Captured Japanese Aircraft of
WW2
WW2
Captured Japanese Aircraft of
WW2
WW2
Captured Japanese Aircraft of
WW2
WW2
(BELOW) Evidence of Tenacity: Japanese Ki-9 biplane
trainers fitted for Kamikaze flights against the anticipated
Allied invasion of Japan. The instructor's seats have been
removed and replaced by crude drums of explosive.
trainers fitted for Kamikaze flights against the anticipated
Allied invasion of Japan. The instructor's seats have been
removed and replaced by crude drums of explosive.
During the final weeks before the end of WW2, the Japanese put into action brave
and desperate measures. Among them were several one-way Special Attack
missions against Allied airfields on Okinawa - from which American medium bombers
were attacking Japanese villages in Kyushu with great fury.
The Japanese used transport aircraft and obsolete bombers to carry specially trained
'shock troops' to the Allied bases at night. Most of the Japanese planes were shot
down on the way to their targets, but the few survivors were deliberately crashed onto
American runways, spilling their cargo of soldiers armed with hand grenades and
machine guns. Their mission was to blow-up or damage as many Allied bombing
aircraft as possible. Among the Japanese, there were never any survivors.
"One less bomber dropping one less bomb upon my people,"
wrote Yasuo Kuwahara.
and desperate measures. Among them were several one-way Special Attack
missions against Allied airfields on Okinawa - from which American medium bombers
were attacking Japanese villages in Kyushu with great fury.
The Japanese used transport aircraft and obsolete bombers to carry specially trained
'shock troops' to the Allied bases at night. Most of the Japanese planes were shot
down on the way to their targets, but the few survivors were deliberately crashed onto
American runways, spilling their cargo of soldiers armed with hand grenades and
machine guns. Their mission was to blow-up or damage as many Allied bombing
aircraft as possible. Among the Japanese, there were never any survivors.
"One less bomber dropping one less bomb upon my people,"
wrote Yasuo Kuwahara.
Above & Right: The mystical Japanese 'Kikusui' emblem was hand-painted on the tails of this G3M "Nell"
bomber flown against an Okinawa airfield by the Navy Air Force towards the end of the war. The aircraft
appears to be painted overall black or dark green, with no white markings, for its special night mission.
bomber flown against an Okinawa airfield by the Navy Air Force towards the end of the war. The aircraft
appears to be painted overall black or dark green, with no white markings, for its special night mission.
(LEFT & BELOW) The Japanese Army contributed to these
attacks as well. The four photos at left and below depict two
obsolete and modified Ki-21 bombers the morning after their
attack - aircraft numbers 546 and 156. Aircraft 546
successfully disembarked its load of shock troops the previous
night, and while several American bombers were set afire, the
Japanese died fighting to the last man. Aircraft 156 crashed
nearby, leaving its tail section against an empty gun
emplacement. This collection of photos included many
pictures of dead Japanese - a sight better left unrevealed.
attacks as well. The four photos at left and below depict two
obsolete and modified Ki-21 bombers the morning after their
attack - aircraft numbers 546 and 156. Aircraft 546
successfully disembarked its load of shock troops the previous
night, and while several American bombers were set afire, the
Japanese died fighting to the last man. Aircraft 156 crashed
nearby, leaving its tail section against an empty gun
emplacement. This collection of photos included many
pictures of dead Japanese - a sight better left unrevealed.
(LEFT) Army Ki-57 "Topsy" Special
Attack transport. Once again, the
'Kikusui' emblem has been painted on
its tail.
Attack transport. Once again, the
'Kikusui' emblem has been painted on
its tail.