A small monograph dedicated this time to the last type of Japanese on-board attack bomber. We will know what the circumstances of its origin were, what it was like and whether it ever intervened in the final fighting in the Pacific.
After the First World War, the Japanese navy became an increasingly important naval force, so it is no wonder that as soon as the idea of dive-bombing and its use against naval targets arose, the Japanese Admiralty sent its designer to Germany to learn about the technique. The first Japanese attempts at an onboard dive bomber did not turn out well, so Aichi was called upon in the first half of the 1930s to use its long-standing collaboration with the German factory Heinkel Flugzeugwerke to modify its two-plane Heinkel He-50b dive bomber, the second prototype of which was purchased by the Japanese. In this article we will know how they managed this adjustment ...
A small monograph that introduces us to the individual versions of this dive bomber, which became a legend after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Description of the most widespread float reconnaissance aircraft of the Japanese Navy. The aircraft was operationally deployed from Pearl Habor to the Japanese surrender.
Description, origin and deployment of the last float reconnaissance aircraft in the Pacific.
A brief description of an almost unknown Japanese seaplane, which also escaped the attention of the Allied intelligence service and for that reason was not given a code name. The aircraft was designed to train the crews of multi-engine flying boats, but the vast majority of them were destroyed in suicide raids on the US Navy.
Seiran is one of the very little known Japanese aircraft. It was a special attack aircraft, which was the culmination of the development of aircraft for submarines. The Japanese planned to use these planes to destroy locks in the Panama Canal or later attack US aircraft carriers at their berth at Ulithi Atoll.
A brief history and technical description of the Japanese night fighter, which from the very beginning was, as the only one, developed directly for this purpose. The Japanese navy needed a powerful fighter that could intercept and destroy night raids by Superfortresses. The whole project ended infamously, the Superfortresses destroyed both unfinished prototypes, and that was the end of Denko fighters.
In 1936, the Japanese Naval Air Force issued technical specifications 11-Shi, which informs aircraft manufacturers about their new needs and the technical requirements it requires.
As early as the 1930s, the Japanese navy considered it important to train battleship crews and cruisers for night combat. The ship's artillery armament was becoming more and more powerful, the cannons were reaching more and more range, and an observation aircraft was best suited for artillery observation and fire correction.
The command of the Imperial Naval Air Force required, among other categories of aircraft, a float reconnaissance aircraft, which was to replace the currently manufactured float reconnaissance biplane Kawanishi E7K1. The Navy required a biplane monoplane in a two-seater configuration, despite the fact that the E7K1 was a three-seater, the aircraft was to be able to perform reconnaissance or observation tasks, but also to be able to dive.
The Imperial Navy command demanded a two-seater float reconnaissance aircraft. Here we must realize that the Navy has only just begun testing an unclassified three-seater reconnaissance floatplane, which was not adopted a year later as "Naval Reconnaissance Floatplane Type 0", better known as E13A1 or under the allied code name Jake.
Kaigun Kōkū Hombu - the headquarters of the Imperial Naval Air Force, commissioned in early 1938 with the specifications of 13-Shi development of a training flying boat. The future crews of the H6K Mavis and H8K Emily flying boats were to be trained on this aircraft, and anti-ship and anti-submarine patrol flights were to be carried out as part of the training.
In September 1942, the I-25 submarine launched a small Yokosuka E14Y1 floatplane at a safe distance from the Oregon coast. The aircraft was piloted by Heisōchō - Ensign Nobuo Fujita, who dropped a total of four incendiary bombs in large forests in the vast forests of the state of Oregon.
In September 1942, the I-25 submarine launched a small Yokosuka E14Y1 floatplane at a safe distance from the Oregon coast. The aircraft was piloted by Heisōchō - Ensign Nobuo Fujita, who dropped a total of four incendiary bombs in large forests in the vast forests of the state of Oregon. Already the preparation of this action led the Navy to the idea of greater and more effective bombing of the American coast, and so in the spring of 1942 he placed an order for Japanese shipyards to build eighteen of the largest submarines to date. These submarines with a displacement of 4,738 tons were to be able to place four to five aircraft in their hangars, while transporting service personnel who had to prepare the aircraft for takeoff, as well as the necessary supply of bombs or aircraft torpedoes and fuel for aircraft engines.
The newly required aircraft was to replace the naval night fighters Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko, which have become obsolete and their performance is no longer sufficient. The new requirements were quite high, for example, the maximum speed at an altitude of 9,000 m was to be 685 km / h, to a height of 6,000 m was to ascend in just 6 minutes, the minimum flight endurance was required at five hours, armament was to include two thirty millimeters. cannons Type 5 etc.
A small monograph of a British night bomber, which is forgotten today. He was unlucky that his design soon became obsolete and the bomber was withdrawn from combat units, thanks to which it was overshadowed by the well-known and much more widespread Vickers Wellington bomber. However, as you will see, the Whitley bombers have several interesting firsts in the initial raids on Germany.
This article introduces us to the circumstances in which the British medium bomber was not too well known, not very wanted and not very successful. We know all its versions, change of purpose and briefly its operational deployment.
A small monograph of a failed British bomber that did not meet the requirements of the Ministry of Aviation. The tense international situation has forced the ministry to negotiate contracts for 1,500 aircraft of this type. However, Manchester was especially dangerous to its own crews, the RAF took over less than two hundred of these machines and production was terminated. Vulture engines were not available, so Chief Designer Roy Chadwick, CBE increased the wingspan and the aircraft fitted four great Merlins XX and created a very successful and famous bomber - Avro Lancaster.
