Kawasaki Ki-45 "Toryu" (Nick), 13 Sentai

Today's set of photos feature a Kawasaki Ki-45 "Toryu" (Nick) found by US forces at Cape Gloucester Airfield (Tuluvu) belonging to the 13th Sentai. Some of the photos were contributed by our friend Patrice Fresnel, others are from NARA and the net.

Kawasaki Ki-45 "Toryu" (Nick) flown by the 13 Sentai found at Cape Gloucester (Tuluvu) in January 1944. The aircraft had made an emergency landing, note the bent propeller blades, and then was straffed but otherwise it was in fairly good condition.

As with most, if not all, "Nicks" the rather complicated top camouflage was applied at the Kawasaki factory and therefore it was very neatly painted and was less prone to flaking than those applied at the depots. Note that unlike the fuselage hinomaru, the wing hinomaru do not have a white ring and the camouflage is painted around them. On the fuselage, the hinomaru have white ring and they were painted over the camouflage. 

In this and the previous photo we can see that the port engine is missing but the landing gear is still keeping the plane upright. 

In the belly of the "Nick" a Type 98 37mm Tank Gun, standard equippment of the Type 95 "Ha-Go" Light Tank, was installed. This was a special modification for only a small number of aircraft to give the aircraft some punch against the heavier US bombers. All Japanese sources agree that the particular aircraft was a Ki-45 Kai-Ko.

Unfortunately the Type 98 37mm Tank Gun was hand loaded by the rear observer and therefore its rate of fire was approximately one round every 30 seconds, making it virtually useless during aerial combat. It could deliver a devastating blow against a bomber though. In the photo we can see the gun breech in the observer's position.

The unit's tail marking at the time consisted of a stylized representation of the unit's number "13" comprised number "1" and three bars. The serial number of the aircraft was "1023" and the last two digits were repeated on the tail above the unit marking. In the previous photos the part of the tail marking on the rudder looks darker than the rest of the marking and some artists have depicted it in red, suggesting that perhaps it was a replacement? Nevertheless the camouflage pattern on the rudder matches the rest of the tail and the number "23", from the aircraft's serial number, is painted on the rudder; if the rudder was from a different aircraft it would have a number not matching the serial number. There are many reasons why the canvas covered rudder would look darker than the metal covered parts of the tail.

Artwork by Devlin Chouinard.

A depiction of the Tuluvu "Nick" from War Thunder. Not bad at all except for the innacurate wing hinomaru.

The formation ceremony of the 13 Sentai was held on March 15, 1938, at Kakogawa Airfield, Hyogo Prefecture.

At that time the unit was equipped with Kawasaki Ki-10 "Perry" fighters but these were soon replaced with Nakajima Ki-27 "Nates". 

In September 1941, relocated to Taisho Airfield in Osaka and in December moved to Kashiwa Airfield, Chiba Prefecture, assigned to Tokyo air defence

In August 1942, changed its aircraft to Kawasaki Ki-45 "Toryu" (Nick).

In April 1943, commenced advance into the South Pacific. Concentrated at Rabaul by late June. Relocated to the Eastern New Guinea/Wewak front in July.

August 16: Air raid engulfed most aircraft on the ground in flames, causing severe difficulties for air defence. (Operational aircraft numbered only eight by late September). Retreated through Wakde Island, Ambon, and Kendari.

April 1944: Transferred to Halmahera Island. Reorganised with the Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" (Oscar) as the primary aircraft type. Engaged in combat across various sectors of the New Guinea front.

October 1944: Reorganised at Itami Airfield with the Nakajima Ki-43  "Hayabusa" Model III.

Continued combat operations across various sectors of the New Guinea front until November of the same year. In New Guinea, the squadron was reconfigured with the "Hayabusa" as the primary aircraft.

December 3: Transferred to the Porac (Philippines) area and reorganized again with the Kawasaki Ki-45 "Toryu" as the primary aircraft.

December 6: Supported the Burauen Paratrooper Raid.

December 14: Squadron commander killed in action while supporting the "Kikusui Special Attack Unit" (9 heavy bombers), combat strength halved. Subsequently recovered strength at Saigon, reorganising with 10 Nakajima Ki-84 "Hayate" (Frank) and 20 Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" fighters.

