“Violet Lightning” and “Mighty Wind” – Japanese Late War Fighters
Two planes fielded by the Japanese late in WWII, the Kawanishi N1K1-J and N1K2-J fighters, became popular with the Japanese military, despite having an unusual development history.
In the history of aircraft design, it hasn’t been that unusual for land-based planes to be converted into seaplanes. It’s a natural step from the more familiar role to a somewhat more unusual one, removing wheels, adding floats, and making other adaptations.
For the Kawanishi N1K1-J, however, the pattern was the other way around. The N1K1-J Kyofu (meaning “mighty wind”) was a seaplane fighter. It was successful enough to be adapted into the land-based N1K1-J Shiden (meaning “violet lightning”).
By the time the N1K1-J Shiden went into production, the tide of war had already turned against Japan. The Allies, particularly the Americans, were pushing them back across the Pacific, island by island. On the mainland, the Chinese kept fighting with the help of international support, while the British pushed back in Burma. As the sphere of Japanese control shrank, so did the safe territory that the nation’s factories could operate in.
The result was production problems for the N1K1-J. Raids by Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers on factories on the Japanese mainland added to existing difficulties of supply and production.
The N1K1-J Shiden came into service late in the war. It started to be fielded across the Pacific theater in May 1944. Despite the production problems, large numbers of N1K1-J Shidens were produced – over 1,400 by the end of the war.
The titles given to these fighters by their creators were full of dignity and drama. The codename given to them by the Allies was less so. The Japanese used “Mighty Wind” and “Violet Lightning” whereas the Allied forces referred to the planes by the codename “George”, a Christian name common in England at the time.
One of the most successful features of the plane was its automatic combat flaps. This unique feature helped pilots to make extreme combat maneuvers by giving them extra lift. This made it one of the most successful all-round fighters in the Pacific theater, able to take on fighters and bombers alike.
The N1K1-J Shiden’s biggest downside was that it perform well at high altitudes. This was a problem for the Japanese air force, as they faced, the most powerful bombers of the war. The B-29 could reach an altitude of nearly 32,000 feet for bombing runs on Japan, and from the end of 1943, the Americans decided not to use any other bombers in their raids against the Japanese. Any Japanese plane that couldn’t perform well at high altitude would struggle to defend the homeland.
Early models of the Shiden had further problems. The mid-mounted wing produced poor visibility, a serious problem for pilots caught up in dogfights. The landing gear, the most important change from the seaplane version, was also inadequate. Changes needed to be made.
The result was a new model, the N1K2-J Shiden-Kai. The prototype for this version first flew at the end of December 1943 and it was soon rushed into mass production.
The N1K2-J was so successful that it soon became the standard land-based fighter and fighter-bomber of the Japanese military. It could hold its own in combat against almost anything the Allies threw against it. Though the tide of war was against them, Japanese fighter pilots at least had an edge in the skies.
The N1K2-J wasn’t just better because of its superior flying abilities. As with several of the best weapons in history, its advantage also came from being easy to produce. An N1K2-J could be completed in half the time it took to build one of its predecessors. With the losses mounting and the pressure on, this was a vital feature for the Japanese.
The N1K2-J was equipped with a mix of weaponry – in the wings were four 20mm cannons, while a pair of 550lb bombs were fixed underneath. This allowed the plane to act in a support role, not just as an interceptor. It could use its cannons in the skies against other planes, or to strafe enemy infantry and ships, which were also the targets for the bombs.
The presence of cannons rather than machine-guns was important. In the early war, many fighters on both sides had relied on machine-guns. But the experience of combat had taught the military that bullets were not enough to take out the latest planes and that cannons firing explosive rounds would be needed instead.
The N1K2-J had a maximum speed of 370mph and a rate of climb of 3,300 feet per minute. This put it on a par with the Spitfires and Messerschmitts doing much of the fighting in Europe. It also made it superior to the Grumman F4F Wildcat, a fighter widely used by the Americans in the Pacific.
It was, however, slightly out-matched for speed and climb by Grumman’s major late-war plane, the F6F Hellcat. The Shiden-Kai was a good enough plane to compete with its main adversaries, but American industry still held the edge.
Despite its superiority in the air, some N1K2-Js were deliberately crashed by their pilots.
Click on images to enlarge.