A monograph of the most successful heavy British bomber, which became the backbone of the British Bomber Command in the second half of World War II. This aircraft was promoted primarily by the commander of Bomber Command Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, who rated Avro Lancaster better in all respects than other four-engined engines - Short Stirling and Handley Page Halifax. The truth is that Lancaster, thanks to his large bomb bay, could carry a large load of bombs and also hijacked large-caliber bombs that other bombers used by the RAF could not carry. The statistics also give "bomber" Harris the truth.
Development of an American fighter aircraft, which was not included in the USAAF.
A brief monograph introduces us to the circumstances under which the British Navy tower fighter was created. The idea of using this type of fighter was perhaps interesting, but by choosing a low-performance onboard bomber and occasional Skua fighter as the basis for its creation, a fighter could not be expected to surprise with its performance. The resulting work was Blackburn Roc, which became at least a little known perhaps only due to its short and not very successful operational deployment.
A prototype anti-submarine flying boat, with promising performance and features. It was originally supposed to stop the Japanese advance and eventually remained unused.
On 17 November 1944, the prototype of the Boeing XF8B-1 airborne fighter aircraft took to the air for the first time. The emergence and development of the aircraft brought several interesting facts that are worth recalling.
The United States was rapidly awakening to the effects of the war, and while trying to maintain neutrality, the Navy, for example, was aware of the dire fact that German submarines in the Atlantic were operating on the border of American territorial waters. The Naval Air Force did not have in its arsenal suitable patrol aircraft with great endurance of flight. Such aircraft would be needed in the Pacific as well, and tensions were rising every day. The need for these patrol aircraft resulted in June 29, 1940 in the order of a prototype of a large long-range patrol flying boat at Boeing, the prototype was designated XPBB-1.
Do you know how effective the Japanese bombing offensive against the United States and Canada was in the winter of 1944-45?
A small monograph of a British tower fighter, which is often very controversially evaluated. From a design point of view, it was an interesting aircraft, which, however, did not prove very successful in the original role of day fighter. However, he achieved considerable success as a night fighter.
More extensive description of individual development variants of this American aircraft.
TTD and a description of the development of the first of the mass-produced Curtiss Tomahawks.
History and description of individual versions of the American on-board bomber, which was produced in large series. His crews called him unflatteringly after his designation "Son-of-a-Bitch 2nd Class", for his poor flight characteristics.
A small monograph of an American experimental fighter, which attracts with its duck-type arrangement.
At the end of the 1930s, France desperately tried to modernize its air force on a large scale, as part of this modernization, a relatively large number of prototypes were created, and it must be said that several of these prototypes looked very promising. One of these promising machines was the Dewoitine D-770 battle bomber.
Overview of individual versions, development and service of the export version of "Flying Pencil".
A brief history of the origin and operational deployment of a not very successful American onboard torpedo bomber.
In September 1926, shortly after the destruction of the Kaibo Ginkai KB experimental seaplane, the Kaibo Gikai Voluntary Committee decided to build another large seaplane. The new seaplane was to be built on the basis of a completely new design. This construction had several goals, on the one hand, designers and technicians were to gain experience with the design and construction of all-metal flying boats, and on the other, naval pilots and mechanics could get acquainted with all-metal aircraft in operation, especially differences in maintenance and operation.
A brief monograph of the last two-seater British naval fighter, which actively intervened in the fighting of World War II. In Europe, she accompanied the deck bombers in the attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz, then was deployed in the British Pacific Fleet to fight against Japan and ended her fighting career in the fighting over Korea.
A small monograph of an unjustly forgotten naval fighter. Fairey Fulmar was a fighter that fully reflected the demands of the then Royal Navy. According to them, Fulmar was not expected to fight against enemy fighters, in formulating technical requirements, priority was given to heavy armament and long range, flight performance and dexterity were secondary. The aircraft had to be two-seater, the second member of the crew served as a navigator-radio operator and sometimes a machine gunner, was considered necessary for long operations over the sea. The Royal Navy eventually took over 600 of these aircraft, they formed the armament of 18 Fleet Air Arm squadrons, and in the first three years of the war, Fulmar was certainly a significant force.
It was the first aircraft construction from 1932, when the company embarked on the project of a small passenger plane, which was to fly on the Tokyo - Osaka route. According to the plan, the aircraft was to reach a top speed of 200 km / h, should be easy to manufacture and operating costs should be very low due to simple and easy maintenance. The crew was to consist of one pilot and three passengers. The aircraft was to be able to operate from small and unimproved airfields.
A monograph of the last RAF fighter biplane, which successfully intervened in the fighting of World War II.
The article introduces us to the history and more detailed description of the individual versions of the wrongly neglected British heavy bomber Handley Page Halifax. The aircraft, which together with the Stirlings and especially with the Lancasters destroyed German cities and German industry. An aircraft that largely contributed to the supply of domestic resistance in the occupied countries, an aircraft that played a significant role in airborne operations, and finally an aircraft that helped win the war on the Atlantic and contributed to the victory over German submarines.
A small monograph of a somewhat neglected British bomber, which, however, has its place in the British Royal Air Force. He did not achieve the fame that the much better-known Wellingtons received. The bombing of the Hampden in the first half of World War II had a relatively significant impact on air raids and later on anti-submarine patrols over ship convoys.
Hereford bombers were almost unknown next to their sibling, Hampden. Handley Page Limited and other contractors produced a total of 1,480 Hampden bombers, and "only" 150 Herefords were built at the Short & Harland shadow factory in Belfast. Let's take a closer look at the Hereford plane.