March 1945: Transferred to Singapore. Participated in "Operation Meigo" and other operations.

July of the same year, withdrew to Pingtung Airfield, Taiwan, where the end of the war found it.

Hasegawa has released two 13 Sentai "Toryu" kits. The one depicted here is in 1/72, number #00810. It includes decals for the Tuluvu "Nick".  

The other kit is number #09925 and is in 1/48. It too includes decals for the Tuluvu "Nick". 

"Betty's War History" by "Sato Nobuhiko "

The finest historical book on the kokutai that operated the Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" is named "Betty's War History," authored by "Sato Nobuhiko" and released by Kojinsha. Even though it’s entirely in Japanese, this hardcover is filled with valuable information and includes numerous photos not available elsewhere.

Not ideal for modellers looking for illustrations and technical details, but if you genuinely wish to learn more about the Japanese perspective during the Pacific War, this book is indeed priceless.

It serves as our main source for all content related to "Betty" units.

Can't reccomend it enough!

Title: "Betty's War History - The Navy Attack Land Bomber from the birth to the end" (一式陸攻戦史, 海軍陸上攻撃機の誕生から終焉まで)

Author: "Sato Nobuhiko"

Published by: Ushio Shobo / Kojinsha 2015 h/b

Pages: 480

Photos: 262 b/w

Illustrations: 14

Size: 14X20cm

The publication is in print and available.

Price: $US 20.00 (Postage NOT included)

Send over an email if interested with your name and delivery address (to calculate postage): arawasiorder@gmail.com

Mitsubishi G4M "Betty", 732Kokutai - video

The source of today's video is the Facebook. It's a beautiful and very clear video but unfortunately no details regarding the date and place were included. Nevertheless, the featured Mitsubishi G4M "Bettys" all belong to the 732 Kokutai as indicated by the number "32-" on the tail.

Leading "Betty" expert Kobayashi-san commented:

"The video shows early torpedo attack training scenes from the 732nd Kokutai. The 732nd was the unit responsible for the southwestern theatre. They were based at Ayer Tawar airfield on the Malay Peninsula. A collection of photos appears in DNK's “Sea Eagles of the South Seas”. But these are remarkably clear images. The interesting thing is the serial numbers, like “732-202”. Attack aircraft usually have serial numbers starting with “3” in the lower section [i.e. "-302"]. The aircraft itself is a late-model Type 11, recognisable by the tail gunner's position being cut away."

The 732 Kokutai was primarily focused on defending the Dutch East Indies, and, as a land-based attack aircraft unit, engaged in bombing, assault, and reconnaissance operations during the latter stages of the Pacific War.

The 753 Kokutai, which had been tasked with bombing missions from the Eastern Dutch East Indies towards the strategic Darwin area in Australia, found itself confined to the Kendari airfield on Celebes Island since the start of the war, with no time for reorganisation. However, by the latter half of 1943, its combat strength had diminished, making its replacement necessary. Consequently, the newly formed unit was the 732 Kokutai. Adequate training time was secured, with deployment to active duty planned for the spring of 1944. However, to counter the reinforcement of the Royal Navy's Eastern Fleet, the unit was deployed to the Western Indian Ocean theatre before training was complete. 

1943

October 1: Formed at Toyohashi Airfield, with Oita Airfield as its parent unit (authorised strength: 36 Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" Land-Based Attack Aircraft). Placed under the direct command of the Southwest Area Fleet's 13th Air Fleet; training commenced immediately.

November 19: Advance base personnel dispatched to Singapore.

December 1: Advance detachment of 31 aircraft departed Toyohashi for Ayer Tawar Airfield, Malay Peninsula. Arrived 12th, continuing training. [Probably the place and date of the video]

1944

Late February: Commenced preparations for mine laying operations targeting British naval ports along the Bay of Bengal coast.

March 26: Enemy carrier fleet approaches Palau Islands. Advances to Kendari for interception. Bengal Bay mine-laying operation cancelled.

March 31: Following the previous day's Palau air raid, receives order to move to Davao airfield, Mindanao Island.

April 9: Advance destination changed from Davao to Degos airfield; movement to Degos completed on the 12th.