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Military Humor –
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Farewell Salutes –
Robert Armstrong – Albany, NY; US Army Air Corps, WWII, 11th Airborne Division, Honor Guard
Milton Beatty – Baton Rouge, LA; US Navy, WWII, PTO, Sea Bee
Leonard Davidson (99) – Auckland, NZ; NZ Home Defense, WWII, Sgt.
Jack Gucker – Seattle, WA; US Army, WWII, APO
Nicholas Kakos – MN; US Army Air Corps, WWII
Norris Leafdale – Banner County, NE; US Army, WWII, PTO
Quentin W. McCall – Union Church, MS; USMC, WWII, PTO, KIA (Tarawa)
Chester Posey – Clifton, TX; US Army Air Corps, WWII & Korea, navigator/gunner
Lyle Spalding – Louisville, KY; USMC, WWII
Garth Youd – Lakeshore, UT; US Army, WWII, ETO, 401st Field Artillery Battalion
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Posted on October 21, 2019, in Uncategorized, WWII and tagged Air Force, aviation, family history, History, Japan, Military, Military History, Pacific War, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 124 Comments.
I have ABSOLUTELY no clue as to how you research and know all this stuff, but it is so fun to read and my mind is blown when reading it!
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Thank you, Greg! There are many avenues of resource. I’m just glad you find them interesting. I do try to have something for everyone.
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Thanks for taking time to send this link, GP. I’ve added it to my story matrix in case I need technical information. I noted some of it, but not everything. You’re the cat’s pajamas!
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You can always find me here down at the speakeasy holding a cosmopolitan, my friend.
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Very cool. I recall building a model of one of these as a kid. The box cover art had it engaging B-29. that’s probably why I bought the kit.
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I wish I had a bunch of the things I had as a kid – I didn’t appreciate what I had I suppose.
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What a magnificent post.
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Thank you.
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Interesting post mate, one query on your last line, Despite its superiority in the air, some N1K2-Js were deliberately crashed by their pilots. Question being why ? did I miss something here ?
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No, you didn’t. It was combination of the Japanese state of affairs at the time. The end was obviously coming, dying in battle was considered honorable, they were starting to use inexperienced young boys for pilots – the list goes on as you know.
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Thanks mate, thought that might have been the case.
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In my mind, if the war had gone on much longer the then enemy forces would have developed better technology – my goodness, even in destruction, the human mind is amazing in design and development.
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Necessity is the mother of invention and I think that generation came up with that saying too!! 🙂
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Yes, I agree, it is the mother of invention, when I was farming it certainly proved to be true too.
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Oh, I imagine it would have to be your main motto!!
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Well, it was on the farm, for sure.
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Hi GP. You always have something I didn’t know. I’ve never heard the term violet lightning. Another very cool and educational post. I enjoyed the images of the planes too. Hugs on the wing!
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Violet lightning sounds like a book title to me. I could just imagine what you could do with that!!
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LOL… You realize that’s all it takes for me to go off the rails with an idea. I’m doing research and planning for my National Novel Writing Month story. I think you just added something to it! 😀
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Well – that just makes it all the more FUN!!
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LOL. A specially modified Violet Lightning just might take on a flying saucer. Yes, there will be a high quirky-factor. 😀
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Hey – have a ball (oops, there are a heck of a lot of balls in space, haha).
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Reblogged this on depolreablesunite.
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Thank you, Rick!
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Well packaged history!
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Thank you.
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That Japanese knack for improving on things that you mentioned has continued through the years: my Canon camera and Toyota Corolla are proof of that. Their names aren’t as romantic as Violet Lightning or Mighty Wind, but they’re as dependable as can be — and I have absolutely no wish to crash either one of them!
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Exactly. As a child, I recall most everything having a sticker on it saying “Made in Japan” just as they say “Made in China” on today’s products.
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My oldest guitar, my Ventura, also had a sticker indicating it was made in Japan. 🙂 That brand is no longer made, but I cherish he one I have.
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Take very good care of that instrument!! I know you do all the guitars, but it is probably worth something already!!
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Fascinating piece! I am intrigued by anything WWII. Thanks for sharing.
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The interest in WWII got a well-deserved boost by people as DNA and ancestry searches became popular. I just hope that generation is always remembered – their inventions, determination, stamina and ingenuity might never be seen again.
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They were indeed the “Greatest Generation!”
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Indeed. The likes of which we will never see again!
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Lovely post. It taught me a lot about the planes and their development, it is much appreciated 😊
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I thank you for taking the time to read this article.