History of development and testing of the predecessor of the famous Hawker Typhoon fighter and attack aircraft.
Monographs of a British fighter bomber, which in the second half of World War II effectively attacked and destroyed various targets in occupied Europe, attacked shipping, rail and automobile transport, German tanks, armored and unarmoured vehicles, light forts, flak stations, artillery batteries, buildings, barracks and places of concentration of enemy troops. It was the same type of aircraft, which was initially almost completely withdrawn from operational service and on D-Day formed the armament of eighteen squadrons of the British 2nd TAF.
The German five-engine towing aircraft He 111 Z-1 certainly belonged to the very unusual aircraft used by the German Luftwaffe.
Brief description, history of the establishment and operational deployment of the forgotten heavy bomber of the Japanese naval air force, which in 1937 participated in raids on the Chinese city of Shanghai and its surroundings.
The Japanese navy had great ambitions to become a decisive naval power, and these treaties put them at a considerable disadvantage in such a way that they could not compete with the US or British fleets. This situation was one of the reasons why the staff of the Japanese Navy (Kaigun Koku Hombu) decided to strengthen one of the components of weapons that were not subject to restrictions - attack aircraft operating from ground bases.
If we evaluate this seaplane over time, we must recognize that it was characterized by a much more modern design than the preferred Kawanishi H3K1 biplane, and its significance lay in the fact that designers gained valuable experience for later all-metal aircraft designs thanks to this seaplane.
This weapon was developed in Great Britain on the basis of licensed production of the Hispano-Suiza HS-404 cannon. The cannon was first produced in Great Britain in the Hispano Mk.I version, whose ammunition supply was carried in a drum magazine and was mounted, for example, in heavy fighters Westland Whirlwind Mk.I, Beafighters and experimentally in Spitfires Mk.Ib.
A small monograph dedicated to a successful Soviet fighter from the Great Patriotic War.
At the end of the 1930s, the USSR leadership, led by J. V. Stalin, finally began to discuss and found that officials overlooked and underestimated the arrival of modern German Messerschmitt Bf-109 Bs on the Spanish battlefield, and only in 1939 did they realize that despite the victory at Chalchyn-Gol they surpassed the Japanese Nakajima Ki-27 fighters only in number.
After only two years of war, the Japanese naval air force got into trouble in training new pilots who came to combat units after basic training, or at best, in advanced courses. Kaigun Koku Hombu was desperate to replenish the pilots, while still encountering the same difficulties with the organization of training, the training of new pilots was still set to pre-war training regime, ie. to the high quality of the training and it also meant a lot of time.
A new floating observation aircraft for submarines, which was to replace the Watanabe E9W1 type 96. It, although in service for one year, quickly became obsolete and it was necessary to look for a more modern replacement. The specifications required the aircraft to operate from Class I submarines.
Japanese naval air force in February 1934 lists the specifications of the development plan marked the 9-Shi, there have been formulated the technical conditions and requirements for the new aircraft, which the Navy required from the producers of aviation technology.
The year 2000 was written in Japan (for the Western world it was 1940), this year the Imperial Naval Air Force accepted into its arsenal a twin-engine bomber Mitsubishi G4M (in the Allied code Betty). The command of the Japanese naval air force followed the rule that at the time of inclusion of the new aircraft in its arsenal, required design teams to begin work on new projects of the same type. In most cases, it was possible to ensure the continuous modernization of the air force.
In 1942, the Japanese naval air force was very interested in a strategic long-range reconnaissance aircraft, which would operate from ground bases. The main defense of this aircraft from enemy air forces should be its high performance.
The first all-metal seaplane designed and manufactured in Japan was built thanks to a private initiative of a patriotic association known as Teikoku Kaibo Gikai. In September 1922, its members found that no all-metal aircraft were produced in Japan. The good properties of this construction have already been proven in many other countries, which was the reason for the patriotic association to undertake this project.
In the 1930s, Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun Kōkū Hombu was interested, among other things, in aircraft that would cooperate with ground forces. One such activity that can be included in this category is managing your own artillery fire and retrieving messages from units directly from the ground. An aircraft with a slow flight and a very short take-off and landing is suitable for such an activity, these requirements are almost completely met by a virgin.
Description and brief history of the "High-speed reconnaissance seaplane type 2". Under this name lies a very interesting machine, which was produced in a very limited number. Most of the manufactured aircraft were used in the fighting over Palau, but the losses were 100% ...
A brief monograph of a floatplane, which remained in service from 1934 until the Japanese surrender in 1945.
An overview and description of the individual versions, a brief history and operational deployment of the Japanese flying boat, which the Allied intelligence knew as "Mavis".
In 1938, the Imperial Naval Air Force took over the first flying boats of the Type 97 Model 1, better known to us as the Kawanishi H6K1, and, according to the then established practice, formulated new technical requirements for its successor. These requirements were included in the specifications of the 13-Shi development plan. Based on these requirements, the best flying boat from the period of World War II is created. In this article we will know that its development was not easy at all. The first prototype showed very poor nautical properties and only subsequent changes to the shape of the fuselage led to their improvement.
One of the last float fighters of World War II, which came late to fulfill the original tasks, because it was a completely new design, so everything turned out differently than the Japanese naval air force imagined. Japan, meanwhile, went on the defensive, and the Kyōfū float fighter was deployed in Borneo to protect refineries and later to defend the Japanese islands.
A small monograph of the famous Japanese naval fighter from the second half of World War II will acquaint us with the individual versions, with the manufacturers and also with the circumstances of the creation of prototypes. We will know what problems the Japanese designers and technicians had to deal with in the production of this fighter. We will also briefly get acquainted with the operational activities and units that had this fighter in their arsenal.
