Kyushu J7W "Shinden" Test Flight pt.1 - video

The video today features the first prototype of one of the most unique Japanese aircraft ever produced, the Kyushu J7W "Shinden", during taxiing tests.

The original 8mm film was shot by Engineer Kiyohara Kunitake, an 8mm film enthusiast who, at the time, served as Deputy Chief of the First Design Section at Kyushu Aircraft and oversaw the aircraft’s equipment, piloting, functions, powerplant, and armament teams. It was developed after the war, the image quality is not very good and yet it is a most valuable record of this rare aircraft type.

The location is Mushiroda Airfield in Fukuoka. The airport was built in 1944 by the IJAAF and was named Mushiroda Airfield. After the war, the United States Air Force used the airfield as Itazuke Air Base from 1945 to 1972. Today it is called Fukuoka Airport, the principal airport on the island of Kyushu and the fourth busiest passenger airport in Japan.

The exact date is unknown but most sources mention that these taxiing tests were conducted in late July 1945.

After being transported to the runway and purified by a Shinto priest, the president of the Kyushu Hikoki, the Chief Designer LCDR Tsuruno Masayoshi performed a ritual offering of sacred branches. The engine was then started, and the taxiing test finally began. An Army Type 100 Reconnaissance Aircraft Model 3 can be seen in the rear left.

Below are some captions from the old blue FAOW explaining what we see in the clip.

Before the test run began, LCDR TSuruno, wearing a Navy cap, took the pilot’s seat himself to check the engine’s condition. This first prototype was finally completed shortly after June 10 and transported to Mushiroda Airfield on the 15th; however, modifications and maintenance to the radiator and hydraulic systems took a full month, and the final inspection was conducted in mid-July inside the tunnel hangar at Mushiroda.

A view from the front during the engine test run. The Mitsubishi Ha-43 Model 12 engine, with a takeoff power of 2,030 hp (2,900 rpm), rotates powerfully, emitting a distinctive, piercing roar. Because the cockpit is high off the ground, a long ladder was placed against the No. 1 prototype; a boarding mechanism allowing for quick entry was scheduled to be installed before mass production began.

The taxiing test is about to begin. LCDR Tsuruno, with a tense expression, is about to enter the cockpit. The antenna mast protruding from the right side of the nose is for the Type 3 Ku-1 radio telephone. There is another one below the front windshield of the cockpit. 

A view from the front-left just before the taxi test. With the engine at full throttle, the shadow of the 6-bladed propeller, 3.400 m in diameter, is clearly visible. The designers and prototype development staff watch over the scene.

The first prototype of the "Shinden", piloted by Major Tsuruno, took off in a cloud of dust, but just as it seemed the nose was lifting slightly near the north end of the runway, the aircraft spun halfway around and came to a stop. It is shown here taxiing back a short while later. 

Upon shutting down the engine and inspecting the aircraft, it was found that the tip of the propeller had bent about 50 cm. This was caused by the nose rising too high during the run, causing the propeller to strike the ground. Afterward, the tail wheels from Kyushu K11W "Shiragiku" were temporarily attached to the underside of the wing. 

The propeller was replaced with one intended for the second prototype, and the “first flight” took place on August 3 which we will see in the following post.

Aichi E13A "Jake", Tateyama Kokutai

Our friend Danny Jackett notified us of an interesting photo he spotted on the net, so we paired it with another featuring the same Aichi E13A "Jake" seaplanes found at the end of the war at Tateyama. They actually belong to the Tateyama Kokutai, as indicated by the katakana "タ-" (TA-) on the tail. 

Tateyama Kokutai was one of the oldest IJNAF units, organized on June 1, 1930, in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture, to ease the congestion of Yokosuka Ku and to protect Tokyo Bay, as well as the areas near the coastline of East Japan. It could operate land-based aircraft and seaplanes, and when established, it had in its strength carrier fighters, carrier attackers, reconnaissance seaplanes, and flying boats; eight of each. It was nicknamed "Tateku." On December 15, 1944, all the Eastern Japan patrol kokutai, including Tateyama Ku, were merged into the 903 Ku. A second Tateyama Ku was organized on May 15, 1945, with carrier attack-bombers and patrol seaplanes.

Mitsubishi G4M "Betty", 705 Kokutai, New Georgia

A set of photos features a Mitsubishi G4M1 Model 11 "Betty" found wrecked and abandoned in New Georgia belonging to the 705 Kokutai as the tail marking "336" indicates.

