Welcome to Pacific Eagles!
PacificEagles.net is now Live! Welcome to my new blog about air combat in the Pacific from 1937 to 1945. I’ll be adding new content on a regular basis so stay tuned for new updates. You […]
Year: 2015
Japanese Aircraft Naming Conventions
One of the difficulties in writing about Japanese aircraft of the World War 2 era is how you refer to the planes themselves. The Japanese had confusing naming schemes that they used in contemporary documents, […]
Aichi D1A Type 94/96 “Susie”
The IJN had watched the development of British and American dive-bombers during the interwar period with some interest. Determined to procure their own aircraft of this type, the navy approached the Aichi aircraft company, who […]
Mitsubishi Ki-2 Type 93 “Louise”
The Mitsubishi Ki-1 and Ki-2 bombers were both derivatives of the German-made Junkers K37. The sole K37 prototype was purchased by Japan in 1931, and briefly testing during the ‘Manchuria Incident’ that same year. The […]
Mitsubishi Ki-1 Type 93
The Mitsubishi Ki-1 and Ki-2 bombers were both derivatives of the German-made Junkers K37. The sole K37 prototype was purchased by Japan in 1931, and briefly testing during the ‘Manchuria Incident’ that same year. The […]
The IJAAF in Northern China
Although the “China Incident”, as the Japanese referred to the war in China, began near the old northern capital of Beijing air activity in the area was minimal compared to the central Shanghai front. Chiang […]
Kawasaki Ki-10 Type 95 “Perry”
The Kawasaki Ki-10 was designed in response to an IJAAF requirement for a new type of fighter to replace a number of outdated types in service. In contrast to the monoplane Nakajima Ki-11, which was […]
Mitsubishi B2M Type 89
In 1927 the Japanese Navy was looking for a replacement for its Type 13 torpedo bombers. Mitsubishi, hoping to win the contract, commissioned the British firm Blackburn Aircraft to produce a design. Blackburn elected to […]
Mitsubishi B1M Type 13
Originally designated the 2MT, the Mitsubishi B1M was designed by Herbert Smith, formerly of the Sopwith company which had produced a number of famous fighter designs. The 2MT was the first Japanese aircraft capable of […]
Yokosuka E1Y Type 14
The Yokosuka E1Y was designed by a team from the Japanese Naval Arsenal in 1921, with the team being led by visiting members of Short Brothers, a UK aircraft manufacturer. Initial versions were very overweight […]