Friday, 13 June 2025

"Nihongun Rokakuki" #2 - Martin B-10, Curtiss P-40, Douglas O-46, Philippines


After the capture of Manila, Philippines, in January 1942, the Japanese Army discovered numerous US aircraft—some entirely wrecked, others in fair condition, and some intact. The NHK collection clip features Martin B-10 bombers, Curtiss P-40 fighters, and a wrecked Douglas O-46 captured by the Japanese military, as well as some decoys. 

Some photos of the same aircraft from vintage (1942) publications. According to the NHK caption, the aircraft featured in the clip were found at Nickols Airfield (present-day Ninoy Aquino Airport).
Terry Popravak commented:
In the views of the P-40s, the right side one is a P-40B, with two ports in the wing visible, which were for the two .30-caliber machine guns in the wing, different from a P-40E with three .50-caliber guns in the wing. The left-hand P-40 could be a P-40B too. If I remember correctly, the P-40Bs were all in the 20th Pursuit Squadron at Clark Field when the war began. All the other P-40 squadrons at other locations started out with the E-model.

A photo of one of the Martin bombers featured in the clip. Note the same "37" (?) on the wing leading edge. Other sources mention that the location is Clark Field and based on what looks to be Mount Arayat in the background, Clark Field is the more probable location.

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