Japanese Airfields, Equipment & more #2 - revised

IJNAF work platforms, benches and ladders.
During WWII, the IJNAF used a variety of work platforms, benches and ladders to maintain its aircraft. Their availability was guaranteed at the main airfields of Japan's mainland but they weren't rare at the major airfields of South-East Asia and around the Pacific. At the front, it all came down to whether a woodshop was accessible to the airfield maintenance crews.

The most common type by far was the wooden 2-tier work platform, in various designs.

This was also available to front-line bases, as can be seen in this photo taken either at the Davao Airfield of Mindanao Island or the Manado Airfield of Celebes Island (present-day Sulawesi Island).

Occasionally, there was writing on these platforms. This one says: "錬戦" (rensen - training fighter).

For taller aircraft like the Nakajima B5N "Kate" or the Mitsubishi G3M "Nell", bigger 3-tier work platforms were put to use to access the engines of the aircraft.

Smaller benches were often available.

For two-engine aircraft like the Yokosuka P1Y "Ginga" (Frances) or the Nakajima J1N "Gekko" (Irving), occasionally, longer benches or 2-tier platforms were used for two or more mechanics to be able to gain access to both engines.

A different kind of bench filled with wrenches and a can.

The IJNAF wasn't too keen on ladders. There was the featured type with a flat top to gain access to the engines of taller aircraft types, but photographic evidence shows that it wasn't that common at IJNAF airfields.

On the other hand, ladders were more common to floatplane units, even on ships as the photo on the right taken aboard the battleship Mutsu.

Photographic evidence shows that flight and maintenance crews of the Nakajima J1N "Gekko" (Irving), used a peculiar metal ladder to access the cockpit or occasionally the engines of the aircraft. Of course, when this ladder wasn't available, a more common simple wooden ladder was used.

In this short clip, a Nakajima J1N1-Sa or Model 23 "Gekko" (Irving) night fighter is bringing back to base the remains of Cap Endo Sachio (pilot) & CPO Nishio Osamu (observer).

There are many interesting details but note the special ladder used only on "Gekko" night fighters, the chocks placed behind the wheels in a common IJNAF fashion and the rods that keep the canopy windows open.

The flight crew of the Mitsubishi G3M "Nell" also used a ladder, sometimes made of wood but more often made of metal to access the cockpit. The Mitsubishi G4M "Betty", especially the transport types, needed a metal ladder of unusual design to access the cabin from the fuselage door.

Here's a typical photo of maintenance crew members servicing a Zero, using different kinds of work platforms and benches.

A variety of benches, work platforms and ladders found at Oppama Airfield at the end of the War.

A very short clip featuring IJNAF maintenance crews servicing Mitsubishi B5M "Mabel" bombers inside a hangar. Note of course the work platforms.