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You’re very welcome 👊
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A very interesting explanation of Japanese aircraft development. Thanks GP.
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My pleasure. With your knowledge of aircraft, I greatly appreciate that comment.
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I’m afraid to say Japanese aircraft are a real black hole for me, as is the whole Pacific theatre so thanks to sites like yours GP I’m getting there!
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Thank you, but with your expertise, picking it up would be a snap for you.
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As in the Germany, no matter how disruptive the Allied bombing, the Axis countries continued to produce artillery, aircraft, tanks and more in remarkable quantity. Their problem was getting adequate supplies of fuel where it was needed. Therefore, pilots and tank crews were pressed to fight as infantrymen.
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Thank you for contributing, Eric. Always a pleasure!!
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Haiz! Should be ‘As in Germany’ – ‘the’ is an intruder 😦
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A typo – hey, I’m getting old and spend my days perpetually behind schedule. 🙂
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My Dad’s uncle was called George. He might not have been able to produce “Violet Lightning”
but Aunt Mabel always used to say that “Mighty Wind” was achieved on occasion.
For me, the obvious fighter to deal with the Shiden was the F4U-4 Corsair. Delivered to the US Navy in January 1945, it had an increased top speed of 448 mph and was the last version used in WW2 apparently. (My second favourite American fighter).
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Thank you, John. (I had an Aunt Mabel too)
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Look what I came across. Back in your own “monster” posts, did you have this one?
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Fascinating post!
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Thank you.
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You’re welcome!
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It constantly amazes me how many aircraft were involved in WWII when we seldom saw planes flying where I lived in the country. Another great article!
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You would think the mid-west would be in the flight path for some of the aircraft going to the Pacific, but you wouldn’t have seen these Japanese fighters.
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Thank goodness the Japanese fighters weren’t seen in this country. I lived in Ohio and if Japan had all these planes, surely America did too.
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Japan first would have gotten them across the Pacific, and having few island stopovers would have made that difficult. Thankfully we had islands capable of being fuel stops for planes going over to them. Thanks for coming by, Bev!
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Planes with unique characteristics! Interesting, but scary, history to me.
Again, I am learning about something I’ve never heard about before. Thank you, G.P.!
No matter what you share in the way of history, I always think of the people who were living (and dying) in that history.
I hope this new week is good to you in every way! 🙂
HUGS!!! 🙂
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And that’s the idea of history. Think about the people going through all this and planning our future for it to never happen again (except the good parts!!)
Have a wonderful week yourself and take care!
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Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
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Thank you, John!!
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You are welcome.
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The airplanes are one of my favorite studies in WWII. 🙂 Great post!
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I kinda got that idea, MB. And you’re very good at it!!
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Why thank you! I’ve made good sport out of riding in WWII planes. I’d like to catch a ride in the B-25, and then I think I will have all my top wish list rides accomplished 🙂
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The B-17 I rode in this past January went and crashed in CT almost 3 weeks ago, and my other-half insists that was the last old aircraft I’d be on. I’m still trying to weasel my way onto the B-24 next January. hee-hee
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Oh man I think I read about that crash in the news. So sad 😦 I’m glad you weren’t on board! I’ve done the B-24. My granddad and his twin brother were B-24 crew chiefs in the war, so I was duty-bound to ride on one! 🙂 You’ll love it!
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I know I would, but you should see the looks I’m getting from my better-half!
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I totally understand that. You know when my husband proposed, he sent me up for a P-51 ride while he prepared for the proposal surprise in the hangar. He said when he watched that plane flying around, his stomach sank. He was terrified! He said he kept thinking “My God don’t kill her!” Lol. 🙂
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I can see their point, I just disappointed.
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excellent photos
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Thanks.
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japanese War fighters were beautiful. Any chances of Seeing any in today’s world. I wonder Read: http://www.sheilaclapkin.com
>
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A blog post with the museums.
I read your site, Sheila, but I have no idea how to critique fiction. I am enjoying Melissa’s mornings though.
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Very interesting post GP. I learned something today! Also leaving a comment to test my ability to comment without appearing as “anonymous.” Still having some problems depending on the blog where I am trying to comment. Thanks and regards
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I haven’t had that problem with your comments, though I have seen your Gravatar image on foreign sites with Anonymous under the picture. It has been explained to me that that is not a wordpress glitch.
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GP – did you send the link to this to Kevan at “Pickled Wings”? It’s right up his alley!
