VIPs - Showa L2D (Douglas DC-3)

Jacob sent us the following:

About a month ago I saw on UTube a Dutch documentary about the Indonesian struggle for Independence.

This documentary had some footage about a "propaganda" trip of the first president of the Republik, Mr Soekarno (Sukarno). He travelled in May 1945 with a Japanese L2D2 in the archipelago. The last three digits of the unit code are XX- 200. The images below are stills  I took from that footage. 

My question is: can that Tabby unit be identified?

Jacob Terlouw / The Netherlands.

We asked leading authority on the subject of units and tail markings Akimoto Minoru-sensei and here's what he replied:

The DC-3 belonged to the Dai Nippon Koku with civilian registration J-BKOM and name "WAKASA"*. It was one of about 40 DC-3s that formed a unit by DNK called "Dai Nippon Koku Choyo Yusoki Tai" (DNK Commandeered Transport Unit) and operated for the IJNAF. The particular plane belonged to the 2nd Choyo Yusoki Tai. 

Tail number. The second katakana is the first "YU" of "YUsokitai" but the first katakana is difficult to discern. It could be "SE" or "NA" or "CHI" or even a "2". If the first is a "CHI" then it's the first katakana for "Choyo"**. If it's a number "2" then it could signify the 2nd Yusoki Tai.

I believe the photo was taken when Sukarno was visiting Singapore to discuss the details regarding the forthcoming independence of Indonesia.

*"Wakasa" probably refers to the gulf starting from Fukui prefecture and ending in Kyoto.

**"Choyo" is written as "CHIyoUYOU" in kana but it's pronounced as Choyo with stretched "o"s.

We are grateful to Jacob and Akimoto-sensei for their contribution to our blog.

Showa L2D (Douglas DC-3)

In the three photos below from the October 20, 1943 issue of "Asahi Graph" female maintenance crew members check a Showa L2D, the Japanese version of DC-3. The group was called "Joshi Gijutsu Yoin" (Female Technical Members) and they are working at the Fukuoka branch of the airline Dai Nippon Koku K.K. in Ganosu airfield.

VIPs - Mitsubishi Ki-57 "Topsy"

The cover of the March 31, 1943 issue of the magazine "Shashin Shuho". The leader of the Burmese Executive Administration Dr. Ba Maw is visiting Tokyo accompanied by a delegation of Burmese officials. The photo was taken during his arrival on a charter flight at Tokyo's Haneda airport on March 18 at 14:00. In the background is a heavily camouflaged Mitsubishi Ki-57 "Topsy" probably belonging to Dai Nippon Koku K.K.

Five months later, on August 1, 1943 the "independent" State of Burma was declared with Ba Maw as Head of State and Prime Minister.  

Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" (Oscar) - 248 Sentai

According to the caption of this NARA photo, this Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" (Oscar) was found "on an airstrip in the Korako area, three miles south of Aitape, New Guinea" on April 22, 1944. The location is probably Tadji airfield. 

D. Thorpe included this photo in his monumental "Japanese Army Air Force Camouflage and Markings WWII" and mentioned in the caption: "OSCAR III, 77th Fighter Sentai leader's aircraft. Entire tail is red." 

Model Art #395 says the aircraft is a Ki-43-II-Otsu and the unit is the 248th Sentai. 

The unit was organised on August 10, 1942 at Ganosu airfield in Kyushu from the 4th Sentai. In the beginning it was equipped with Nakajima Ki-27 "Nate" fighters and was responsible for the defence of North Kyushu while undergoing training. In December 1942 it was re-equipped with Ki-43-I and in July 1943 changed these for Ki-43-II. The unit was sent to Papua-New Guinea in October 1943 but suffered badly in February 1944 while stationed in Wewak by Allied attacks and therefore relocated to Hollandia. At the end of March attacks against Hollandia intensified and on April 6, the 248th Sentai had 28 pilots but only three operational aircraft. 

On April 22, the US Army landed in Hollandia and the remaining members of the unit escaped in the jungle where they constantly suffered from malnutrition and disease. 

The unit was disbanded on July 23, 1944. 

The boomerang resembling tail marking was actually based on reed leaves and is broken down as 2 leaves in the front, 4 in the middle and 8 in the rear, representing the unit's sentai number.

The leaf colors changed according to chutai: 1st white, 2nd red, 3rd yellow.

According to Akimoto Minoru the airplane of the sentai leader had a red tail with white leaves while the overall color of the plane was dark green-top, silver-bottom.

Mitsubishi B1M2b

Pilots and ground crew members start this originally designed by Herbert Smith Mitsubishi B1M2b belonging to the Kasumigaura Kokutai. Photo from a vintage magazine. 