The unit was originally called Misawa Kokutai but on November 1, 1942,...(unit history relative to the photos, from Wiki)

...was redesignated to 705th Kokutai (Air Group). 

On 11 November, newly promoted Lieutenant Commander Nakamura led 16 torpedo-armed bombers against the enemy ships around Guadalcanal. They were intercepted by 16 Wildcat and eight Bell P-39 Airacobra fighters and in combination with AA fire from the ships, they shot down 11 medium bombers, while the rest returned severely damaged. This put an end to further raids by medium bombers against Guadalcanal. 

On 29 January 1943, 705Ku was involved in the Battle of Rennell Island. Lieutenant Commander Nakamura led 16 torpedo-armed bombers against the enemy ships spotted near Rennell Island. They scored no hits and in return lost one bomber, however, subsequent attacks by other air groups managed to sink the cruiser Chicago. 

On 12 April, the unit participated in Operation I-Go, where Lieutenant Commander Nakamura led 27 bombers against Port Moresby. 

Two days later, they also participated in a raid against Milne Bay. The unit continued to be involved in the Solomon Islands campaign until 5 September, when it was withdrawn to Tinian.

Mitsubishi G3M "Nell", 901 Kokutai, Okinawa - video

Here's the material on Dan's exquisite "Nell" model featured in the previous post. 

Inferior quality but color (NOT colorized) short video. The "KEA-395" indicates that it belonged to the 901 Kokutai. 

The unit was organized on December 15, 1943, at Tateyama for patrol and ship escort missions. In the beginning it was equipped with 24 "Nell" and 12 "Mavis" flying boats. Later it received a variety of types and in May 1945 the unit had no less than 212 planes. 

In the middle of June 1944 the 901Ku moved to Donggang, Pingtung County, Taiwan, and then to Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture where they sent various dispatch units to different locations. The main mission of the unit was sea patrol and the protection of the south-west ship routes.

On January 1, 1945, it merged with the 254Ku, 953Ku and 954Ku and on March 1, 1945, the unit had 24 carrier fighters, 24 interceptors, 24 carrier attackers, 24 "Nell" and "Betty" bombers, 64 "Jake" floatplanes, 40 Kyushu Q1W "Tokai" and 12 flying boats. On June 1, the unit had a mixed force of 12 carrier fighters, 12 "Nell" and "Betty", 80 "Jake" and 42 "Tokai".

Note the "letter" "C" on the fuselage side of the"Nell". It is actually not a letter but a marking to help the aircraft equipped with "Jikitanshiki" (MAD anti-submarine equipment) to align themselves in a submarine hunting formation. 

A color, (NOT colorized) photo of the Mitsubishi G3M "Nell", 901 Kokutai, Okinawa

Mitsubishi G3M "Nell" in 1/48 by Dan Salamone

I spent the past 4 months working on the Koster Nell kit. I bought it brand new in 2006, started it in 2021 and made a little progress, but restarted in late December 2025.

Tamiya acrylics, weathered with oils and AK pencils. Kit is vacform, with white metal and resin parts. I used a 500kg bomb from Ushi and the dorsal cannon is from Quinta, both 3D printed. Kit hinomaru, tail codes from generic sheets and the 901st Ku tail stripes were painted.

Main reference was FAOW #109, but also found online images of the actual aircraft in a wrecked state at Okinawa.

The kit itself was superb, and is my first full vacform kit completion.

- Dan Salamone -

Aichi D3A "Val" - 582 Kokutai

Three photos, again from here, feature an Aichi D3A2 "Val" Model 22. As before, the tag mantions that it was found by US Forces in Talasea Airield, New Britain in September 1944, but online sources mention that it was "abandoned at Hoskins Airfield". 

The tail marking "82-224" indicates that it belonged to the 582 Kokutai which was originally organized as the 2nd Kokutai. Here's a history of the unit from the Japanese Wikipedia.

