"Toraware no Nihonki" #20 - Omura Base 紫電改 - video

After the end of the war, the US forces found a large number of Japanese aircraft at Omura Airfield, Nagasaki Prefecture. It was the base of the 343rd and the 352nd Kokutai, along with other units. There were 74 Kawanishi N1K-J "Shiden" and N1K2-J "Shiden-kai" (George), 14 Mitsubishi J2M "Raiden" (Jack), 24 Zero-sen fighters, 77 Yokosuka/Kawanishi K5Y1 "Akatonbo" (Willow) trainers, and more; 206 aircraft in total. 

Among them was a lone Showa L2D with Green Crosses, but unfortunately, we cannot determine if it flew any surrender or other special missions. 

In this video, we can see the US Forces, under the command of Major General Roscoe Barnett Woodruff , setting the Japanese aircraft on fire.

Here are some more photos from NARA of the event.

From the dozens of Japanese aircraft that were found in Omura Base, the six Kawanishi N1K2-J "Shiden-Kai" deemed to be in the best condition were selected by the occupying US forces for evaluation. They were maintained by Japanese ground crews and were flown from Omura to Yokohama, taking off on October 16, 1945.

The collection of images from different Japanese publications, plus one sourced from the web, showcases these six planes just prior to their departure from Omura Base.

Once in Yokosuka the six aircraft were to be shipped to the USA for testing and evaluation.

Note that the aircraft on the left side of the photo still has its 20mm wing cannons.

The six aircraft originally belonged to the 343 Kokutai and some members of the unit's maintenance and flight crew who had been demobilised were called back to work on them. Japanese sources mention that the ground crews were moved to tears by the aircraft's final flight.

As we can clearly see in this photo, in preparation for the long-distance flight, the aircraft were equipped with a 400L drop tank.

During the flight, the "Shiden-kai" were escorted by Grumman F6Fs. The Japanese pilots were warned that they would be shot down immediately if they flew suspiciously.

The Japanese fighters used high octane fuel provided by the US forces for this flight and it is said the engines performed excelently with the F6F barely able to catch up.

After arriving in Yokosuka, two "Shiden-kai" were removed from the shipping list and scrapped. The aircraft that were transported to the United States has serial numbers #71, #533, #5218 and #5341. There are currently no more than three "Shiden" planes left in museums across the United States.

"Toraware no Nihonki" #19 - Tachikawa Ki-54"Hickory" in White Crosses 一式双発高等練習機, ラブアン, ボルネオ島

From various AWM photo captions:

"As a result of leaflets dropped by RAAF over Sapong Estate on mainland of Borneo, contact was made with Lieutenant General Baba Masao, Supreme Commander of Japanese forces in Borneo, and Commander of the 37th Army. He was instructed to fly to Labuan and surrender to Major General George Frederick Wootten CB CBE DSO, General Officer Commanding the 9th Australian Division.

"The Japanese surrender delegation which included Major General Kuroda, Gen Baba's Chief of Staff, flew to Labuan, Borneo, in a Tachikawa Ki-54 Hei "Hickory" that belonged to the 10th Dokuritsu Hikodan Shireibu (10th Independence Air Brigade). In this case, instead of green crosses, the aircraft sported white crosses to indicate that it was assigned to a surrender mission.

"General Baba was tried as a war criminal on charges relating to the Sandakan death march and was sentenced to death. He was hanged at Rabaul at 0800 on 7 August 1947. 

While the aircraft was at Labuan 300276 Warrant Officer Leonard Anthony (Len) Pearce and his crew had the responsibility for servicing the aircraft. As a souvenir of the event he removed the engine plates from the aircraft, one of which is now in the collection of the Australian War Memorial.

"The aircraft, was flown to Australia and was at RAAF Fairburn for many years. It is now at the RAAF museum at Point Cook, Victoria."

An interesting photo from the AWM collection. The caption says:

LABUAN ISLAND. 1945-09-10. MAJOR GENERAL G. F. WOOTTEN, GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING, 9TH DIVISION, ACCEPTED THE SURRENDER OF ALL JAPANESE FORCES FROM LIEUTENANT GENERAL MASAO BABA, SUPREME COMMANDER JAPANESE FORCES IN BORNEO AND COMMANDER 37TH JAPANESE ARMY, IN A SURRENDER CEREMONY HELD AT HEADQUARTERS 9TH DIVISION. SHOWN, UNITED STATES PERSONNEL (NISEI), JAPANESE MEMBERS OF ALLIED TRANSLATOR AND INTERPRETER SECTION, 9TH DIVISION, SPEAKING WITH THE JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CREW OUTSIDE THEIR QUARTERS AT 9TH DIVISION.