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I follow Kevan’s site. I see him over here once in a while.
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Thank you for this article, GP. I was amazed at the idea of automatic combat flaps. Truely an innovation
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The Japanese had a knack for taking designs and totally improving on them. Thanks for dropping by, John.
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This is such excellent information on Japanese planes late in the war. I did not know about the development of these aircraft. This is really valuable stuff. Keep up the great work, GP.
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Thank you very much, Stephen! I appreciate your visit!
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I love these posts, GP. I didn’t know anything about these planes. They certainly had some innovative ideas.
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They were always quite ingenious, but they didn’t have the resources to follow through. Thanks for taking the time out today, Dan.
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I guess it’s good they didn’t have the resources. If we hadn’t moved along as we did, it could have been harder there.
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Yes, it could have been much harder – scary thought.
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This is a great article, GP. Ironically I was just cataloging some books (in Japanese which I do not speak) on these planes for the USS Midway Library. I’m going to share this column with my Midway shipmates. Bravo Zulu!
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Thank you very much. Let me know if they approve.
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Will do.
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They liked it.
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Reblogged this on Practically Historical.
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Thank you for sharing the info on these aircraft.
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“Despite its superiority in the air, some N1K2-Js were deliberately crashed by their pilots.”
Do you happen to know why this was done?
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As far as I know, many of the pilots were inexperienced and used them as kamikaze planes rather than try to outwit American fighters in air combat. Desperate measures and all that…..
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Reblogged this on Dave Loves History.
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Thank you, Dave!
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Interesting bit of lost history! Never knew of these fighters…
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Like you say, Koji, ‘lost history’. How much else don’t we know…..?
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Beaucoup….
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🙂
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More info on FDR and Pearl Harbor, (found this while doing research for Cindy Bruchman’s new book……
https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/1999/june/advance-warning-red-cross-connection
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I still very strongly feel FDR knew… He is the 1940 equivalent of Obama and Hillary. He also had his own version of bleach.
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I so agree!
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Interesting stuff–again.
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Thank you, Jacqui.
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Interesting post GP. Near the end of the war, the plane manufacturers were busy testing other kinds of planes even suicide planes but they lacked creativity in technology. They copied most everything from Germany. Good thing the war ended soon enough.
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True, their designs did start out as German, for quite a bit of their war materiel, but they did work at improving them.
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I can’t imagine how scary those dogfights were, GP. Thanks for the interesting read. It’s amazing how each little aspect of the war added up to victory or failure.
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I wish I could have covered the Pacific War better than I have. So many islands skipped over and so many details lost in the archives of history.
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My grandfather was a POW in Indonesia, so the region is particularly interesting to me.
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Do you follow Kingsley? You will be very interested in his site.
https://thejavagoldblog.wordpress.com/
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Oh, Thank you! My grandfather was a Dutch citizen. He never talked about his experiences, but my grandmother did. I have my grandfather’s cup that the Japanese gave him to use in the camp for four years. I’ll check out Kingsley’s site.
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He is far more educated on the subject than I am, so do that!!
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I did. 🙂
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Such a colorful plane!
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Indeed it is.
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It cannot be concealed that the best inventions were made within the framework of the military. Thank you for another great piece of information, GP! Have a beautiful week! Michael
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My pleasure, Michael – and you do the same, my friend.
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I had not known of it having been converted from a seaplane; though it wasn’t merely the tide turning nor production problems.
The Japanese mindset precluded rotating their experienced pilots so as to properly train new ones was their downfall; having lost so many of them at Midway.
The qualities of the Shiden Kai also made it a more demanding aircraft.
New pilots having little or no combat experience were unable to take advantage of its abilities that made a huge difference in the Marianas and Phillippine campaigns.
For your readers, a link to my posting on this aircraft:
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Yes, I remember that article. Thank you for bringing the link here.
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There are accounts about these late war types – the Frank was a very good performer if it was built well and used the right fuel. I suppose this is the same for the later George. Seems the time needed for proper testing and manufacturing techniques was lacking.
They certainly are radically different aircraft from the Zero and the Oscar. Too little too late.
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They were already short on resources before we even entered the war. I give them credit for continuing to progress despite the obvious defeat on the horizon.
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A very interesting read, GP. This shows how the Japanese were still determined to resist in the air, despite the obvious fact that they were going to be on the losing side. Fierce resistance, right up to the end.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yes they sure were. Some just were not able to accept defeat.
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Thank you!
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