The 2nd Kokutai was provisionally organized as a combined fighter-bomber unit on May 31, 1942, as the First Phase of the Invasion Operation was completed and preparations for the Second Phase were underway. Although its unit number was low, it was formed relatively late. Previous provisional air groups included pure fighter groups (such as the 3rd and the 6th Kokutai), long-range attack groups (such as the 1st and the 14th Kokutai), and local patrol and reconnaissance groups (such as the 32nd and 40th Kokutai), but the 2Ku did not belong to any of these categories. Composed of numerous carrier-based bombers and escort fighters, it was a unique land-based aviation unit designed to conduct close-range anti-ship attacks from forward-deployed bases. It advanced into the Outer South Pacific, the theater of the "Second Wave Invasion Operation", but the Allied counteroffensive began immediately upon its arrival. However, because the frontline Buin airfield was still under construction, the unit was forced to use Rabaul as its base. Round-trip flights to Guadalcanal, the theater of operations, were impossible with the Aichi D3A "Val". Furthermore, due to the retaliatory attack on Tulagi immediately after their arrival, they were forced to conduct one-way attacks, resulting in the loss of aircraft, and thus were unable to contribute as a combat force during the early stages of their deployment. Subsequently, they received reinforcements and operated in the Outer South Seas until their disbandment, becoming the main force of the Rabaul Air Group. 

1942

May 31: Unit established.

August 6: Deployed to Rabaul (15 Zero-type carrier-based fighters and 16 carrier-based bombers)

August 7: Surprise attack on Tulagi. Nine aircraft bombed surface ships off Tulagi; one destroyer was slightly damaged, and all aircraft were lost (2 shot down, 4 missing, 3 abandoned after emergency landings). The Aichi D3A "Vals" lacked the range for a round-trip, so from the outset, these were one-way attacks based on the assumption that the aircraft would splash-land and be abandoned. 

August 22: Part of the Zero Squadron accompanied the Tainan Kokutai’s Buna Detachment and advanced to Buna.

September 11: The Zero Squadron, in conjunction with the 6th Air Fleet, escorted a bombing squadron targeting Henderson Field and engaged in aerial combat. No combat results or losses for the 2Ku. 

September 28: The Zero Fighter Squadron advanced to Buka Island. From this time on, combined fighter-bomber raids were suspended, and operations were separated into daytime raids by the Zero Fighter Squadron and nighttime bombing by the land-based bomber units. The 2nd Kokutai’s Zero Fighter Squadron also participated.

October 3: The 2nd Division carried out its landing on Guadalcanal. The Zero Fighter Squadron engaged in air defense of the convoy.

October 7: Supported the transport of heavy weapons aboard the "Nisshin"; the Zero Fighter Squadron engaged in air defense. Two aircraft went missing due to rough weather.

October 8: Buin Airfield completed; fighter units deployed. The 6th and the 31st Kokutai followed to Buin.

October 20: Began support raids for the 2nd Division’s general assault on the 24th. The Zero Fighter Squadron sortieed daily.

November 1: Renamed the “582nd Kokutai" and reorganized.

November 11: Nine aircraft participated in the anti-ship attack the day before the Third Battle of the Solomon Islands. Engaged in aerial support for the naval battle the following day and the 17th Army’s general assault on the 14th.

November 15: An enemy airfield at Buna was discovered by an Army reconnaissance aircraft.  The 582Ku designated as the attack force. 

November 16: Enemy reinforcements approached Buna. Twelve aircraft participated in the 26th Naval Air Fleet’s anti-ship bombing raid, severely damaging three transport ships.

December 6: The 26th Naval Air Fleet attacked a transport convoy bound for Buna. Eleven aircraft participated.

December 7: The 26th Naval Air Fleet bombed enemy ground positions at Buna. Six aircraft participated.

December 27: Joint Army-Navy air operation. 12 carrier-based bombers from the 582Ku, 21 Zero fighters from the 204Ku, and 31 Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" (Oscar) fighters from the 12th Hikodan.

December 28: Buna falls; the Yokosuka 5th Special Landing Force is annihilated.

1943

January 2: Jointly with the 204th Kokutai, attacked a transport convoy off Cape Nelson, a cape on the north coast of Oro Province, Papua New Guinea.

January 14: “Operation Ke”, the largely successful withdrawal of Japanese forces from Guadalcanal, concluding the Guadalcanal Campaign of World War II,  launched. The New Guinea front stabilized.

February 1: 15 aircraft sortieed for the Battle of Isabel (The battle that took place during the retreat is often referred to as the Battle of Isabel Island). Lost 2 aircraft.

March 28: 18 aircraft attacked a convoy in Oro Bay, New Guinea.

