this was the IJN reconnaissance plane used before
and during the first year of WWII. When the Pacific War began in December 1941, one
of the few types of Japanese aircraft that was well known to the Allies was the Ki-15
Karigane (Wild Goose) reconnaissance airplane. It had demonstrated its excellent range
and reliability in a record flight from Japan to England in April 1937. Although it was
well suited to aerial operations over China, the more vigorous opposition encountered
when flying against the Western Allies eventually relegated the Ki-15, code-named Babs
by its enemies, to ancillary roles. Still, it was one of the very few aircraft operated by
both the Japanese Army and Navy, as can be seen by its two designations. Limited use in
the South Pacific. 50 built.
C6N Myrt
For all its outstandingly clean lines and sterling performance, the building of 463 of these
purpose-built carrier-borne reconnaissance aircraft by Japan during the Pacific War
appears rather excessive. After all, the D4Y1 and D4Y2, converted from dive bombers,
were seemingly good enough for the carrier-borne reconnaissance role without being a
burden on scarce war materials, and the United States simply converted fighters and
bombers--even four-engine ones--to the photo-recon and tactical-recon role. But Japan,
apparently, had no choice but to design and build airplanes especially for this highly
specialized role. Still, the C6N Saiun (Painted Cloud) was an extraordinarily beautiful
pure flying machine; blessed with high speed, long range, and excellent high-altitude
performance, the Saiun, or Myrt, as the Allies named her, was respected as a plane that
could handle the job
C6N Saiun
Nakajima's C6N Saiun was among the finest carrier-based reconnaissance aircraft to
operate during World War II. Soon after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Japanese naval
leaders acknowledged that standard torpedo bombers made poor reconnaissance aircraft.
A new, fast airplane designed and built specifically to conduct long-range scouting
missions was needed
Ki-46-II Dinah
While Mitsubishi manufacturing engineers were scrambling to increase Ki-46 production,
the company's research and development engineers were just as busy working to get the
aircraft's performance up to Army requirements. The Japanese Imperial Army had shown
unusual foresight in obtaining a specialized high-speed reconnaissance aircraft, and the
Imperial Japanese Navy, which wasn't usually inclined to agree with the Imperial
Japanese Army on anything, recognized the merit of the Ki-46 to the extent of obtaining a
small number of the aircraft from the Army.
In the early stages of the war in the Pacific, the Allies were reduced to improvising
vulnerable bombers and transports to the reconnaissance role. The Ki-46, in contrast,
could operate with impunity, as it was faster than any fighters the Allies had in the
region. Even when improved Allied fighters became available, the Ki-46 proved difficult
to catch.
The Allies quickly recognized the Ki-46 as an impressive aircraft. In late 1942, they gave
it the codename "Dinah", and intelligence personnel described it as the "Dinah with the
nice linah!" The Germans were interested enough the Ki-46 to consider obtaining a
manufacturing license for it, but nothing came of it.
Ki-46-III Dinah
Perhaps one of the most elegant twins to be born during WWII, the Mitsubishi Army
Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Plane, Dinah to the Americans, excelled in highaltitude performance, a region where most Japanese aircraft failed, making it an ideal
strategic reconnaissance machine. It replaced the Ki-15 Babs in this role and that of
forward air command (an outdated concept embraced by the Japanese as well as the
French!) in both the IJAAF and the IJNAF as well, which based a small number in Timor
island to perform recon missions over Australia, an almost unique case of interoperability
in the Japanese armed forces, always overzealous about their independence.
Ki-15 Babs
Inspired in part by the Northrop A-17, this aircraft was a private venture by Mitsubishi in
the construction of a stressed-skin monoplane. This aircraft received much publicity and
was a source of national pride and first saw action in the Sino-Japanese war in 1937. This
aircraft was used for level bombing, close support and photo reconnaissance before being
eventually replaced by the Ki-30.
Ki-36 Ida
The Japanese Army as a reconnaissance and close support aircraft developed the Ki-36 in
the late 1930’s. While it performed well in China, it was quickly overwhelmed by
modern Allied fighters elsewhere and was eventually restricted to China. Just over 1,330
were built from 1938 to 1944.
PATROL
H6K4 Mavis
In 1933, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) issued a requirement for an experimental large
flying boat. Kawanishi submitted two designs for monoplane flying boats, including the
"Type Q" with four engines and the "Type R" with three. There were 64 H6K4s in
service when the Pacific War broke out in December 1941. The type saw considerable
action, particularly in the south Pacific; even conducting bombing raids on Rabaul and
the Dutch East Indies. The H6K4 had extreme range and endurance, able to undertake 24hour patrols. The Allies gave the machine the codename "Mavis.
H8K Emily
The H8K flying boat was conceived in 1938 as a replacement for the Mavis, even as the
H6K was going into service. The Japanese Navy wanted a flying boat that was 30%
faster, had 50% greater range, and better defensive capability The first serious operational
use of the H8K took place in March 1942, in an attempt to perform a second air raid on
Pearl Harbor. The three H8K1s involved were based in the Marshall Islands, which were
roughly 3,700 kilometers (2,000 nautical miles) from the island of Oahu. This was
beyond the round-trip range even of the H8K1, and so the flying boats were refueled by
submarine at a waypoint. However, on arrival at the target, the aircraft found the target
area socked in with heavy clouds, and had to call off the attack. An attempt to try again a
few months later was frustrated by the presence of American forces at the refueling point.