In August 1929, Kawasaki Zósenšo KK, with the consent and authorization of the Ministry of Communications, began negotiations with Dornier representatives on the possible licensed construction of the very commercially successful Dornier Do J "Wal" flying boat.
In the first half of the 1920s, the Japanese Air Force demanded a heavy bomber for its bombers. Japanese industry was not yet advanced enough to design and manufacture such an aircraft without help from abroad. Rikugun Koku Hombu turned to the Kawasaki Zósenšo KK factory with this request, and she turned to the Dornier factory for help, thus starting cooperation with Dr. Richard Vogt.
In December 1935, the command of the Imperial Army Air Force accepted into its arsenal the last biplane fighter Ki-10, which was later assigned by the Allied intelligence service Perry. Until then, the Army Air Force rejected all single-engine fighters, let's recall the attempt of Dr. Richard Voghta with a Kawasaki Ki-5 aircraft, or a competitor of the biplane Perry - Nakaji Ki-11, this monoplane was not entirely without hope of inclusion in the armament, Rikugun Koku Hombu cleverly managed to use it as a "pressure" aircraft.
The required aircraft was to replace the obsolete Kawasaki Ki-3 bomber. In the 1930s, this category of aircraft was very popular, and perhaps the air force of all states had them in their arsenal, and the Japanese Air Force was no exception in this regard.
The first combat deployment in Rabaul, New Britain, was not famous, engine failures, sand and engines without filters, inadequate radio and navigation equipment and the inexperience of the pilots - these were the main reasons for the not very successful launch. But if the engine worked well and Hien got into a fight with the Tomahawks, Warhawks and Airacobrs, these American machines were at a disadvantage. All at the cost of losses, the Allies sought tactics to combat this type. It was not until the arrival of new types of Allied aircraft that the situation improved.
The Air Force Command also closely monitored the war in Europe from the very beginning, and so the relevant correspondents also noted the initial great success of the German Junkers Ju 87 bombers. To some extent, the Japanese were certainly influenced by German propaganda. It is important to us, however, that the Air Force Command demanded a dive bomber from Kawasaki.
It is a relatively little-known fact that at one time Japan tried to make an aircraft with which it wanted to set a speed record.
In August 1942, the Imperial Army Air Force received the first intelligence on the planned American high-altitude bomber Boeing B-29 Superfortress, while realizing that it did not have a suitable fighter aircraft to detain these aircraft. New requirements for single-engine and twin-engine interceptor fighters were immediately drawn up to protect important targets on the home islands.
In August 1942, the Imperial Army Air Force received the first intelligence on the planned Boeing B-29 Superfortress high-altitude bomber. The logical reaction of the representatives of the Army Air Force was the effort to get into the armament of their own fighter units such fighters that would be able to operate at altitudes above 10,000 m, to be fast enough and carry in their arsenal sufficiently effective weapons that could damage and destroy these large four-engine bombers.
A small monograph of the last fighter biplane of the Japanese Army Air Force.
The Kawasaki Ki-61 is starting to lose its breath, the more powerful engine it was supposed to prevent is not tuned, it is unreliable and there are not enough of them, the finished kites without engines are accumulating in the factory in Gif. The designers underwent a radical reconstruction and so in the last year of the war appears a very successful Japanese fighter Kawasaki Ki-100 Goshiki-sen. The Allied intelligence considers it a mere version of the original Ki-61 and left the new aircraft codenamed Tony.
Briefly described the circumstances that preceded the creation and production of the Japanese attack and later the fighter plane, which the Allied intelligence named Randy.
Monograph of an interesting prototype of a Japanese fighter, a competitor of the famous Ki-27 .
A small monograph dealing with a forgotten type of Japanese army light bomber, which was very successful on the Chinese battlefield, but in a clash with the enemy's modern fighter aircraft, the shortcomings of its design became fully apparent.
In this article we can get acquainted with the problematic origin of the Japanese heavy fighter. The first prototype brought only disappointment and the whole project was suspended. The project was revived in 1940, when the prototype received new more powerful engines and several major modifications were made to the airframe. Chief designer Takeo Doi eliminated most of the shortcomings and so at the end of 1941, the Ki-45 was accepted into the armament of the Imperial Army Air Force. The aircraft was well-equipped for Japanese conditions and passive protection included self-locking fuel tanks. Armament was reinforced for attacks against ground and ship targets. Later he was deployed as a day fighter, especially against the four-engine Liberators. After the raids on the home islands began, it underwent further modifications and was deployed against the Superfortesses. Another version was used against ship targets. Near New Guinea, the Ki-45 was used for suicide attacks against American ships.
The development of the aircraft began at the end of 1937 at the request of the Japanese military high command. Kawasaki received an order to develop a "high-speed bomber" capable of 480 km/h at 3,000 m, and able to reach 5,000 m within 10 minutes. The design was inspired by the Soviet Tupolev SB.
A small monograph of prototypes of an overflow fighter, which did not prevail and their development program was completed.
The monograph of the Japanese army fighter, which with its arrival to the army combat units brought a fundamental change, the aircraft was powerful, well-armed and also had a good passive defense. Allied pilots had to find a suitable combat tactic against this type, because it did not apply to what the existing Japanese fighters, which were extremely agile, but usually quite lightweight design, reduced armament and lacked passive defense, were the exact opposite of the new Hien. .
