| Mitsubishi Navy Type 96 A5M2 "Claude" in Detail By Ron Cole - Photos c. 1940 via Russian Federation Archives |
| Designed by the great Jiro Hirokoshi of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the man behind the later Zero fighter, the Japanese A5M series of Naval fighters were without equal in the air during the late 1930s and until the start of the Pacific War. While the Zero fighter went on to become famous due to its action during WW2, the A5M represented a stunning leap in aeronautical engineering. The only reason the A5M did not achieve great fame outside of Japan, was that it was obsolete by the time Japan was thrust into global war. The type is, unfortunately, extinct today. Photographs of at least one example, trapped within the bowls of a merchant transport at the bottom of Truk Lagoon, reveal a shattered little airplane - barely recognizable after years of corrosion. It's nevertheless all we have. I was stunned recently to hear of a series of excellent photographs of an A5M fighter discovered amid thousands of pictures in the archives of the former USSR. The Soviets received a captured example of the nimble plane from the Chinese in exchange for the material support the USSR was providing China in its war against the Japanese. After receiving copies of these excellent photographs, I took the liberty of restoring them digitally. They are presented here: |
| A product of Mitsubishi, this A5M2 was internally painted as all Mitsubishi productions machines were both before and until the end of WW2: The crew area (single place cockpit in this case) was painted a so-called "bamboo green," or slightly olive satin-finish green. This coating usually covered most separate components, levers, and tubing in addition to the frame and inside of the skin. It was so painted at the factory so as to present the pilot (and aircrew) with a uniform and less-dazzeling environment in which to perform operation of the aircraft. The blue/green special anti-corrosive coating that covered all of the internal structures of Mitsubishi aircraft was rather bright and glossy, and could have represented a distraction to aircrew. |
| Instrument Panel |
| Cockpit: Left Side |
| Cockpit: Right Side |
Two more photos of the right side of the cockpit area. The A5M was
provided with iridium instrumentation, but was also equipped with electrical
lighting. Two adjustable spotlights (one shown above, the other affixed to
the left wall to light the main panel) were fitted with dark blue combat filters.
provided with iridium instrumentation, but was also equipped with electrical
lighting. Two adjustable spotlights (one shown above, the other affixed to
the left wall to light the main panel) were fitted with dark blue combat filters.
| Cowling and engine details. Note the high-gloss finish to the exterior. Japanese ground crews were known to maintain a well-polished exterior finish to the airplanes they took care of. This practice continued until the end of the war, although high casualties among experienced crews led to less attention to such details as the war wore on. In the end, only the best pilots and higher officers - who were assigned veteran ground crews - could expect to see their airplanes so well maintained. |
These fantastic shots reveal more than just the obvious mechanical details of the A5M2's firewall, engine mount, and internal cowling. Contrary to the
reportedly standard Navy practice of painting the inside of cowlings the same color as the cowlings exterior (blue/black, in this case), the inside of the cowling
on this A5M2 appears to be satin-finished bamboo green over which is stenciled - in black - the aircraft's serial numbers. In contrast, the inside of the panels
aft of the cowling and the aerodynamic firewall covers were painted the aforementioned translucent blue/green protective coating.
Though variations in computer monitor settings make consistent color representation impossible, I've nevertheless included samples of these colors below:
reportedly standard Navy practice of painting the inside of cowlings the same color as the cowlings exterior (blue/black, in this case), the inside of the cowling
on this A5M2 appears to be satin-finished bamboo green over which is stenciled - in black - the aircraft's serial numbers. In contrast, the inside of the panels
aft of the cowling and the aerodynamic firewall covers were painted the aforementioned translucent blue/green protective coating.
Though variations in computer monitor settings make consistent color representation impossible, I've nevertheless included samples of these colors below:
The photo at right is a salvaged relic from an A6M2-21 Zero fighter, but this finish was used for more than 10 years by the Japanese aviation
industry and was not even unique to Mitsubishi - let alone any specific aircraft type. The deformation of this piece of fuselage skin, coupled with
the lighting, provides an excellent opportunity to view the effect of the translucent coating over a fresh prepared aluminum finish.
The photo at right is actually a center instrument panel from a Mitsubishi J2M2 Raiden (or "Jack") fighter c. 1943 production. Its excellent and
original condition reveals the interior bamboo green color as also used within the cockpit and likely within the cowling of the A5M2 fighter.
industry and was not even unique to Mitsubishi - let alone any specific aircraft type. The deformation of this piece of fuselage skin, coupled with
the lighting, provides an excellent opportunity to view the effect of the translucent coating over a fresh prepared aluminum finish.
The photo at right is actually a center instrument panel from a Mitsubishi J2M2 Raiden (or "Jack") fighter c. 1943 production. Its excellent and
original condition reveals the interior bamboo green color as also used within the cockpit and likely within the cowling of the A5M2 fighter.
| Inside of the cowl flaps appear to be satin bamboo green. |
This photo was evidently taken at a later date, following
disassembly and evaluation, as it has been repainted
and given Soviet markings.
disassembly and evaluation, as it has been repainted
and given Soviet markings.