April 7: “Operation I-Go”, the aerial counter-offensive by Imperial Japanese forces against Allied forces during the Solomon Islands and New Guinea campaigns, launched. Preparations for the Y Attack.

[14 April: Y1 and Y2 Attacks Milne Bay, 1943

On 14 April, attacks were carried out by land-based air units against Milne Bay and Rabi (the Y1 attack), alongside attacks by carrier-based aircraft (the Y2 attack). The force composition was as follows.

Y1 Attack Force

Close Escort: 204Ku (21 Zero fighters), 253Ku (17 Zero fighters), 582Ku (18 Zero fighters)

Attack Force: 705Ku (26 land-based bombers), 751Ku (11 land-based bombers)]

April 11: 22 aircraft sortieed for the Y Attack.

April 14: Sortied for the Second Y Attack.

April 16: Third Y Attack canceled; "Operation I-Go" concluded.

June 16: Battle of Lunga Point: 24 aircraft conducted anti-ship attacks. 13 aircraft lost.

June 30: Rendova Island landing begins. Bombed the anchorage with 8 aircraft until the following day. Lost 5 aircraft.

July 2: Ryuho aircraft squadron arrives at Rabaul. Subsequently, operated jointly with the Ryuho carrier-based dive bomber squadron.

July 5: New Georgia Island landing begins. Bombed the anchorage with 7 aircraft.

July: The fighter squadron was disbanded and reorganized as a pure dive-bomber squadron. The fighters and their crews were transferred to the 201st and the 204th Kokutai.

August 1: Bombed the anchorage at Rendova Island with 16 aircraft.

August 15: Enemy landed on Vella Lavella Island Island. Bombed with 25 aircraft.

September 4: Bombed a convoy off Salamaua with 8 aircraft.

October 15: Bombed a convoy off Buna with 15 aircraft. Lost 14 aircraft.

October 18: After the arrival of the 501st Kokutai in Rabaul, the 582Ku subsequently jointly operated.

October 25: Enemy aircraft attacked Rabaul. Participated in interception with 2 aircraft.

October 28: “Operation Ro” launched.

["Operation Ro" was an air operation carried out by the IJN in November 1943, ordered during the fighting that began following the Allied landing on Mono Island. The Japanese military, utilising land-based air units and the 1st Air Fleet attached to aircraft carriers, launched attacks against the Allied landing convoys approaching the vicinity of Bougainville Island and the fleet supporting them.] 

 On November 1, the 1st Air Fleet flight units arrived at Rabaul.

November 8: Second Battle of the Bougainville Islands. 38 aircraft sortieed in conjunction with the 501Ku.

November 12: 1st Air Fleet withdrew.

November 17: 552Ku arrived at Rabaul. Thereafter, operated jointly.

December 15: Enemy lands at New Britain Island, Cape Marcus. Bombed with 7 aircraft.

December 17: Provided supporting bombing with 12 aircraft for the Army Landing Craft Task Force’s counter-landing at Cape Mercus.

December 21: Bombed a convoy off Cape Mercus. Operations  continued intermittently until the 31st.

1944

January 7: Air raids on Rabaul intensified. By the 19th, the number of carrier-based bombers had plummeted to 15.

January 25: 2nd Air Fleet advanced to Rabaul.

February 5: 552Ku withdrew.

February 20: 2nd Air Fleet withdrew.

February 28: 501Ku withdrew.

March 4: Disbanded.

Following the air raid on Truk Island on February 17, which severed supply lines, the decision was made to abandon the Outer South Seas. The 582Ku, which had remained in Rabaul since its deployment, was disbanded. After retreating to Truk, it transferred its remaining six Nakajima B5N "Kates" to the 551Ku.

Yokosuka D4Y "Suisei" (Judy) - video

A propaganda video from the NHK collection, dated December 7, 1943, features a Yokosuka D4Y "Suisei" (Judy) taking off on a reconnaissance mission. Unfortunately, the tail marking is not visible and therefore we cannot confirm the unit based on that missing information.

According to the narrator:

"Under the scorching sun of the South Pacific, our Navy’s newest aircraft has taken off for the first time. Making the most of its speed in the Solomon Islands theater—where fierce aerial battles rage from dawn till dusk—it soars over enemy lines. Looking down, I see the enemy airfields at Tulagi, Guadalcanal, and Munda, where 100 million people swallowed their tears and swore revenge. Our reconnaissance and search-and-destroy network is tight and leaves no gaps."