Description and brief history of the Japanese high-speed aircraft. The aircraft, which did not achieve the calculated performance, but certainly became an interesting Japanese attempt to set a world speed record.
An interesting project of a Japanese army fighter, this interceptor was to face the threat of B-29 bombers. Its designer was inspired by the American Airacobra, not for its performance and features, but had to solve a similar problem - the installation of a large-caliber cannon in a single-engine machine.
The article introduces us to very handsome prototypes of heavy fighters, which were designed on its own initiative by Kawasaki chief designer engineer Takeo Doi. It was a powerful, single-seat, twin-engine, interceptor fighter, which, however, rejected Rikugun Kōkū Hombu and thus deprived himself of the opportunity to have in time in its arsenal a powerful fighter to fight the American Superfortress.
In the spring of 1926, the General Staff of the Japanese Army turned to the Kawasaki, Mitsubishi, Ishikawajima factories, and a little later to the Nakajima company, to submit their reconnaissance aircraft projects to replace the obsolete Kawasaki Otsu aircraft (which was manufactured under license from the Salmson 2A2).
Description and brief history of the Japanese virgin, which flew operationally during the Second World War
In 1940, the Technical Department of the Japanese Naval Air Force compiled specifications marked 15-Shi, with these specifications, the Navy required, among other types, a continuing training aircraft for training complete crews of twin-engine aircraft. This task has been performed for ten years by old Mitsubishi K3M aircraft. In the technical requirements, the greatest emphasis was placed on technological simplicity and the arrangement of the interior spaces - this arrangement was to be as close as possible to twin-engine bombers.
Fieseler Fi 156 Storch was a legend, both for its features and its appearance, the news of such an aircraft quickly reached Japan. The Japanese Air Force was very interested in such an aircraft with a short takeoff and landing. Through its military attaché in Berlin, Storch sought to purchase or arrange for its licensed production. Unfortunately, in the end, not a single variant was realized, and so in Japan, a completely own design was created - the Kokusai Ki-76 observation aircraft.
In the 1930s, Japan entered a long-distance record-breaking competition. In May 1938, this record was actually won by Maj. Fujita with a Koken record machine. Koken thus became the only Japanese aircraft that was able to enter the FAI record tables. In the article we will get acquainted not only with the description of Koken, but also with its overall history.
In 1937, the Imperial Japanese Ministry of Transportation realized that civilian carriers in Japan were short of airliners, and that the fleet was hopelessly obsolete because it was made up of predominantly archaic-looking Fokker transports.
In 1945, Imperial Japan was preparing for an Allied invasion, one of the desperate ways to slow down and perhaps stop the advance of enemy troops was to be suicidal strikes by all means. Air suicide units were to have a special place. The armament of suicide units was very different from training or decommissioned combat aircraft to modern, specially developed for this purpose aircraft such as Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka, or army Mitsubishi Ki 167 or simpler production Nakajima Ki 115 Tsurugi.
The Japanese naval air force diligently sought an effective weapon against American B-29 bombers. This effort yielded very interesting prototypes, but the B-29 could not threaten a single one. They were just prototypes and the beautiful Shinden described here is one of them.
Description of individual versions and a brief history of the Japanese anti-submarine aircraft Tokai, known to the Allies under the code name Lorna. It is a little known fact that it was the first purely anti-submarine aircraft in the world.
Soviet single-engine fighter aircraft produced during World War II. This type was the successor to the LaGG-3 development series and the predecessor to the La-5, which became one of the best Soviet fighters deployed in the conflict.
A monograph of a successful American fighter, characterized by one of its pilots: "… it came too late for one war and in the other it was already obsolete…"
A little-known Japanese aircraft that was often used as a kamikaze at the end of the war.
As soon as the Junkers factory was able to supply new versions of the Jumo 210 G engines, which were equipped with direct fuel injection, production of the new version of the Bf 109 C began at Bayerische Flugzeugwerke.
The Bf 109 D was to be the first mass-produced aircraft with a more powerful engine. He took an active part in the fighting during the attack on Poland and in the units intended for the defense of the Empire, he was still present during the French campaign.
The specifications of the naval air force marked 7-Shi can be considered as the first really consistently prepared. For example, the technical requirements for the fighter aircraft that Kaigun Koku Hombu reflected a certain crisis that was going through the Japanese naval air force.
Shortly after World War I, the Japanese Imperial Navy became a modern and internationally respected force thanks to the design skills of British designer Herbert Smith, who worked for Mitsubishi Nainenki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha.
In 1934, the technical department of the Japanese Naval Air Command began to formulate technical requirements for the unoccupied category of naval aircraft "F".
If we want to know the historical development of the attack bomber type 96 known in the Allied code as Nell, we must go back to the first half of the thirties, when the command of the Japanese naval air force compiled in the spring of 1933 technical specifications 8-Shi.
The training, transport and courier aircraft of the Japanese Imperial Navy Mitsubishi K3M was one of the "oldest in service" aircraft, which was still just after the war, with the consent of the Allied Commission, used as a courier. These aircraft had the sovereign insignia of Hinomaru covered with white rectangles with green crosses, it was a sign of humility, and with such marked aircraft was then transported part of the Japanese Surrender Commission, which informed Japanese troops of the surrender of Japan.
From 6 to 9 April 1937, the crew of the Japanese Karigane aircraft, which was the property of the Asahi Shimbun press concern, set a world record recognized by the FAI commission. Pilots Iinuma and Tsukagoshi flew a single-engine aircraft 15,353 km in 51 hours and 17 minutes. It was the distance from Tokyo to London and this flight was made on the occasion of the coronation of King George VI and, of course, it was a flight with stopovers. The Asahi Shimbun printing concern was a well-known patron and promoter of aviation and aircraft.
