The Survivors: Imperial Japanese Navy Kawanishi N1K Kyōfū Floatplane Fighter
An excellent post about the Japanese aircraft of WWII from an exceptional researcher!!
Designed during World War Two to provide air cover for Imperial Japanese forces deployed for amphibious beach landings in advanced locations that lacked prepared airstrips or aircraft carriers, the Kawanishi N1K Kyōfū (“Strong Wind” or “Mighty Wind” depending on the translation, Allied reporting code name “Rex”) floatplane fighter must have seemed a great idea to the Imperial Japanese Navy when work began on it in September 1940 (the first prototype took flight on May 6th, 1942). The rugged fighter was able to take off from the water around islands, was fitted with a powerful engine and we’ll armed to take on Allied fighters but by the time it became operational in July 1943, the tide of war had turned.
Kawanishi N1K1 Kyōfū (“Strong Wind”, Allied Code Name: Rex) floatplane fighter of the Imperial Japanese Navy
By 1943 Japan was on the defensive and in gradual retreat. The Kawanishi N1K
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Posted on September 21, 2019, in Uncategorized, WWII and tagged aviation, History, Japanese aircraft, Military, Military History, Pacific War, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 50 Comments.
Pacific Paratrooper 
A great read on aspects I never knew, engrossing.
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I’m glad you liked it.
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Excellent re post gp, great in depth post on the various aircraft of the Japanese forces.
If The Kawanishi N1K Kyōfū had been constructed and deployed in the early years of the war, the outcome of many battles may have changed.
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May very well have been, Ian. Fate was on our side, I suppose.
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Thanks for the kind words and support over the years!
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We have a mutual love of the subject, Deano. Supporting your site is second nature!!
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A terrible but fascinating time in history
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I’ve found this era addictive; going from one book to another!! There’s always another story to discover!
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It’s an impressive looking plane in both formats (floatplane and regular)
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Yes, I agree.
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Well, shoot. Keep tempting me with posts like this and I’ll end up visiting that Fredericksburg museum after all!
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haha, you never know what king of flowers are blooming there, eh Linda?!!
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Actually, I pass right through Fredericksburg on my way to the Willow City Loop and Enchanted Rock — great wildflowers and hiking, both. Some day I will stop — especially since we have some blogging friends who live there, too.
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Terrific!
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Thank you for the great information, GP Best wishes, Michael
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I thank you, Michael, for your loyalty in coming here.
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Thank you for sharing this!
I’ll pop over there to read.
(((HUGS))) 🙂
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Thank you. The Japanese had good planes, but unskilled pilots as the war went on.
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Quote from source post –
“…work began on it in September 1940 (the first prototype took flight on May 6th, 1942)”
20 months to produce a prototype? Inept beyond belief.
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Low on metal, fuel and qualified pilots really put a crimp in the Japanese plans.
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👌
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A very interesting, rugged plane they designed!
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Yes, they did. Unfortunately, for them, they ran out of skilled pilots.
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Fascinating, Have to say it’s a wonderful looking plane.
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It actually was. Their lack of skilled pilots was their downfall.
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Always informative posts. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, Kelly. I’ve followed Deano for years and admire his research on aviation.
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Well written too.
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Indeed!!
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Interesting post which reminded me of Matt’s grandfather, Gustav Kobbe. He was sailing on the Great South Bay in Long Island when a seaplane struck him and his boat and was killed instantly. I googled his name and discovered a lot of him which I did not know. Interesting fellow.
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OMG, what would those odds be of getting hit by a seaplane? That would like a kamikaze coming in at you!
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Yes, he must have felt like a kamikaze is aiming at him. I was horrified when Matt told me the story. He was a brilliant man, well known in the opera world. He wrote the Complete Book of Opera, the bible for opera lovers.
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I follow an up-and-coming opera soprano who is performing in England, I’ll have to ask if she heard of him.
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After he died, the book was updated by the Earl of Harewood but still retained the title Kobbe’s Opera Book. I asked three of our friends in Long Island who were fans of opera and sure enough they knew him. I was in the home of one of them and she pulled the book out of her bookshelf with all kinds of bookmarks to show me where she checked some operas. I told her the author is Matt’s maternal grandfather. One of these days, I might write a blog about him.
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I think that would be quite appropriate. I hope Matt agrees!!
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Fingers crossed. Young Matt did a school report in grade school about the Kobbe family. I will follow his suit!
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Sounds like a plan, Rose. Run with it!
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That’s a comprehensive history of a Japanese fighter, GP. Seems like it entered the war too late to make any difference.
Best wishes, Pete.
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That and the fact that they had by this time a severe lack of well-trained pilots. Deano always does a fantastic job !
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Fascinating plane. Thanks for shainr.g
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My pleasure. I like having post included about the ‘other side’.
(I hope the cards for the USS Arizona survivors have arrived.)
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I hope so too. Nice of you to send the cards.
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It’s the least I can do.
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Super post, GP
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Thank you, John. Deano does a great job of research!
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He does.
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Terrific choice to share, GP. Hugs on the wing.
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Deano always has great posts – how could I miss?!! 🙂
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Thank you for sharing.
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