Two photographs from the Peter Kelly collection, the "Hickory"...

...the Japanese aircrew were given the task of refuelling their aircraft.

Another picture, forwarded by Dirk Broer, of the Ki-54 when in RAAF storage

This blog focuses on the history of Japanese aviation. Please refrain from making any comments regarding war crimes etc. There are other places to do so.

"Toraware no Nihonki" #18 - Hankow, China 漢口, 中国

A collection of Japanese aircraft types found at the end of the war at Hankow Airfield.

Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily" with Green crosses. Of interest are the areas that have been darkened out. On the fuselage, between the green cross and the tail, it would normaly be the place where an "aikoku" (patriotic donation) inscription would be placed.

The same "Lily" seen in the previous photo. It's rather interesting that there is no big tail marking that has been erased and that it has no camouflage. Could it be a newly arrived aircraft from the Hokkota school?

The same "Lily" in the foreground with more aircraft visible in the background.

In this not so famous photo, we can clearly see some of the aircraft next to the "Lily". A Nakajima Ki-84 "Hayate" (Frank) belonging to the 25th Sentai. The unit was organized in November 1942 and until 1945 it was equipped with Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" (Oscar) fighters. Starting from February 1945 and for a month, it was re-equipped with "Hayate". This one in the photo belonged to the 2nd Chutai.

In this photo we can clearly the aircraft next to the "Hayate" in the previous photo; it's a Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" that also belonged to the 25th Sentai but served with the 1st Chutai. Note the unusual uneven size of the tail number.

Next to the "Hayabusa" in the previous photo, is a Fokker Super Universal. Notice the cross under the starboard wing next to the hinomaru. It is not a green cross, it's a red cross. A number of Super Universals were modified and deployed as ambulance aircraft in the '30s. This is a really old aircraft but the camouflage shows that it was still active until the end of the war.

Another "Lily", this one with proper camouflage and the number "1096" on the nose. Unfortunately the tail marking is not visible so it's difficult to be sure about the unit.

Another Nakajima Ki-84 "Hayate" found at Hankow Airfield. There is something dark on the tail but can't see if it's a number or a tail marking.

A Nakajima Ki-49 "Helen". Unfrotunately the tail marking is not visible. Can you figure out the type of the aircraft on the left?

Tachikawa Ki-36 "Ida". But is it a Ki-36 "bomber" or a Ki-55 trainer. After all these years, a book and posts, people still can't tell the difference between the two. Simple stuff: the Ki-55 trainer did NOT have bomb attachments under the wings. This one does and therefore it is a Ki-36.

A well-known photo of a Tachikawa Ki-54 Hei transport "Hickory" that is usually found without a location. Note the huge overpainted tail marking. Note the lack of a green cross on the port wing and the missing propeller on the starboard. What is the aircraft next to it on the right? Could it be.....

A different photo of the same "Hickory" this time with green crosses on the wings and replaced propellers. It seems that this one was deemed airworthy and was put to service again. The caption of the photo confirms that the location is Hankow.

"Toraware no Nihonki" #17 - Mitsubishi Ki-57 "Topsy" with Green Crosses 一〇〇式輸送機, 緑十字, ラングーン, ビルマ

The August 27, 1945, issue of the newspaper "The Sydney Morning Herald" included a short report that mentioned: 

PEACE ENVOYS AT RANGOON 

Japanese Southern Army's Surrender 

From A.A.P. Special Representative RANGOON, Aug. 26.— A conference will begin in Rangoon to-day between Japanese and Allied representatives for the surrender of the Japanese armies in Burma, Malaya, the East Indies and Indo-China. 

An official spokesman said the Japanese had been asked to give specific replies on the following points—Air reconnaissance by day and night over Japanese-held territory, mine-sweeping in enemy waters, and dropping of supplies and donors on prisoner of war camps. 

It is expected that the Supreme Allied Commander in South-east Asia. Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, will receive the surrender of Field Marshal Count Terauchi's forces early in September at Singapore. Lieutenant-General Takazo Numato[sic], Chief-of-Staff to Terauchi, arrived in Rangoon by air from Saigon at 9.43 a.m. yesterday, to discuss the surrender arrangements with Admiral Mountbatten's Chief-of-Staff, Lieutenant-General F. M. Browning. Numato and his stall, who arrived in two white transport planes, were met at Mingaladon (Rangoon's airport) by Major-General G. W. Symes (Commander of the southern Burma district) and driven to two houses in the residential section of Rangoon Australian, French, Dutch, and Chinese delegates will attend to-day's conference. The speed with which the talks are completed will depend on the amount of information and the degree of agreement contained in the documents they carry. 