April 23: Following the commencement of the Hollandia ground battle the previous day, undertook three consecutive days of relief bombing with 10 aircraft (Operation Z1). Eight aircraft lost.

April 27: "Operation Z1" suspended; returned to Degos.

May 10: Left 12 aircraft at Degos and advanced to Sorong Airfield at the western tip of New Guinea Island.

May 11: Sorong Detachment bombed Hollandia with 8 aircraft; 5 reached target.

May 13: Six aircraft headed for the second Hollandia bombing but all turned back.

May 14: Hollandia relief operation cancelled. Sorong detachment returned to Degos.

May 17: "Operation A" ordered ["Operation A", a defensive strategy for the Mariana Islands area]; deployment preparations commenced.

May 27: "First Operation Kon" launched ["Operation Kon" was a three-phase Pacific War operation to support the Battle of Biak Island]. Advanced to Wasile Airfield, Halmahera Island.

May 29: 10 aircraft launched anti-ship attack; no results achieved, four aircraft lost.

May 31: Seven aircraft launched anti-ship attack, no results achieved, one aircraft lost.

June 3: Three aircraft bombed enemy camp on Owi Island. "First Operation Kon" suspended.

June 5: "Second Operation Kon" launched. Two aircraft conducted night bombing raid on Wakde Island (732nd Air Group's final sortie). Operational aircraft depleted.

July 10: Unit disbanded.

Unable to recover from incomplete training, the unit was committed in full to "Operation Kon" and annihilated. After disbandment, personnel were absorbed into the ground staff of the Hohoku Naval Air Group, which itself did not survive until the end of the war, disbanding in May 1945. Personnel undergoing training in Toyohashi were subsequently reassigned to units such as the newly formed 763rd Kokutai.

Two ships can be seen in the video. The first, is either cruiser Kitakami or Oi, Kuma-class light cruisers. In my opinion it's Oi.

Between mid December 1943 and March 26, the time period we believe the video was shot, both Kitakami and Oi are in the area, based in Singapore and are training at Lingga Islands just south of Singapore. So, time and place fit the whole set up of the video. Kitakami was hit by the submarine HMS Templar on 27 January 1944, and returned to Japan. So the video had to be shot either before January 1944 or the cruiser in the video is not Kitakami.

I believe the second ship seen in the video is the Cruiser Aoba. As with the other two cruisers, she is in the area, based in Singapore and spent some time training in the area. Aoba arrived at Singapore on December 24, 1943. Until January 23, she is ferrying troops to Malaya and Burma without either Oi or Kitakami. The only time she is with them is during the troop transport to Adamand Islands starting from January 23, when Kitakami is torpedoed. Personally, I don't think there was any time for training during that trip. 

After that date Aoba is with Oi from March 1, 1944, during Operation "SA No. 1" that involves commerce raiding in the Indian Ocean. As we saw in the history of the 732Ku in "Late February: Commenced preparations for mine laying operations targeting British naval ports along the Bay of Bengal coast." The setting fits, the ships are going for a raid in the Indian Ocean and the 732Ku is training for missions in the same area. Therefore, my conclusion is that the most probable date for the video is some time between March 1 and 9, 1944, when the ships were on their way to the Indian Ocean and passed in front of Ayer Tawar; after that date,  Aoba reaches Jakarta, Java Island on March 15.

Diving in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - WWII Japanese Bi-plane & Zero

 Diving in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - WWII Japanese Bi-plane & Zero

HEADS UP! - NEW - Kawasaki Ki-28 "Rob" by "SABRE KITS"

"Sabre Kits" recently released a limited edition kit of the Kawasaki Ki-28 "Rob" in 1/72. Can't wait to build it!

Very special thanks to best our friend Jan Kaňov for the photos (and the kit!)

Mitsubishi F1M "Pete", 958 Kokutai

A little known photo from the Photograph Collection of the Air Force Museum of New Zealand features a number of destroyed Japanese aircraft. 

According to the caption:

"Wrecked Japanese aircraft at Keravia Bay, Rabaul.

Aircraft types: Pete, Betty and Emily at rear."

The Mitsubishi F1M "Pete" in the foreground belonged to the 958 Kokutai as indicated by the numbers "58-" on its tail.

