Japanese Airfields, Equipment & more #6 - revised

 IJNAF jack stands

The IJNAF, of course, used jack stands, but photos are not that common. In this beautiful photo, two extended jack stands support the wings of a Nakajima C6N1-S night fighter but note that on the tail only a barrel is used covered with some piece of cloth. Obviously, the raised tail unbalances the aircraft and three ground crew members are needed to sit on the tail to keep it on the ground.

This metal tripod seems to be one of the most common IJNAF designs. Note the two (not three) collapsible small wheels, presumably for better transportation, not seen on IJAAF stands. In this case, it raises a Yokosuka D4Y "Suisei" (Judy) and note again, as in the previous photo, the barrel placed in the middle of the rear fuselage.

These metal tripods with two small wheels could even be seen on aircraft carriers.

Wooden jack stands were uncommon with the IJNAF but presumably, when metal ones were not available, they were built if a woodshop was nearby. In this case, it is used to raise the tail of a Mitsubishi A6M "Zero-sen" in Rabaul. Note the barrel in the background.

Another wooden jack stand is lifting the tail of a Mitsubishi J2M "Raiden" (Jack). Note the piece of cloth at the top of the jack stand.

Although not very clear, this double wooden jack stand is raising the tail of a Yokosuka/Kawanishi K5Y1 "Willow" trainer. Very unusual design not seen in any other photos.

Various bigger and more complicated wooden jack stands can be seen behind a Yokosuka P1Y "Ginga" (Frances).

In this photo, taken at Ambon Island, featuring the A6M2 "X-183" flown by the 23rd Hikotai (3rd Kokutai), we can see some jack stands in the background. Their design, though, looks more IJAAF than IJNAF.

The most useful, ultra highly recommended but extremely difficult to find, Model Art#927, entitled "Nihon Riku-Kaigunki Dai Zukan" or "Imperial Japanese Army & Navy Airplanes Illustrated Book #1", features IJNAF jack stand artwork by Sato Kunihiko. Note the tripod with the small wheels on the top left. Interestingly, the metal jack stands are depicted in "Navy" blue. Consequently, were the IJAAF jack stands painted khaki?