Delelates to the conference are: Australia, Air Vice-Marshal A. T. Cole; Holland, Captain Perks; France, Group-Captain Fay; and China Major General Fung Yee; as well as staff officers and the chief political adviser, Mr. J. Denning. Japanese delegates are: Takazi[sic] Numata, Rear-Admiral Kaigye Hudo[sic] (Deputy Chief of Staff), and Lieutenant-Colonel Morio Tomura.

As a result of the delay in the  signing of the surrender in Tokyo, no landings will be made in Malaya before nest Sunday to prevent "incidents."

According to the Dutch Radio, the Lieutenant Governor-General of the Netherlands East Indies Dr. van Mook, will go to Kandy next week to negotiate with Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten about re-occupation of the Netherlands East Indies.

Paris Radio said to-day that General Leclerc, who will represent France at the Japanese surrender ceremony, has spent two days at Kandy conferring with Admiral Mountbatten.

From here:

"Rangoon Agreement, 26-28 August, 1945

"The Japanese unilateral cease fire on 15 August caught the South East Asia Command (SEAC) unprepared. The next day President Truman issued “General Order Number 1" setting out the immediate aims for the allies. General MacArthur,  who had been appointed as Supreme Commander Allies Pacific (SCAP) issued an order that no allied units may move into Japanese held territories or engage in conferences with the Japanese until after the formal surrender, which was expected to be signed on 28 August (subsequently became 2 September). Despite these orders Mountbatten commanded his counterpart, Field Marshal Terauchi (also a cousin to his sovereign) of Southern Command, to send a delegation to Rangoon to sign a preliminary agreement before the Tokyo surrender.

"The delegation arrived on 26 August and it immediately became clear the Japanese would agree to any proposal. They revealed that Tokyo had ordered Southern Command to care for the PoW and assist the British in any way in this regard." 

The article also includes a photo with the following caption:

"In the Throne Room, Government House, Rangoon, which was used for the surrender negotiations, Lieutenant General Takazo Numata with Lieutenant Colonel Morio Tomura (left) and Rear Admiral Kaigye Chudo (right) faces the Allied commanders (front row, l to r): Brigadier E G Gibbons, Captain F S Habecker, Major General Feng Yee, Mr M E Dening, Rear Admiral W R Patterson, Lieutenant General Browning, Air Marshal Sounders, Major General Denning, Brigadier M S K Maunsell, Air Vice Marshal A T Cole and Captain J P H Perks. In the rear row, seated to General Browning’s left is Lieutenant General Sir Montagu Stopford."

The video graciously shared by our friend Patrice Fresnel included short clips from various cameras stitched together in a rather confusing order. I edited the video to make it more coherent.

Note that curriously there were about a dozen pilots and crew members on the two Ki-57 transports, which would normally have a crew of a pilot, co-pilot and maybe a radio operator. I wonder why that many.

"Toraware no Nihonki" #16 - Mitsubishi A6M "Zero with Green Crosses 零戦, 中支航空隊, 龍華飛行場 上海, 緑十字

At the end of the war a number of Zeros and other aircraft including Mitsubishi J2M "Raiden" (Jack), were found in Longhua airfield in Shanghai with an unusual tail marking. It's the kanji "中" which signified the unit "中支航空隊" (Chushi Kokutai - Central China Air Group) which was organized in February 20, 1945, with various IJNAF dispatched elements of various kokutai, that were based at the time in China. It was one of the Otsu kokutai meaning it was mainly assigned to airfield/base protection duties.

The first Zero is a Model 21. Behind it is a Mitsubishi K3M "Pine" crew trainer.

Although the marking "中1" can be seen in this photo, the rest of the marking is on the piece of fabric that has been removed. In the previous photo though, it should have been visible as it is written in the oposite direction. Unfortunately the previous photo is not of the best quality and therefore I can't be 100% sure of the complete tail marking. Note the fuselage hinomaru with the white surround.

Another photo of the Mitsubishi K3M "Pine" trainers.

A photo featuring on the left the tail of a "中133" Zero, the Model 21 of the first photo in the middle and the Mitsubishi K3M "Pine" of the first photo on the right.

Another Zero found in the same location was a Model 52 Otsu.