The Japanese Air Force gained its first experience with Kawasaki Ka.87 heavy bombers, but these bombers quickly became obsolete and ceased to meet the requirements for a heavy bomber. The biggest disadvantage of this aircraft was the short range and low load capacity of the bombs.
Japan has found itself in a difficult situation since 1944. Thanks to their advance in the Pacific, the Allies gain suitable places on which to build and also quickly build bases for their Boeing B-29 Superfortress high-altitude bombers. The Japanese High Command finds that against such machines the Air Force (this was primarily to ensure the defense of the islands), does not have a suitable fighter aircraft and the Naval Air Force is not better off.
In the spring of 1936, the Imperial Air Force Command compiled technical specifications requiring a new, modern bomber for its Sentai bombers to replace the not-so-popular Ji-shi-ki, or Italian Fiat BR20 bombers, and two types of obsolete Japanese bombers. Mitsubishi Ki-20 and Mitsubishi Ki-1.
The Army Air Force demanded a heavy bomber, which was to be very agile and at the same time powerful and well protected both by sufficient weapons and their performance, but also by effective passive protection. In its specification, the Army Air Force required an aircraft that could inflict heavy blows on the enemy in the east - the USSR, and only later slightly corrected the requirements so that it could be used, for example, against ships of another enemy.
Many Japanese aircraft designs from the end of the war were often characterized by a very high technical level. Undoubtedly, such was also a heavy twin-engine long-range high-altitude fighter Mitsubishi Ki-83.
Shortly before the war, new strategic bombers Pe-8 were introduced into the armament of the Soviet Air Force. Only then did the Soviet Air Force find that it did not have a suitable escort fighter that would at least partially meet the range.
A monograph of a prototype Soviet fighter from the end of World War II, which was powered by a piston and motorcycle compressor engine.
In its original plans, the Japanese Navy planned for its ship with Gloster Sparrowhawk fighters, these aircraft, in the number of 90 aircraft, were purchased by the Japanese in 1919 in Great Britain. In Japan, however, the idea of producing purely own structures was already gaining ground, which was ultimately logical; Japan would not be dependent on arms supplies from abroad.
A small monograph of a relatively little-known Japanese onboard bomber that intervened in the Sino-Japanese conflict.
A brief introduction to the history of the little-known Japanese onboard bomber, which intervened in the fighting in China.
A brief monograph dealing with one of the few successful biplanes serving in the Imperial Naval Air Force throughout the Pacific War.
Monograph of a Japanese naval bomber, the predecessor of the famous G4M "Betty" type.
A monograph of a Japanese naval fighter for ground bases, this fighter was designed primarily for combat with enemy bombers. For the first time, Kaigun Kōkū Hombu preferred speed, climbability and strong armament over extreme dexterity. The result was this powerful fighter, whose main task was to defend the Japanese islands.
A small monograph of a relatively little-known Japanese aircraft that was widely used by the Imperial Naval Air Force for training, transportation, and courier flights from the early 1930s until the end of World War II, when it was carrying the Japanese Surrender Commission.
A small monograph of a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft, which was successfully used on the Chinese battlefield and in the first phase of the Japanese Pacific campaign. It was one of the few aircraft that, despite the traditional jealousy and rivalry, used by the Army Air Force and the Naval Air Force. Naval aircraft marked C5M2 model 12 were used in December 1941 near the Malay Peninsula, the Japanese used these aircraft to monitor the British Union Z and then led to their own bombers, which destroyed it. Reconnaissance and bomber aircraft belonged to the 22nd Kōkū sentai.
An overview of individual versions and a brief history of the Japanese heavy bomber.
Brief history and technical data of a phenomenal strategic reconnaissance aircraft.
Description of a Japanese army bomber, which proved especially effective on the Chinese battlefield.
Description of versions and little-known projects of probably the most advanced Japanese medium bomber, including its development.
Description of the origin and testing of prototypes of a Japanese high-performance assault fighter, which would certainly not change the outcome of World War II, but at the same time this fact was a great fortune for the crews of American Superfortresses.
The Nakajima J1N1 Gekkō ("Moonlight") is a twin-engine aircraft used by the Japanese Imperial Navy during World War II and was used for reconnaissance, night fighter, and kamikaze missions. The first flight took place in May 1941. It was given the Allied reporting name "Irving", since the earlier reconnaissance version the J1N1-C, was mistaken for a fighter.
History and development of the Japanese airborne fighter, which was in service in 1929 -1935
A short monographic look at the last fighter biplane of the Imperial Naval Air Force.
In this article we will get acquainted with a very little known but interesting prototype of an onboard torpedo bomber, we will also learn how the Japanese aviation industry developed in the early 1930s, at a time when a real naval power began to emerge from Japan.
A description of the origin of the legend from Pearl Harbor, its retreat from fame and its sad end in the form of a suicide plane.
A short monograph of an onboard torpedo bomber, which was a relatively advanced and powerful aircraft, but was completely decimated by the powerful US Navy air force.
A brief history of a promising prototype of a naval reconnaissance aircraft, which ultimately remained unused. Later it turned out that his non-acceptance into service was a mistake that the naval air force had to deal quickly with the inclusion of army reconnaissance aircraft Mitsubishi Ki-15 "Babs".
Description of versions and development of the last on-board reconnaissance aircraft, which in the end did not even operate from the decks of aircraft carriers. With its high performance, this aircraft kept the Japanese reconnaissance air force at a high level until the very end of the war in the Pacific.