In other words, the area covered in the reconnaissance mission is the South Pacific, and as we saw in the previous post, the "Suisei" equipped unit operating in the theater at that specific time was the 501 Kokutai. 

Leave a comment if you know of any other "Suisei" equipped units the aircraft in the video could belong to. 

A few years ago, I asked a veteran observer how they managed to take photos on a reconnaissance mission, given that the "Suisei" lacked windows on the sides of the fuselage, unlike other reconnaissance aircraft of the IJNAF and IJAAF. He explained that the observer had to communicate with the pilot, who banked the plane to the side the observer indicated and then took photos by leaning outside the cockpit while holding the portable camera.

Yokosuka D4Y "Suisei" (Judy) - 501 Kokutai

Two photos today from here feature a Yokosuka D4Y1 Model 11 “Suisei”  (Judy). As you can see the caption says that it was found by US Forces in Talasea Airield, New Britain in September 1944, but online sources mention that it was found "abandoned at  Hoskins Airfield on New Britain. During early May 1944, captured when U.S. Marines from the 1st Marine Division (1st MARDIV) occupied the area."

The tail marking "01-070" indicates that it belonged to the 501 Kokutai. Here's a history of the unit from the Japanese Wikipedia and the "The I.J.N. Carrier Bomber SUISEI D4Y Series photo & illustlated Part#1" by DNK.

The 501 Kokutai (501Ku) was a unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy. As the main torpedo bomber force defending the the front linesin the Outer South Seas, it engaged in torpedo attacks, bombing missions, and patrol operations in the Outer and Inner South Seas during the mid-Pacific War.

To replenish the depleted strength of the 582 Kokutai, which had been conducting bombing missions for nearly a year in the Solomon Islands area using Rabaul as its base, the 501Ku was established as one of the bomber squadrons forming part of the Outer South Seas land based air force. On June 30, 1943, the day before the unit was officially organized at Kisarazu Airfield, U.S. forces landed on Rendova Island, marking the start of a full-scale counteroffensive, and a rapid deployment to Rabaul was demanded. However, due to the unit’s recent formation and the fact that it was the first air group organized around the new “Suisei”  bombers, it was plagued by insufficient pilot training and early mechanical failures of the aircraft type, and the deployment to Rabaul was not achieved until October. 

1943

July 1: Formed at Kisarazu Airfield. Assigned to the 25th Koku Sentai of the 11th Koku Kantai. Training began at Kisarazu Airfield with 36 “Suisei” .

October 12: Training completed. An advance party of 17 aircraft departed for Rabaul, but turned back due to bad weather. The same happened on the following day.

October 14: Finally advanced to Iwo Jima, and via Truk, 14 aircraft completed their deployment to Rabaul on the 18th. Along the way, one aircraft remained behind on Iwo Jima due to engine failure, and two were severely damaged during landing at Truk.

At that time, the only carrier-based dive bomber unit deployed in the Southeast Area was the 582 Kokutai, equipped with Aichi D3A2 Model 22, and following the October 15 attack on ships in Oro Bay—where 13 of the 15 aircraft that took off, including the commander’s plane, failed to return—the unit had just relocated to Kavieng to rebuild its strength. 

The 501Ku was immediately thrown into action and began operations as early as the 20th. Three “Suisei”  took off from the Rabaul East Airfield starting at 03:00, conducting reconnaissance and daytime attacks on enemy convoys off Cape Cretin; however, they reported no results, and one aircraft, piloted by veteran WO Miyauchi Katsumi, failed to return. On the 22nd, two “Suisei”  conducted a reconnaissance and attack mission against ships off Cape Cretin. Additionally, during the day, four “Suisei”, together with 24 Zero fighters, were dispatched to attack enemy transport ships and destroyers navigating near Cape Cretin, reporting that one large landing craft had been severely damaged. 

On the following day, the 23rd, after conducting a reconnaissance and attack mission off Cape Cretin, four “Suisei”, in a combined fighter-bomber formation with 20 Zero fighters, again attacked the enemy convoy and escort vessels off Cape Cretin, scoring a near-miss against one destroyer.

October 27: Bombed an enemy transport convoy landing on Mono Island .

October 29: The 2nd Detachment of the 501Ku took off from Kisarazu with nine “Suisei”, and on November 4, eight of them safely reached Rabaul and joined the ranks.