Although the "中" part of the tail marking is not visible, the location the aircraft was found confirms the unit. So tail marking for this Zero is "中132" (no hyphen).

Another photo of the "中132" Model 52 Otsu Zero, revealing that a part of the tail number "32" was repeated on the cowling lip.

This photo features a Nakajima built A6M7 Model 62 or 63.

Again the "中" part of the tail marking is missing but a closeup reveals that there is indeed a tail marking which I believe is "中153". Actually this can be confirmed by noticing that the two last digits of the tail number are repeated on the wheel cover of the original photo (thanks Martin). 

Of particular interest is the wing hinomaru with the darker green surround and the position of the white box with the cross. Note also the white lines on the cowling.

This one...I don't know. In the background are the three aircraft in the first five photos (the "中132" Model 52 Otsu Zero, the Model 21 and the Mitsubishi K3M "Pine") but I can't identify the model of the Zero in the foreground. Any ideas? And what's with the white patch on the fuselage next to the cockpit? And where is the green cross on the wing?

"Toraware no Nihonki" #15 - Mitsubishi A6M "Zero with Green Crosses 零戦, 緑十字

The original AWM photo caption mentions:

"A Japanese A6M3 Model 22 Zero fighter aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy. This Zero, serial number 3844, was found intact by Allied forces at Kara airstrip near Buin after the surrender. On 15 September a Wirraway of 5 Squadron RAAF arrived with personnel to make an inspection. The aircraft was clearly airworthy, and had been repainted overall white with green crosses for identification as required under the surrender terms. Wing Commander William Kofoed RNZAF decided to ferry it to the RNZAF airstrip at Bougainville. The Zero remained there until mid-October, when it departed by ship for New Zealand. It is now in the collection of the Auckland War Memorial Museum, NZ."

A non-Japanese online source adds:

"Assigned to an unknown Kōkūtai (Air Group) with tail code 2-152....

"In 1945, as a morale boosting exercise for roughly sixty to seventy Japanese Navy maintenance personnel stationed at Kara Airfield, this Zero was repaired to flying condition using parts from several other Zeros including including A6M3 Zero 3616, A6M3 Model 32 Zero 3278 and A6M3 Model 32 Zero 3217. The repaired Zero retained the identity of A6M3 Zero 3844 including the manufacture number stencil on the rear fuselage.

"By July 1945, the repaired Zero was restored to flyable condition and was reported by radio to headquarters at Rabaul. Soon afterwards, Petty Officer Sekizen Shibayama was flown as a passenger aboard E13A1 Jake that took off from Rabaul and landed off Buin (Kahili) where he went ashore and was taken to Kara Airfield. Shibayama planned to test fly the Zero then fly it to Rabaul, but the Pacific War ended before this was accomplished."

A more detailed account with more photos can be found here.

Nevertheless FAOW Special #6 mentions on page 136:

"One of the Zeros built in Rabaul [we saw in part #14 of this series] with parts from various aircraft. The front of the aircraft including the engine has serial number 3835. The rear s/n 3844. The cowling s/n 3616, the machine gun and pannel s/n 3278 and 3217. Note that the spinner is clearly a Mitsubishi built for a Model 21. 

The tail marking of the aircraft was "2-182"."

More photos of the aircraft from here

"Toraware no Nihonki" #14 - Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah", Mitsubishi A6M "Zero", Nakajima B5M "Kate, Aichi E13A "Jake" with Green Crosses

Four days following Japan's surrender on September 2, 1945, the remaining forces still in Rabaul, New Britain, reached out to the Allies to indicate their intention to surrender.

Following negotiations, the only aircraft remaining in operational condition received approval for a final flight from Rabaul to Jacquinot Bay Airfield on New Britain's southern coast. 

As stated by online sources:

"On September 18, 1945 the first flight included Ki-46 Dinah 2783, A6M5 Zero 4043, A6M5 Zero 4444 and A6M5 Zero 3479 escorted by sixteen Allied fighters.

On October 14, 1945 the second flight included B5N2 Kate Tail 302 and E13A Jake 4326."

The Rabaul "Dinah" in Jacquinot Bay Airfield. On the tail, under the white paint, it had a kikusui marking designed by maintenance crew member Sgt Maj Azuma.

According to non-Japanese online sources, the "Dinah" pilot was Capt Iwanaga Nario but FAOW #38 mentions that his name was 2Lt Sato Teruo.
  