Description and brief history of the Japanese naval four-engine bomber for ground bases. This article introduces us to a not very well-known type of Japanese bomber and its American model.
In this article we will get acquainted with the circumstances of the creation of the Japanese four-engine strategic bomber, which the Naval Air Force needed for its bombers in 1943. In mid-1945, at the time of preparations for Renzan production, the needs of the Naval Air Force changed so much that the whole project stopped and finished.
An overview of individual versions and the development of a heavy fighter, a hunter of flying fortresses.
A small monograph devoted to prototypes of a twin-engine Japanese naval fighter for ground bases. This fighter was to destroy the alliances of enemy bombers. Kaigun Kōkū Hombu commissioned its development in 1943 and one year later prototypes were already tested…
A brief article in which we get acquainted with a desperate project of a Japanese suicide plane, which could no longer be deployed due to time constraints.
A brief monograph of an unaccepted prototype, a competitor to the successful Japanese heavy bomber Mitsubishi Ki-21 Sally.
A small monograph of one of the most famous Japanese army fighters. The Japanese fighting name was Hayabusa (Migratory Falcon), the Allies knew him as "Oscar" and knew that it was not advisable to try to maneuver him in a duel. For the Japanese Air Force, this type meant what the legendary Zero meant for the naval air force, Zero resembled fate, also had to fight until the end of the war in the Pacific in the front line and failed to completely replace it with a modern fighter.
Technical data and a brief history of the Japanese fighter Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki.
Description of versions, development and deployment of a Japanese heavy bomber.
Army fighter aircraft type 4 - one of the best Japanese army fighters at the end of the war. Fighting name Hajate - Whirlwind. Allied Code - Frank.
A prototype of a high-altitude fighter, which was to protect Japan from the B-29 bomber alliances. Here we can get acquainted with the circumstances of the origin of this machine and we also know the causes of the delay, which caused him not to be able to intervene against the Superfortresses.
The development of Japanese jet engines was slow, but it existed, reciprocally to this development was also the development of aircraft powered by these engines. The overall qualitative shift did not occur until 1944, when Germany sold to its ally the documentation of several jet and rocket aircraft, as well as sample pieces of jet engines, including production documentation. The truth is that only part of this precious cargo got to Japan, and Japanese designers were often forced to improvise considerably, but the development of jets has advanced considerably as a result. The first Japanese fighter aircraft was to become the Nakajima Kikka, and this article will introduce us to its development.
A brief history of the often neglected fighter aircraft of the pre-war Japanese Air Force.
A small monograph of a tailless experimental fighter, one of three built on the basis of the R40C guidelines.
A brief monograph of a little-known but also little-successful Soviet pre-war aircraft or "How to destroy a promising speed machine by order".
If you came across the designation of Japanese Ki-XX aircraft somewhere in the literature between the two world wars (during World War II) and you wanted to know what it means, read on ... An overview of aircraft marked with the Kitai system with links to most manufactured types. ..
The American fighter Bell P-39 Airacobra, with its unusual solution (engine in the center of gravity of the aircraft) inspired several designers from different countries to design a similar design. One of them was the Italian designer engineer Giovanni Casiraghi, who after his return from the United States began working at the Piaggio factory as chief designer.
This article discusses the emergence of the Air Force in Japan. The first balloon flights and their military use are described, followed by flights of heavier air aircraft and the creation of the Army and Naval Air Force. The description of the development ends in the second half of the twenties, ie at a time when both components of the air force are developing thanks to foreign aid.
A brief description of how the legend of the Soviet pre-war air force was born - the Polikarpov I-16 type 4 fighter.
The Polikarpov I-17 was de facto the first Soviet aircraft from a new generation of single-engine fighters that approached the speed limit of 500 km / h.
From the end of 1933, NN Polikarpov began work on a new-generation high-speed fighter. The prototype I-17 (CKB-15) thus preceded almost a year by German and British prototypes of modern fighters, but unlike the Bf-109, Hurrican or Spitfire type I-17 did not get into production.
This small monograph is devoted to a not very well-known fighter, which was to replace the widespread Polikarpov I-16 aircraft in the Soviet Air Force (in Spain they were known as "Rata"). However, NN Polikarpov could not completely get rid of the construction of the proven I-16, which was probably the main weakness of the new type. The first prototype of the I-180 was not completely completed and yet took off for a test flight, the aircraft subsequently crashed and in the wreckage of its pilot - Hero of the USSR Valery Pavlovich Chkalov. Subsequent investigations did not prove fault on the part of NN Polikarpov, but he fell into Stalin's displeasure and this signaled the end of this famous designer.
Description and operational deployment of a French flying boat that sank a German U-105 submarine near Dakar.
Re.2000 was the first in a series of Italian fighters manufactured by Reggiane. The aircraft arrived late and could not participate in the competition in 1938, the competition was to ensure the selection of a suitable aircraft for the Italian Air Force (Regia Aeronautica).
A promising and powerful prototype of a heavy fighter, which with a small modification could perform combat tasks. However, the aircraft arrived so late that the flight tests could no longer be completed.
A monograph of a Swedish fighter, whose development began before the war. He ended his career in 1956 as an attack aircraft.
Curriculum vitae of one of the most famous fighter pilots of the Imperial Naval Air Force of World War II. A fighter ace that gave the Japanese Zero superior to the American Airacobra, Tomahawks and Warhawks, as well as the author of the famous book Zero over the Pacific.