This seaplane reconnaissance unit was formed at Rabaul on December 1, 1942,  with 16 seaplanes in its strength. It operated from Rabaul and Kavieng until the war's end, conducting patrols and reconnaissance in the Solomon Islands area. On May 1, 1944, it had no less than 24 seaplanes.

Its principal aircraft were the "Pete" and the Aichi E13A "Jake" Seaplane Reconnaissance Aircraft.

The tail markings it used were "58" and "958".

Yokosho (Yokosuka) E1Y, Battleship "Nagato" - video

An extremely rare and absolutely beautiful video, features the second  Yokosho (Yokosuka) E1Y (probably an E1Y1) of the battleship "Nagato" being hoisted on the water and taking off. Note that the seaplane is a three-seater and the "ナガト-2" (Nagato-2) on the tail.

The exact date is not known but the video is thought to have been recorded during the 1927 "海軍大演習" ("Kaigun Daienshu" Naval Grand Maneuvers).  

Leave a comment if you have any ideas as to why the hinomaru look white.

Here's more about the type from Wiki.

In 1921, the Japanese Naval Arsenal at Yokosuka started design of a single-engined reconnaissance floatplane to replace the Navy's Yokosuka Ro-go Ko-gata floatplanes. The resulting aircraft, the Type 10 Reconnaissance Seaplane, was designed by a team led by a member of a visiting delegation from Short Brothers of the United Kingdom. It was a single-engined, two-bay, two-seat biplane powered by a 400 hp (298 kW) Lorraine-Dietrich engine. Two were completed in 1923 but showed poor performance due to being overweight. A modified aircraft, the Type 10 Model A flew in 1924, showing only slight improvement, while a further revised prototype, the Model B, flew in 1925 - this curing the aircraft's weight problems while demonstrating better stability and control. As a result, several pre-production Type Bs were built.

Although the Type 10 was not adopted by the Japanese Navy, it was again redesigned, reducing the wingspan from 16.16 m (53 ft 0¼ in) to 13.99 m (45 ft 11 in) and reducing the empty weight from 1,912 kg (4,215 lb) to 1,660 kg (3,659 lb). In this form, the revised design was accepted in January 1926 as the Type 14 Reconnaissance Seaplane, later receiving the short designation E1Y.

Two versions entered service in 1926, a two-seater powered by a 400 hp (300 kW) Lorraine-Dietrich 1 V-12 engine, the Type 14-1 or E1Y1, and a three-seater with all-metal floats and a more powerful Lorraine-Dietrich 2 W engine. In 1928, the Type 14-2 was used as the basis for the Type 90-3 Reconnaissance Seaplane, of which about twenty were built as the Yokosuka E5Y1 and Kawanishi E5K1.

As the Type 90-3 showed little improvement over the Type 14-2 from which it was developed, in 1931, Yokosuka developed the further refined Type 14-3 Reconnaissance aircraft with a new tail, a geared Lorraine-Dietrich 3 engine, and significantly improved performance.

A total of 218 E1Y1 and E1Y2s were built by Yokosuka (23), Nakajima Aircraft Company (47), and Aichi (148). 102 E1Y3s were built by Aichi.

Operational history

The E1Y1 and E1Y2 entered service in 1926, replacing Yokosuka Ro-Go Ko-Gata and Hansa-Brandenburg W.33 seaplanes, with the E1Y3 following them into service from 1931. The E1Ys formed the main reconnaissance seaplane equipment of the fleet, operating from battleships and seaplane tenders. E1Ys were operated from the seaplane tender Notoro during the Shanghai Incident of early 1932. The E1Y remained in use until the early part of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Many E1Ys were sold as civil aircraft from 1932, usually converted with a cabin for three or four passengers. Some were fitted with Napier Lion engines.