This photo taken at the end of the war when various Japanese aircraft had been surrendered to the RNZAF shows a typical dispersal and maintenance area, this time at the RNZAF's base at Jacquinot Bay. Note the RNZAF Ventura in the background, and in the foreground are a surrendered Japanese Dinah (left) and Kate. Photo: Roy Paton

This is the Japanese Ki-46-II 'Dinah' reconnaissance bomber that also passed to the RNZAF after being captured at Rabaul. It was left at Jacquinot Bay by the RNZAF, and may still be there rotting away. Photo: Roy Paton

Here's the story of the aircraft of the "Last Rabaul Airforce" from a Japanese source:

"By late 1943, the only remaining IJAAF reconnaissance units in Rabaul were parts of the 10th Sentai equipped with "Dinah" and the Dokuritsu 83 Chutai equipped with "Sonia." In March 1944, only a single 10th Sentai "Dinah" remained in Rabaul, yet three additional "Dinahs" from Wewak were dispatched to Rabaul to participate in the 17th Army's Torokina Operation. One of the three "Dinahs" suffered damage from friendly anti-aircraft fire and performed an emergency landing, resulting in three operational "Dinahs" from the 10th Sentai remaining in Rabaul. A while later, enemy forces destroyed one of them on the ground, while another was shot down right after taking off. Consequently, just a single "Dinah" was left operational in Rabaul. 

"During that period, the IJAAF conceived the notion of collecting components and constructing several aircraft. Initially, the ground teams successfully assembled two "Dinahs." 

"In a similar manner, the IJNAF succeeded in gathering five Zeros and two "Kates". Numerous tropical diseases afflicted the region, particularly malaria, prompting the "Dinahs" to take 3-4 trips to Truk to deliver medicine to Rabaul. The "Dinahs" achieved great success, and to utilize the leftover "Sonia" pilots, the remnants of the 1st and 11th Sentai chose to collect parts and successfully assembled 5-6 "Hayabusa" fighters, which were designated the "8th Area Army." Embarkments were built as well, but before their completion, all "Hayabusa" fighters and one "Dinah" were destroyed on the ground.

(source: Maru #380)

The three Zeros warming up in Rabaul ( source)

Two of the three surrendered Japanese A6M5 Model 52 Zero aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy on the move.The aircraft were painted in the surrender colours of white with green crosses. (RNZAF Official Photograph) (AWM)

Four surrendered Japanese aircraft after arrival at the RNZAF airfield at Jacquinot Bay. The formation consisted of three Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52 Zero fighters of the Imperial Japanese Navy (including serial numbers 3479 and 4043), and one Ki-46 Dinah reconnaissance aircraft (serial number 2783) of the Imperial Japanese Army. The aircraft were flown by Japanese crews, and departed Vunakunau at Rabaul with an escort of RNZAF F4U Corsair fighters. All the Japanese aircraft wear surrender markings, which consisted of an overall white finish with green crosses for easy recognition. (RNZAF Official Photograph.) (AWM)

A Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy. This aircraft, coded '302', was the last flyable bomber left at Rabaul by the end of the Second World War. The aircraft was operated by the 105th Naval Base Air Unit. Escorted by four RNZAF Vought F4U-1 Corsair fighters, on 14 October 1945 it was flown to Jacquinot Bay by Warrant Officer Kataoka Goro and surrendered. The photograph depicts Japanese ground crew probably at Rabaul preparing the aircraft for its last flight. (AWM)

This is the Japanese carrier-borne B5N2 "Kate" bomber which was also captured at Rabaul in September 1945. It too passed into RNZAF possession and was flown to Jacquinot Bay, but as no shipping space could be found to return it and two Zero's also captured to New Zealand, the three aircraft passed into RAAF ownership. They were left at Jacquinot Bay and according to 'Aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force' by David Duxbury, Ross Ewing and Ross Macpherson (Heinemann, 1987) were still there as late as 1972, along with the Dinah seen below and at the top of this page. Photo: Roy Paton

New Britain, 1945. Japanese Aichi E13A1 "Jake" seaplane in surrender markings of white with green crosses. On 1945-10-14 this aircraft was flown into Jacquinot Bay and surrendered to RNZAF Forces. (RNZAF OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH.) (AWM)

This is the Japanese E13A1A "Jake" reconnaissance seaplane which was captured at Rabaul in September 1945. It passed into RNZAF possession and was flown to RNZAF Station Jacquinot Bay, where a month later it sank at its moorings. The remains are probably still there. Photo: Roy Paton

Hasegawa has released a kit of the Rabaul "Dinah" in 1/72, kit number: 02185