The Allies had given the H8K the codename "Emily”, but as its defensive armament
made it a nasty customer to deal with, some Allied pilots called it the "Flying Porcupine".
Late production machines had long wave Mark VI Model 1 ocean search radar, with
towel-rack transmitter antennas along the nose and Yagi-style receiving antennas under
the wings.
TRANSPORT
H6K2-L Mavis
When the Pacific War broke out, the Kawanishi H6K four-engine flying boat was one of
the most combat-capable aircraft available to the Japanese naval air arm. It was operated
throughout the war as a maritime reconnaissance plane, bomber, and transport, and
though the later H8K was undoubtedly a better all-around airplane, the Mavis, as she was
code-named, nevertheless did a fine job.
L1N1 Thora
Originally designed as a civil transport, the Nakajima AT-2 was adopted by the Imperial
Japanese Army in 1937 as the Ki-34. Later a number of these Army machines were
transferred to the Imperial Navy and redesignated L1N1.
L3Y Tina
Twin-engine transport commonly misidentified Yokosuka L3Y version of the G3M
attack bomber.
L2D2 Tabby
Prior to the start of the war, Mitsui & Co., Ltd. of Japan had purchased rights from
Prior to the start of the war; Japan had purchased the rights from Douglas to build the
DC-3, while Nakajima had purchased rights to build the DC-2. After purchasing twenty
American built DC-3s, Mitsui shipped them to Japan and hired Showa to use them as
patterns to set up a production line. Powered by the Mitsubishi Kensei 43, a license-built
copy of the Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp, over 400 Showa L2Ds served with the
Imperial Japanese Navy. Because of the lower powered engines, the L2D was limited to
carrying 11 combat troops or up to 4500 lbs. of cargo
Ki-57-II Topsy
As soon as the heavy bomber Sally had entered service in 1938, there was interest from
civilian as well as military sides for a transport version. It entered service shortly before
the start of the war and the production lasted until 1945. It was used by the land army
("Ki-57"), the navy ("L4M1") as well as the civilian airlines.
Ki-59 Theresa
No photo found
Kokusai 'Theresa' (Army Type 1 Transport Aircraft) Small transport and liaison aircraft.
59 built. This was a high-wing monoplane with fixed landing gear.
MC-21 Sally
While Japan was waging war with China it realized that it didn’t have nearly enough
transports. Ki-12 had been withdrawn from front line service and was modified as
transports. The aircraft were used for transporting goods and paratroopers.
Ki-54 Hickory
The Hickory did not have spectacular duties and remained almost unknown. Yet, it was
one of the best Japanese planes of the war. It was first an advanced trainer for bomber
crews. It proved successful because its performances were close to the ones of a real
bomber. It was later reconverted into light transport and liaison, with the same success.
Other variants were built in limited numbers or remained on the drawing board. The
plane remained in production for the whole duration of the war.
"Hickory" is the allied designation.
FLOATPLANES
E14Y1 Glen
The plane in itself had nothing exceptional (it was rather below-average in its category),
but the way it had to be used was unique: it was based on a submarine (class Junsen 3 or
B1). Under those circumstances, it performed the only air raid against US mainland
during the war: launched by the I-125 submarine on June 21, 1942, it threw four bombs,
which set out a forest fire in Oregon (the US learnt only after the war the cause of that
fire).
E8N Dave
Floatplane catapulted from the cruisers or the battleships of the Japanese navy during the
second half of the thirties. It was sturdy but when the war started, it was being superseded
by the Pete and was soon relegated to training and liaison missions
F1M2 Pete
The Mitsubishi F1M2 was a naval observation seaplane denominated Zero Kan;
conceived a versatile biplane, it had unique qualities for that years. Was used in missions
of recognition, interceptor, bomber, antisubmarine, rescue and coastguard. Of metallic
construction, it had a Mitsubishi Zuisei 13 radial engine of 14 cylinders that granted him
a speed of 370 km/h with an operational range of 445 km, with a ceiling of 9440 m. Its
maximum weight was of 2550 kg and had an armament of three 7.7mm machine guns
and two 60 kg underwing bombs. Their production begins in 1939 and finished in 1944,
with a totally of 1.114 airplanes.
E13A1 Jake
A high performance biplane powered by a nine-cylinder radial engine. It had one central
large float, and two small outboard stabilizing floats. It earned a commendable war
record as an interceptor, dive-bomber, convoy escort, coastal patrol and reconnaissance
aircraft.
These aircraft were often dubbed "Washing Machine Charlie" by Americans,
flying around bases at night and keeping everyone awake occasionally droppings
or flares, or firing machine gun bursts. A total of 1,118 were built.
E7K2 Alf
Single-engine twin-float reconnaissance seaplane. All-metal structure with fabric
covering.