General characteristics

Crew: 3

Length: 10.59 m (34 ft 9 in)

Wingspan: 14.22 m (46 ft 8 in)

Height: 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in)

Wing area: 54.2 m2 (583 sq ft)

Empty weight: 1,889 kg (4,165 lb)

Gross weight: 2,750 kg (6,063 lb)

Powerplant: 1 × Lorraine 2 W-12 water-cooled piston engine, 336 kW (451 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 178 km/h (111 mph, 96 kn)

Cruise speed: 130 km/h (81 mph, 70 kn)

Range: 1,156 km (718 mi, 624 nmi)

Endurance: 9 hours

Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)

Time to altitude: 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 28 minutes 13 seconds

Wing loading: 50.7 kg/m2 (10.4 lb/sq ft)

Power/mass: 0.1226 kW/kg (0.0746 hp/lb)

Armament

Guns: 1× flexibly mounted 7.7 mm machine gun

Bombs: 2× 110 kg (240 lb) or 4× 30 kg (66 lb) bombs

Fokker Super Universal - video

A rare and exquisite vintage video features a Fokker Super Universal taking off on a mail transport flight. The particular aircraft has the civilian registration "J-BAVO" and was built in the USA, s/n: #834. The engine was a Bristol Jupiter and was operated by the Japan Air Transport (Nippon Koku Yuso) fleet originally based at Tachikawa Airport and later in Osaka. 

On December 16, 1935, soon after taking off from Tokyo's Haneda Airport, the flight crew experienced trouble with the engine and decided to return to the airport. However, a lack of sufficient altitude forced them to make an emergency landing, damaging the airplane. 

A month and a half later, on January 30, 1936, during a flight from Osaka to Tachiarai, it encountered a blizzard and was again forced to make an emergency landing on a beach in Fukuoka Prefecture. Unfortunately, it turned upside down and was so seriously damaged that it was removed from the register. 

Interestingly, on September 14, 1939, "J-BAVO" is recorded as being pressed into a fixed flight from Tachiarai to Tsingtao (present-day Qingdao), but again was forced to make an emergency landing due to engine trouble at Hakata Bay. 

This fact would indicate that either the original imported Super Universal was repaired or that a new one built by Nakajima received the same registration. 

In the attached photo, the original "J-BAVO" had a smooth dark blue cowling and a two-blade propeller. In the video and in the photo on the right, it has a rough cowling, typical of Nakajima built Supers. Note also that in the video it has a two-blade prop but a three-blade prop in the photo on the right.

Mitsubishi A5M "Claude", 12 & 14 Kokutai

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.

Mitsubishi A5M1 & A5M2a "Claude", 13 Kokutai

Two photos from vintage (pre-1945) publications feature Mitsubishi A5M "Claudes" belonging to the 13 Kokutai.
On July 7, 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident occured, leading to armed conflict between Japan and China and the begining of the Second Sino-Japanese War. Immediately thereafter, the Navy decided on the 11th, merely four days after the incident, to dispatch six aviation units to the continent. The First Combined Air Group, tasked with strategic bombing, comprised the Kisarazu Kokutai and the Kanoya Kokutai. Two kokutai responsible for air superiority and two kokutai responsible for reconnaissance were organised into the "Second Combined Air Group". The 13th Kokutai was formed by selecting 31 aircraft (12 fighters, 18 carrier-based bombers, 1 transport) from the Omura Kokutai as the attack and combat unit and deployed to the Central China theatre. After air superiority was secured and enemy forces shifted inland, from February 1938 it transformed into a long-range bomber squadron primarily equipped with land-based attack aircraft.

Another "Claude" that safely returned to base, probably Shanghai, after being hit by enemy fire. It's a Type 96 Model 1 carrier-based fighter or Mitsubishi A5M2a belonging to the 13th Kokutai as indicated by the early tail marking of the unit comprising the letter "T-". According to accounts, the "T" and even some numbers were painted over, in this case with black(?) paint, to hide the identification of the unit from spies. Note the white band not wrapping completely around the fuselage. At that time, the unit's "Claudes" would have a standard two-tone, green and brown, top camouflage and unpainted undersides.

The "AVI MODELS" kit in 1/72 offers decals for Kashimura's plane and with some decal modification, the plane in the photo above can also be built.  

Another photo from a vintage (pre-1945) publication this time features a Model 2 or A5M2b belonging to the 13th Kokutai flying over China. From October 1937 the unit changed its tail marking from "T-" to "4-" and kept its newly received Model 2s uncamouflaged. Note the white fuselage band with red borders and the tail marking applied parallel to the ground, not following the aircraft centerline.