The Russians were definetely methodical about the evaluation of their prize. Plenty of
translucent overcoat throughout the airframe in evident in these pictures. Mitsubishi turned to
an outside subcontractor for fabrication of the landing gear of the A5M, as with their later
aircraft. As a consequence the landing gear struts were uniquely painted semi-gloss black for
corrosion protection. Note slight damage to the gear fairing at right.
translucent overcoat throughout the airframe in evident in these pictures. Mitsubishi turned to
an outside subcontractor for fabrication of the landing gear of the A5M, as with their later
aircraft. As a consequence the landing gear struts were uniquely painted semi-gloss black for
corrosion protection. Note slight damage to the gear fairing at right.
These photos reveal at least partial stripping of the external paint and national markings at the hands of the Soviets, though some evidence of the original
Japanese red stenciling remains. The demarcation line between the original grey finish and the bright red tail surfaces is evident, as the red areas left a very
shiny metal surface after the paint was stripped. The same odd effect is more obvious on the fuselage, where the national markings used to be.
Japanese red stenciling remains. The demarcation line between the original grey finish and the bright red tail surfaces is evident, as the red areas left a very
shiny metal surface after the paint was stripped. The same odd effect is more obvious on the fuselage, where the national markings used to be.
A nice big shot of the right detached wing section. The three dark stripes are interesting, though I have no explanation for them. They appear to be original
to the Japanese-applied finish that the Russians have attempted to remove. The navigation/formation lights are intact. The nature of
Japanese-manufactured lighting, which was quite yellow, led to Mitsubishi's use of blue-tinted plastic covers for all lighting that was required to illuminate as
green (the old "yellow and blue make green" trick). Thus these lights would appear dark blue when not lit, and green when lit.
I've included an example of this unique light cover color below, as represented on a surviving
Nakajima N1K2-J "George" fighter c. 1945:
to the Japanese-applied finish that the Russians have attempted to remove. The navigation/formation lights are intact. The nature of
Japanese-manufactured lighting, which was quite yellow, led to Mitsubishi's use of blue-tinted plastic covers for all lighting that was required to illuminate as
green (the old "yellow and blue make green" trick). Thus these lights would appear dark blue when not lit, and green when lit.
I've included an example of this unique light cover color below, as represented on a surviving
Nakajima N1K2-J "George" fighter c. 1945:
Port-side view of the detatched rudder that has been
stripped of its original Japanese-applied finish - or
possibly over-painted by the Russians.
stripped of its original Japanese-applied finish - or
possibly over-painted by the Russians.
The compilation of photos below covers most angles of the four-piece flap assemblies of the A5M2 fighter. The photo at right was taken while this aircraft
was still in its original Japanese paint job - almost certainly polished light gray. Note the oleo compression indicator stripe on the leading edge of the gear
strut cover, and the thin bare metal section.
was still in its original Japanese paint job - almost certainly polished light gray. Note the oleo compression indicator stripe on the leading edge of the gear
strut cover, and the thin bare metal section.
The inside of the flaps appears to be the familiar translucent coating with
a few unpainted components.
a few unpainted components.
Nikko (Later to be known as Nikon) manufactured the telescopic gun sight.
One of the A5M2's twin 7.7mm machine guns and its associated firing equipment.
Chain link of Japanese 7.7mm fully rimmed machine gun ammunition from this
captured A5M2 fighter.
captured A5M2 fighter.
Removed windscreen from the A5M2. Note the lack of any
armored plate or bullet-resistant glass, and the small hand-hold.
armored plate or bullet-resistant glass, and the small hand-hold.
A5M4 "Claude" Sole Survivor: Entombed in Truk Lagoon
This aircraft was quite probably on its way back to Japan in the hold of the
aircraft transport Fujikawa Maru when the ship was sunk in Truk Lagoon
by US Navy aircraft. Based upon the windscreen frame, this is a late
model A5M4 variant, and may have been stationed previously at Rabaul.
There are six aircraft in the hold of the Fujikawa Maru, of which five are
Zero fighters.
This is the only A5M airframe known to exist anywhere in the world at this
time.
aircraft transport Fujikawa Maru when the ship was sunk in Truk Lagoon
by US Navy aircraft. Based upon the windscreen frame, this is a late
model A5M4 variant, and may have been stationed previously at Rabaul.
There are six aircraft in the hold of the Fujikawa Maru, of which five are
Zero fighters.
This is the only A5M airframe known to exist anywhere in the world at this
time.
This aircraft seems to have been painted light grey overall. A portion of the
black tail code is still clearly visible on the right.
black tail code is still clearly visible on the right.
A5M4 #39 was obviously dissassembled for transport, as this collection of
parts shows. The cowling appears to be extremely well preserved, and
wasn't damaged by the ship's sinking. The cowling rests near the airplane's
rudder, absent its fabric, to the left in this photo.
parts shows. The cowling appears to be extremely well preserved, and
wasn't damaged by the ship's sinking. The cowling rests near the airplane's
rudder, absent its fabric, to the left in this photo.