A selection of photos, feature Mitsubishi A5M "Claudes" from the 12 & 14 Kokutai. I bet you've never seen before some of them!
A Mitsubishi A5M4 with a 210ℓ standard drop tank on patrol over Yangtze River in China. It's a "hokoku" (donation) aircraft named "Osaka Arimoto-go" donated by Arimoto Kunizo, a businessman, philanthropist, and politician from Osaka. It was donated on November 28, 1937, at Osaka's Joto Parade Ground.
It belonged to the 12th Kokutai as indicated by the number "3-" on its tail.
A flight of A5M2bs flying in perfect formation over Central China. The "Claude" in the middle with the tail marking "3-108", was also a "hokoku" plane, number #212, named "Teikoku Seimei-go" donated by "Teikoku Life Insurance Company" (present-day "Asahi Life"). The donation ceremony took place at Haneda Airport on October 15, 1938.
A photo taken at the intact captured Hankow Airport (present-day part of Wuhan). Note that the unit used two font styles for its tail marking. Compare the "3" of this "3-165" and previously "3-163" with the markings of the "Claude" formation, "3-120".
The particular aircraft has an unusual rod under its tail.
A kind of vintage "selfie" where one cameraman is taking a photo of another cameraman. Note the Aichi D1A Carrier Dive Bombers in the background also belonging to the 12th Kokutai.
A rare photo of an A5M2b with the enclosed canopy (note the small windows in the top left corner), a "hokoku" "Claude" named "Zenkoku Seinen Gakko-go", donated by staff and students of "Seinen Gakko"* on December 5, 1937, at Haneda Airport.
All photos of "Claudes" with enclosed canopies belonging to combat units, indicated by the combat white band, show them as serving with the 12th Kokutai, and so this "Claude" too probably belonged to the 12th Kokutai. The enclosed canopy hindered rear vision and was disliked by the pilots who removed it at first chance.
14th Kokutai crews receive instructions from buntaicho LT Shingo Hideki, the pilot standing on the right side, in the spring of 1939. In the background "Claudes", one with tail number "9-151" (or "9-157"?) can be seen. The 14th Kokutai used the number "9-" on its aircraft as tail marking.
An A5M4 "Claude" is having its engine looked after. The peculiar hangar in the background indicates that the location is Sanya Airfield on Hainan Island when the 14 Kokutai was preparing to move the Chinese mainland around April 1940.
One of my favorite "Claude" photos that doesn't look much at first glance but one that features an IJNAF pilot in full goggles, a face mask (not muffler; these were white) and probably oxygen mask, giving the thumbs up ready to go on another, maybe high altitude, mission. Another pilot has climbed on the wing to assist. Unfortunately, I have no further information regarding the identity of the pilot or the unit in this beautiful photo.
As a bonus, here's a photo from a vintage (pre-1945) publication of a "Claude" from an unidentified unit having its engine test run. Note the pilot standing by. Pilot boots were exclusively worn by pilots and pilots only. Compare them with the footwear of the ground crew in previous photo.
*Youth Schools (Seinen Gakkō) were educational institutions established in Japan in 1935.
Youth Schools provided social education for young people who, after completing the six-year Elementary School – the compulsory education period at the time – chose not to advance to Secondary Education Schools (Junior High School, Higher Girls' School, Technical School) and instead entered the workforce. Prior to the establishment of Youth Schools, Vocational Supplementary Schools and Youth Training Centres fulfilled this role. These two types of educational institutions shared many commonalities regarding the age groups they served, their educational content, facilities, and other aspects. Maintaining two separate institutions created problems, such as placing a heavy financial burden on local public authorities. To resolve this, Youth Schools were established by integrating Vocational Supplementary Schools and Youth Training Centres.
The Youth Schools were disbanded after the end of WWII.
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