Drop tank production - video

Thought I had posted this many years ago, but Tommy Vicard from France reminded us we haven't so...here you go.

The narrator in this October 1944 clip from the NHK collection, explains:

"This is a school factory in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, which builds wooden auxiliary tanks, indispensable for modern air combat. 

First, cut the wood to make it thinner.

Then paste it on the crate.

Next, attach the cloth.

And finally, if you apply paint, you have a good auxiliary tank. 

With the effort of the female students, the number of auxiliary tanks built here is now higher than expected, and they are being sent out one after another aiming for the upcoming aviation decisive battle."

The school was the Girl's High School in Takayama which still exists today but, ofcourse, with a different name.

Merci Tommy.

Many years ago the late Owaki Katsushi gave me a piece of an IJAAF drop tank. An authentic relic showing the weaving patern of the wood with the paper on top and showcasing the IJAAF hairyokushoku. 

IJAAF & IJNAF drop tanks pt. 2 - Mitsubishi A5M "Claude"

In the second part of the series we will examine the drop tanks of Mitsubishi A5M "Claude".

The earlier types of the aircraft until A5M2a had an 160ℓ drop tank as shown below.

Below is an illustration by Devlin Chouinard based on the official aircraft service manual.

1. fuselage frame
2. front metal attachment
3. drop line
4. release lever
5. fuel flow control lever
6. fuel capacity indicator
7. rear metal attachment
8. fuselage frame
9. drop tank in release position

From A5M2b, the earlier drop tank was replaced by either a 160ℓ...

...or a 210ℓ drop tank.

Note the not-so-pristine condition of the tank below.

As before, below is an illustration by Devlin Chouinard based on the official aircraft service manual.

1. changeover valve
2. release lever
3. anti-vibration metal attachment
4. tank attachment rack
5. attachment metal for the rack
6. 160ℓ tank
7. 210ℓ tank

IJAAF & IJNAF drop tanks pt. 1 - Nakajima A4N

Inspired by this post, we realized there isn't much out there about the IJAAF & IJNAF drop tanks. So with the help of our good friend Devlin Chouinard we decided to begin this series gathering whatever material is available. We start with the Navy fighters.

The very first Navy fighter to be equipped with drop tanks was the Type 95 Carrier Fighter or Nakajima A4N. The drop tanks, of unknown capacity and material, but probably metal, could be emptied before an emergency alighting and then they could work as floats to keep the aircraft above water. Outboard of them, two 30kg or 60kg bombs could also be installed together with the tanks. 

I could find nothing else about them. Feel free to chip in if you have something. 

Here are some photos.

 

 

In the last photo above, the starboard bomb rack is also visible.

And artwork by Devlin Chouinard.