Kawanishi H8K Type 2 “Emily”
As soon as the Kawanishi H6K entered service, the Imperial Japanese Navy began the search for an improved flying boat to eventually supplant the Type 96. The 13-Shi specifications called for a new flying boat […]
Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Ki-57 Type 100 “Topsy”
The Mitsubishi Ki-57 started life as a design for a new airliner for Nippon Koku, the Japanese airline. It was derived from the successful Ki-21 bomber, which had impressed the airline with its ability to […]
Mitsubishi Ki-46 Type 100 “Dinah”
In December 1937 the Japanese Army began a process to replace the Ki-15 reconnaissance aircraft which was proving to be so capable during the China Incident. The specifications were relatively liberal, with the requirement simply […]
Mitsubishi Ki-20 Type 92
The Mitsubishi Ki-20 design was descended from the German Junkers G.38 airliner. The G.38 was the largest land-based aircraft in the world and it was thought it might make a good heavy bomber. Junkers own […]
Mitsubishi B5M Type 97-2 “Mabel”
In 1935 the Japanese Navy issued a request for a new torpedo bomber to replace the inadequate Yokosuka B3Y and B4Y models then available. Mitsubishi put forward a design for a conventional monoplane with fixed […]
Mitsubishi Ki-51 Type 99 “Sonia”
In December 1937 the Japanese Army requested that Mitsubishi work on a development of their Ki-30 light bomber, with an emphasis on creating a new light bomber that could operate from advanced airfields very close […]
Mitsubishi F1M Type 0 “Pete”
In 1934 the Japanese Navy issued request for a new observation seaplane, to fly from battleships and cruisers and perform gunfire spotting duties. Existing seaplanes were primarily reconnaissance types, tasked with finding the enemy in […]
Mitsubishi G4M Type 1 “Betty”
A requirement for a new naval land-based bomber was included in 1937’s 12-Shi program, along with the fighter requirements which resulted in the design of the Mitsubishi A6M ‘Zero’. Mitsubishi assigned Kiro Honjo, who had […]
Identification of the Japanese Fighters 96 and 97
USAAF Training film on identification of the Japanese Fighters 96 (Mitsubishi A5M Claude Type 96) and 97 (Nakajima Ki-27 Type 97). Notable for inaccurately claiming that both are the same aircraft, and that it is […]
Recognition of the Japanese Zero Fighter
A USAAF training video on recognition of the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Type 0 fighter, also known as “Zeke”. The film identifies the key characteristics of the Zero and compares them to those of the Curtiss […]