Nakajima Ki-27 "Nate"

Two photos from a vintage magazine taken during the donation ceremony of a Nakajima Ki-27 "Nate" at Tokyo's Tachikawa airfield on February 2, 1939. Donations for this aircraft, Aikoku #313, were gathered from about 70 Sumo wrestlers (rikishi/sekitori) and Sumo Association members; therefore it was called "Sumo-go". 

The Sumo wrestlers were all from the Juryo and Makuuchi divisions and one of the most famous Sumo wrestlers of all times, Yokozuna Futabayama, performed the Dohyoiri ceremony. 

For further reading about sumo: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumo

Kawanishi H6K "Mavis"

Kawanishi (modern name ShinMaywa) was a company with a long tradition in seaplanes and flying boats. One of the most impressive was the H6K "Mavis". The first planes that left the production lines in 1938-1939 were in Natural Metal Finish like the plane in the photo below from a vintage magazine.

Once they started serving in the South Pacific front and following orders from the IJNAF regarding camouflage, "Mavis" flying boats became green-top, gray-bottom like the example below from a war news still.

Below is an artwork example.

And some beautiful artwork by Koike Shigeo of a civilian "Mavis" operated by Dai Nippon Koku K.K.

After the end of the war a couple "Mavis" were found in Yokohama as shown in the NARA photo below.

 According to the surrender regulations the Japanese planes were to be painted white overall and carry green crosses. In the case of a huge flying boat like the "Mavis" it is only natural that this would have been a time-consuming process demanding large quantities of white paint. The results were naturally not beautiful. The "Mavis" in the foreground has half the fuselage and the tail painted white while the rest is left in its original paint. The plane in front of it is in even worse condition with only parts of the fuselage and the top surfaces of the wing painted haphazardly in white. The original caption mentions: "General view showing four Japanese Navy Seaplanes and ramp to the ocean at the Dainippon Arways, Yokohama, Japan. 14 September 1945."   

I think that the "Mavis" in the foreground is also in the photo below offering a clear top view.

Note that the crosses are applied on top of the wing hinomaru. Were they green outlined in white over the red hinomaru or was it just the white outline over the red of the hinomaru contrary to the regulations?

Another rather interesting "Mavis" found after the end of the war is the one below.

The source of the photo is this and according to the caption:
"Mechanics of 3219 Servicing Commando, Royal Air Force (RAF), check the engines of a Japanese Kawanishi H6K 'Mavis' flying boat at Sourabaya (Soerabaja), Java, in preparation for an air test flight. Of interest are the markings added by Indonesian nationalists and the fact that an additional band of blue has been added to the fuselage marking by the Dutch."
Note that the hinomaru on the fuselage and the wing are erased. Instead it has a Dutch flag on the fuselage and an Indonesian red/white marking under the wing. Note that it also used to have surrender crosses on the fuselage and under the wing (outlined in red); the one on the fuselage seems to have been also erased.
So what could the overall color be? Some mention that it was "silver" even though it would have an extremely rare exception since all Navy planes flying in the South Pacific were camouflaged by necessity. Others suggest that the whole paint of the plane was removed. But that would mean a very long and tedious process for no apparent reason.
The same "Mavis" later received British roundels and ATAIU SEA markings on the fuselage sides and was transported to Seletar base in Singapore as can be seen in the e-bay photo below.

Personally I think that either the plane in the photo is in overall white or more possibly RAF crew members repainted it in overall British "gray".

Mitsubishi G3M "Nell"

Cover of the May 12, 1943 issue of "Asahi Graph" with Sea Eagles (umiwasi) stretching right before taking off on a mission. Photo taken by Navy Reporter Terao. An excellent source for clothes and pilot equipment.

The white shirts with the lapel were usually worn by officers, but from October 1942 they were accepted as official for everybody based in hot climates. The life vest, filled with kapok, was officially adopted in 1942 and had a small pocket on the right side for pencils or a small mirror.

Nipponki '46: Shizuoka

Here are some photos of "what-if" models from the 43rd modeling Exhibition in Shizuoka in 2004.

A rather unusual "navalized" Ki-45 "Toryu" (Nick) by Suzuki Shuichi. Note the torpedo and the tail!

A jet version of Kyushu J7W1 "Shinden" made by Tanakai Michio. Hasegawa 1/48th.

A two-engined Zero by Muto Masanori. Hasegawa 1/48th. Not the best model I've ever seen but it certainly looks like the modeler had great fun.

Finally a Zero for those who claim that Japanese planes are boring. Doesn't need much to let the imagination go wild and have fun, right?

Nakajima Ki-27 "Nate"

A photo from a vintage magazine taken in August 1941 at the airport of Saigon. The "Nate" fighters belong to the 84th Independent Chutai which kept the red cowling and the red "flame" reaching the tail from the 64th Sentai.