J X-planes: Nakajima Ki-4 with floats

One of the very rare examples when a Japanese Army plane was tested for possible naval usage was when two Type 94 Reconnaissance or Nakajima Ki-4 were fitted with floats "to meet possible requirement for operations from rivers and lakes in mainland China". In the first example a Ki-4 Ko was fitted with one main float and two smaller under the lower wings while a Ki-4 Otsu (with engine exhaust collector ring) was fitted with twin floats as shown in the photos. Both examples were tested in Kasumigaura but were not adopted by the IJAAF or the IJNAF.

 

Visitors - The Italian Connection (take #2)

  On September 1925 pilot Francesco De Pinedo with engineer Ernesto Campanelli landed with their Savoia S.16 flying boat named "Gennariello" at the Navy base in Kasumigaura. They had started from Rome on April 20 and covered 55,000 miles in six months flying to Japan via Australia and back to Italy!

  After Australia they continued through the Philippines leaving Luzon on September 19 and reaching Tamsui in Taiwan the same day. On the 21st they departed early in the morning and reached shanghai at 14:00. Two days later departed from Shanghai and reached Mokpo in (South) Korea where they spent the night at a hotel and experienced the hospitality of Geisha for the very first time in their lives leaving the next day, September 24 at 12:40, with particularly fond memories. At 16:40 they had to make an emergency landing at Kushikino, Kagoshima prefecture but managed to reached Kagoshima on the 26th.

  During their stay in Japan they were invited to numerous celebration parties and were presented with a medal by the Teikoku Hiko Kyokai (Imperial Aeronautic Association). They Italian aviators left Kasumigaura on October 17 and reached Rome on November 7.

Some more details on THIS site.

Vintage magazine cover

Cover of September 6, 1939 issue of magazine "Shashin Shuho" (Photo Weekly News) featuring an Army Type 92 Fighter or Kawasaki KDA-5 belonging to the Rikugun Koku Shikan Gakko (Army Air Academy) with a most unusual paint-job on the wings. I believe the colour of the "saw teeth" is red but their exact purpose is unknown. Any ideas?

Mitsubishi A5M "Claude"

Two photos showing late production Type 96 Carrier Fighters Model 2-1 or Mitsubishi A5M2a belonging to the 12th Kokutai, which from September 5, 1937 was based in Kunda base in the suburbs of Shanghai where probably these photos were taken. The hump on the fuselage back became more prominent from the 47th production aircraft to protect the pilot in case the aircraft turned over. The plane in the foreground with the marking 3-138 was flown by LCDR Yoshitomi Shigema, commander of the 2nd Buntai. Note that the rear part of his aircraft spats are removed and that he has two red bands on the fuselage and one probably white with red surround.

 

Aikoku #3, #4, #5

A follow up of the previous posting, today we feature photos of the very first aircraft Obuse Shinzaburo (photo in the middle) donated to the IJAAF. These were a Type 91 Fighter or Nakajima NC which received the designation Aikoku #3, a Type 88 Light Bomber or Kawasaki KDA-2 which became Aikoku #4 and a Type 88 Reconnaissance Model 1 or Kawasaki KDA-2 which was named Aikoku #5. Their donation ceremony was held on March 6, 1932 at the Yoyogi parade ground.   

Vintage magazine cover



"Domei Graph", October 1943



Mitsubishi 3MT10 by Richard Holak

Richard Holak from Krakow, Poland, sent us photos of his exquisite Experimental 7-Shi Carrier Attack Aircraft or Mitsubishi 3MT10. The scale is 1:48 and the model is resin from Choroszy Modellbud.

 

Aikoku #141 - Nakajima Ki-4

"Aikoku-ki" (Patriotism-planes) were called the Army aircraft that were donated to the IJAAF with funds from worker associations, schoolchildren and their parents, citizens of cities or prefectures and many other kind of groups.



Obuse Shinzaburo the 2nd, was a rich Japanese born in Yokohama that inherited and continued his father's foreign exchange and stock market business. On September 2, 1937 during a ceremony held in Tokyo's Haneda airport he donated to the Army no less than six aircraft; four Type 95 Fighters or Kawasaki Ki-10, Aikoku #137-140 and two Type 94 Reconnaissance Aircraft or Nakajima Ki-4, Aikoku #141&142 which were named after the donor. In the photo below Obuse is standing next to Aikoku #141, a Ki-4 offering an excellent view of the rear twin Type 89 flexible machine gun mount.

In the photo below, Field Marshal Sugiyama Hajime, War Minister at the time, is offering a certificate or receipt to Obuse-san who not only donated aircraft to the Army but also to the Navy and for this received the nickname "King of Aikoku airplanes".

The other Operation "Z" - October 12, 1938

From the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War, in order to cut China's access to supplies from other countries, the Japanese Armed Forces executed a number of operations to occupy the major Chinese sea ports.

On October 12, 1938 about 100 ships landed the 21st Army commanded by LtGen Furusho Motoo which included the 5th, the 18th and the 104th Divisions. The IJN fleet was commanded by Admiral Shiozawa Koichi and included ships like the cruiser Myoko the light cruisers Kinu, Jintsu, Tama and Nagara as well as the Army Landing Craft Depot Ship Shinshu Maru.

Ample air support was provided by the carriers Kaga, Soryu and Ryujo accompanied by the seaplane tenders Chitose and Kamikawa Maru.

The landing took place unopposed in the notorious for the pirate activity at the time Bias (Daya) Bay. The photo above from a vintage publication features two Kawanishi E7K1 "Alf" in the foreground. The tail marking is unfortunately not clearly visible although it could start with a "C".

In the photo below are LtGen Furusho on the left with Admiral Shiozawa. 

Even before the actual date of the landing, Prince Chichibu travelled with the fleet that left Nagasaki and in the photo below he is standing on the left on the rear deck of what I believe is the cruiser Nagara.

Two days after the landing Prince Chichibu went ashore on Bias Bay to inspect the troops and the progress they had done. Note in the photo below the Nakajima E8N "Dave" floatplanes.

Civilian Aviation - "Aviation Day" - Douglas DC-3

On September 20, 1941, with the opportunity of the Aviation Day celebrations, Dai Nippon Hiko Kyokai (Great Japan Aviation Society) took the chance to sponsor flights in the Tokyo-Osaka-Fukuoka route for mothers and their children.

"In order to cultivate the love of flight to children, the support of mothers is absolutely necessary. So to dampen any motherly fear of flight, they are all invited to experience flying first hand" as the article entitled "Mothers, please grow fond of the airplanes!"said.

In the photos taken in Tokyo's Haneda airport, Dai Nippon KK members are welcoming the passengers. The DC-3 in the photo is registered J-BDOL and named Kashiwa (Japanese Oak). Note the toy plane and the "air girl" offering "bento" (lunch box).