Mitsubishi Ki-15 Karigane "Kamikaze-Go" 九七式司令部偵察機 神風号 - video

The 25th episode, entitled "Suicide For Glory" from the 1952 documentary series "Victory at Sea" includes a variety of footage—some from entirely unrelated Japanese films, some notable ones depicting "Giretsu Kutetai" paratroopers getting ready for their Okinawa mission, and some authentic "tokkotai" segments. Included is a captivating, brief piece showcasing the renowned "Kamikaze-Go" Asahi Shimbun "Babs," which we initially saw in THIS series of posts.

This time, the airplane features what appears to be a thick green camouflage stripe on the fuselage and, interestingly, it doesn’t have its anti-glare panel, at least right in front of the cockpit! Also, It doesn't appear as glossy as in the other clip (HERE) of the reccord breaking flight, so maybe it was overcoated with IJAAF "hairyokushoku" (gray-green)? That would definitely create an intriguing modelling subject using the Fine Molds kit.

(Did you notice the Puss Moth in the background?)

Mitsubishi Karigane / Asahi Shimbun / "Kamikaze-go" #6 Art

Brilliant CG artwork reproduced here with permission from nag's Gallery.

Breathtaking artwork by the legendary Koike Shigeo from this site.

Mitsubishi Karigane / Asahi Shimbun / "Kamikaze-go" #5 Models

Model by Vangelis Vasilopoulos from Athens, Greece. ARII, 1/72.

"The model was built in 2005 straight from the box with only modifications the pitot tube and the antenna. Building time was two months and 10 days. Painted with Alclad for the aluminium and various mixes of Gunze Sangyo for the blue. It won second K prize in the IPMS Hellas Model Show of 2005 and praise in the Scale Modelworld of the following year."

 

Mitsubishi Karigane / Asahi Shimbun / "Kamikaze-go" #4 Kits

1/72

 

MANIA

LS



ARII

HASEGAWA



1/50



MARUSAN

 

MARUSAN



UPC*

* "Rare 1/50 scale large Babs. From ex-Marusan molds. Very nicely detailed kit with full cockpit, pilot and navigator figures, complete clear side window set, operating elevator, rudder ailerons and wing flap, rotating wheels and prop and removable cowl to show well-molded engine. Has very colorful civil 'Kamikaze' decals. UPC stood for Universal Powermaster Corporation which was based out of New York City, NY. UPC did not cut their own molds, but bought kits already molded from other manufactures and re-boxed the kits in the USA. Scott Eidson, the famous artist best known for his artwork with Revell, also did UPC box art in the 1960s. All UPC production ended in the 1970s." (From here)

Mitsubishi Karigane / Asahi Shimbun / "Kamikaze-go" #2 Photos

March 25, 1937. Prince Kuninomiya Asaakira visited Kagamigahara airfield to see Kamikaze-Go during training.

Kamikaze-Go getting fuelled up. Notice the beautiful and clean lines.

April 1, 1937. Ceremony before departure. A formation of Shonan HikoHei (Youth Aviators) is flying overhead to wish good luck to the the Kamikaze-Go pilots.

April 2. Took-off from Tachikawa airfield at 1:44:14am and flew until South Kyushu. Unfortunately encountered bad weather and returned to Tachikawa at 8:50.

April 7. Taking off from Culcutta.

April 8. Arrival at Baghdat airport. The pilots are getting off holding their flight diaries and passports.

April 8. Arrived in Tatoi airport of Athens at 18:20.

April 9. Paris Le Bourget airport. Tsukagoshi performs a final check before leaving for London.

April 16. Croydon airfield. Getting ready for take-off for the European tour after resting in the UK for a week.

June 5, 1937. An aviation pageant took place in Haneda airport from 10:00am sponsored by the Ministry of Communication, the Imperial Aviation Association and Asahi Shimbun. More than 100,000(!) visitors had the chance to see up close 160 IJAAF, IJNAF and civilian aircraft (wish I was there...). In the photo Prince Mikasanomiya (the oldest living member of the Imperial family) is shown the cockpit of Kamikaze-Go by pilot Iinuma. Other Imperial family members visiting the event were Princess Fusako and Princess Masako, daughters of Emperor Meiji.  

The aviators. Iinuma Masaaki (left) and Tsukagoshi Kenji.

Check HERE for more information about the flight.

Mitsubishi Karigane / Asahi Shimbun / "Kamikaze-go" #1 Bibliography

We start this series of postings with a selected bibliography of Japanese publications.

Ao Kiroku Dai Hiko - "Kamikaze" Gaho #1 (Asia-Europe Great Record Flight - "Kamikaze" Pictorial #1). Published by Asahi Shimbun, April 1937.

Ao Kiroku Dai Hiko - "Kamikaze" Gaho #2 (Asia-Europe Great Record Flight - "Kamikaze" Pictorial #2). Published by Asahi Shimbun, May 1937.

Osaka Asahi Shimbun - NiManGo Kinen (A photo album released on the anniversary of the 20,000 issue of the newspaper). Published by Asahi Shimbun, June 1937.

"Koku Zuisho" (Aviation Memoirs) by Iinuma Masaaki, first published by Hata Shoten September 1937 and republished in 1989.

"Iinuma Hikoshi Iko Narabini Shoden" (Pilot Iinuma's posthumous works and short biography) by Kawauchi Kazuhiko, published by Asahi Shumbun, 1942

"KAMIKAZE" by Yamazaki Akio, published by Miki Press, January 2005

Mitsubishi "Karigane"

A photo from a vintage publication showing the Asahi Shimbun "Amakaze" (Heavenly Wind) before receiving the civilian designation J-BAAO. Asahi received "Amakaze" in 1939 on loan from the Navy after "Asakaze", another "Babs" from their fleet, was "conscripted".

The inscription under the fuselage reads "Asahi Dai 121go" (Asahi No. 121), the number within the newspaper fleet (it does not mean that Asahi had 120+ a/c in their fleet.)