From November 5 until 11, the unit took part in anti-ship missions against the Allied Forces that were taking part in the Bougainville Campaign in cooperation with the 582Ku.

As of December 1, the number of 501Ku aircraft stationed in Rabaul was 11, of which 5 were operational. Although some reinforcements were received, the unit never reached full strength and continued to dwindle; by January and February, it was finally reduced to a situation where only one to three aircraft were operational.

1944

February 1: Reorganized to a strength of 72 aircraft. Established a Truk Island detachment with 25 Zero fighters equipped for bombing missions.

February 17: Major air raid on Truk. The Truk Detachment engaged the enemy, losing 4 aircraft.

February 26: The main force at Rabaul made its final sortie, bombing a transport convoy off Green Island.

February 28: The main force withdrew to Truk. One operational aircraft flew back, while the commander and 6 crew members arrived at Truk on March 2 aboard the I-41 Submarine.

March 4: Assigned to the 26th Koku Sentai of the 14 Koku Kantai.

March 10: Main force completed transfer to Peleliu. Joined forces with the remnants of the 552Ku.

March 25: Dispatched training personnel to Davao.

March 29: Major air raid on Palau. Lost 12 Zero fighters and 9 carrier-based bombers.

March 31: 10 Zero fighters and 4 “Suisei” arrived in Davao from the home islands.

May 8: Remaining forces from Peleliu withdrew to Davao, joined the training unit, and continued training.

July 10: The 501 Kokutai is disbanded and survivors were incorporated into the 761 Kokutai to reinforce it in preparation for “Operation Sho.” ["Operation Sho-Go" was a plan devised by the Japanese Army and Navy during World War II to intercept enemy forces using base air units in the Philippines, Taiwan, and mainland Japan. The operations were numbered from No. 1 to No. 4 depending on the area of the main battle, and Operation Sho-Go No. 1 was launched on October 18, 1944, in response to the American invasion of Leyte Island]

"Grand Flight to Europe" - Breguet 19A "Hatsukaze" "Kochikaze"

On July 25, 1925, two Breguet 19A2 aircraft, the "初風" (Hatsukaze - The First Wind; civilian registration: J-KIKU) and "東風" (Kochikaze - Eastern Wind; civilian registration: J-KIRI) of the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, took off from Yoyogi Parade Ground to the cheers of many government officials and citizens, embarking on their grand journey to Europe. 

Their crew consisted of:

"Hatsukaze": Pilot-Abe Hiroshi (Overall Leader), Engineer-Shinohara Shunichiro

"Kochikaze": Pilot-Kawachi Kazuhiko, Engineer-Katagiri Shohei

The two aircraft traveled from Tokyo to Osaka, Kyushu, Korea, and Manchuria, crossing the Siberian continent and overcoming numerous difficulties before arriving in Moscow on August 23, where they received a warm welcome.

Then, they reached Berlin on September 18 and Paris on September 28, receiving enthusiastic welcomes for this remarkable feat, including from the aircraft manufacturer Breguet and the engine manufacturer Lorraine. They then continued on to London, Brussels, and Rome, before returning to Japan on November 29 from Marseille aboard the NYK Line's Kashima Maru, receiving widespread acclaim from the Japanese people in January 1926.

These aircraft were purchased and assembled by Nakajima Aircraft Company through Mitsui & Co. at the request of the Asahi Shimbun. 

A few more Breguet 19A were produced besides these two, but they did not become fully adopted by the military or civilian authorites or massively produced aircraft and were used as communication and mail aircraft for the Asahi Shimbun newspaper.

"Hatsukaze" crew: Abe Hiroshi left (pilot&overall leader), Shinohara Shunichiro right (engineer)

"Kochikaze" crew: Kawachi Kazuhiko left (pilot), Katagiri Shohei right (engineer)

Beautiful artwork by Koike Shigeo

If you want to read a more detailed account of the adventure flight of the two Breaguet 19A2, J-KIKU "Hatsukaze" & J-KIRI "Kochikaze", as well as other equally fascinating articles, check out issue #13 of our magazine; HERE.

Nakajima Ki-84 "Hayate" (Frank) by Alex Angelopoulos

An absolutely gorgeous model by Alex Angelopoulos (a.k.a. Alan Gelo) of a Nakajima Ki-84 "Hayate" (Frank), Arma Hobby Model Kits, 1/72. I'm really, really impressed!