A brief monograph of the first British four-engine bomber, which bombed Germany and its territories from 1941 to 1944. In the second half of the war, the RAF was happy to remove him from the Bomber Command and deploy him to the Transport Command. The new role explicitly fits this machine. He participated in several airborne operations, supplied Allied troops with fuel and the French resistance movement with weapons and other materials. The end of the war meant the end of his career.
articles on Japanese topics, the prizes are model Fujimi 1/72 Yokosuka D4Y2 Judy and books: Jiří Hartman "Letec"; Rolf Marben: "Zeppelins Attack" and Douglas Bader "Fight in the Sky". deadline 31.3.2007
The story of the HE 100 aircraft, which became the centre of a successful disinformation campaign leading to the "shooting down" of a number of HE 113 aircraft, although this type of aircraft never existed...
The new Supermarine S.5 aircraft was maximally aerodynamically improved, the frontal resistance was significantly reduced, the bearing area was reduced. Unlike the all-wood S.4 structure, the new S.5 had a fuselage designed as an all-metal shell.
A small monograph of a British airborne fighter, which was no longer enough to intervene in the fighting of World War II.
Supermarine Seafire Mk.45 was only a very slightly navalized version of the Spitfire Mk.21. It was powered by a Griffon 60 series engine, which was supercharged by a two-stage two-speed compressor.
In the article, we will get acquainted with the circumstances of the origin of the British high-performance naval fighter, which was created, as its name suggests, by the navalization of the ground based Spitfire. We will know in more detail the individual versions of this aircraft, which flew in combat with FAA units until the end of World War II, and even its end did not mean their immediate elimination. Gradually, however, they were replaced by Seafires powered by more powerful Rolls-Royce Griffon engines.
This aircraft was created in the pre-war period and for Great Britain was to set a world speed record in the category of ground aircraft. It must be said that the designers' hopes were justified, the prototype Spitfire was a fast aircraft and its kite had performance reserves.
As high-altitude reconnaissance and bomber Junkers Ju 86 Ps began to appear over Great Britain (from the beginning of 1941), he did not take long to demand the construction of a new high-altitude version of the Spitfire with a pressurized cabin. This request arose during a meeting of the Royal Aircraft Establishment, which took place on February 17, 1941 in Farnborough.
According to the original plans of the designers of the Supermarine ovary, the Rolls-Royce Merlin 61 engine with a two-stage and two-speed compressor was to use a high-altitude Spitfire HF Mk.VII, the medium heights were to control the Spitfire Mk.VIII.
Spitfire Mk.II aircraft differed from the previous version mainly by a more powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin XII engine. This version of the Merlin engine was started using a Coffman pyrotechnic starter. Its presence can be identified by the convex cover on the right side of the bonnet, just behind the propeller cone.
In terms of the number of pieces produced, a completely insignificant version of the Spitfire, but significant in terms of development - the first mass-produced Spitfire powered by a Griffon engine.
Brief description, circumstances of origin and operational deployment of the latest version of the Spitfire, which still had the original elliptical wing.
In the second half of the war, Japanese industry began to lack some important raw materials. One of these raw materials was also aluminum, which was needed for the manufacture of aircraft. The Army Air Force ordered aircraft factories to design new or modify existing aircraft, which would later be manufactured with a minimum proportion of light alloys. One of the modified machines was also to be a great fighter Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (Frank). In this article, you can get acquainted with the prototypes of the Ki-106, which was actually an all-wood fighter Hayate.
Description and combat deployment of the now-forgotten aircraft for cooperation with the army, which was in great demand on the Chinese battlefield.
A brief description of a Japanese training aircraft, which is said to have allegedly not been the only military pilot in Japan for a multi-engine aircraft that would not be trained on this type.
It is a relatively little known fact that in 1945 the Japanese Air Force had in its arsenal long-range high-altitude bombers. The Air Force Command even considered their combat deployment against the US B-29 Superfortress bomber base on Saipan Island.
Did you know that this Japanese experimental aircraft was supposed to set a world record in flight length, but due to the war, the record flight was not recorded by the FAI and so a record flight of a Boeing B-29 Superfortress was recorded in two years, but it was shorter.
Description and circumstances of the creation of a very interesting prototype of an interceptor fighter, which was to capture the groups of American bombers flying over Japan at high altitudes.
In 1937, Finland sought to obtain rights for the licensed production of the Fokker D-XXI fighter ...
This aircraft was one of the few types of custom, own Finnish production. The design was influenced by the Fokker D-XXI, which company V.L. produced in licence.
Get acquainted with a very interesting prototype of a fighter aircraft.
The first flying prototype was completed in February 1935, was a two-seater biplane with a mixed structure, the crew sat in two open cabins in a row. The aircraft had two main floats and was powered by a star nine-cylinder Hitachi GK-2 Tempu 11 with 300 horsepower, this engine was soon replaced by a slightly more powerful version of Tempu 12 (340 horsepower), the propeller remained the same - a two-bladed wooden.
This small reconnaissance seaplane for submarines was so inconspicuous during its operational service that the Allied intelligence service gave it a code name only after the end of its service, you could say "in memoriam".
The RAF demanded an aircraft that was to be similar to the German " Zerstörers ". In the end, everything turned out differently and here you will know why.
A monograph of the famous dive bomber, which was delayed in development and first intervened in the battle, which the Americans call the "Great Marianas Turkey Shot", where this fast and agile machine became the "turkey". However, we certainly cannot say that he was unable to strike the US Navy with any significant blows.
Get acquainted with the idea of deploying Ohka suicide planes, with their development, individual versions and let's look at the success of their operational activities.
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