Warbird Information Exchange

hey fellas!

just curious if anyone knows if ijaaf employed any g4m's? I know they were used primarily in the navy......I did read somewhere that the army did used a limited number of them but cannot confirm this no matter how much I search around.

I recently picked up a Model 2 "Gou" Magnetic Compass on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/181062135717?ru ... 26_rdc%3D1
what do you guys think about the price? The seller listed it as being a part of a betty bomber.... but I cant confirm this since I'm not sure if the ijaaf even used the g4m.

After doing some research, I believe this piece was not likely installed on a betty bomber, but instead a Kawasaki ki 48 or a Mitsubishi ki 21. This compass was issued to a ijaaf aircraft because of the star stamped on the info plate. The g4m also used the same model compass but im not sure how the navy would have stamped their aircraft instruments. can anyone confirm my two questions? thanks in advance guys!

-andrew

I've never heard of the IJAAF using Bettys. In fact, I understand that the Army and Navy were such bitter rivals that it caused a lot of duplicate development and production programs..diluting Japan's already strtehced industrial capacity. The only type I can think of offhand that was used by both services was the Ki-15/C5M "Babs" recon plane.

I can't answer your specific question. You might try posting it over at http://www.j-aircraft.com. It's primarily a model building site, but there are a number of relic collectors there who have considerable expertise, and might be able to help you out.

Cheers!

Steve

g4m(betty)was only used by the navy...Steve is right there was way too much duplication by the two services,the ki15/c5m is one of the few that was used by both,but occasionally there were ki46's used by naval kokutai (151..171 and 202 kokutais) hasegawa has even released a kit of one..very late in the was a project or two including the j8m/ki200

Thanks for confirming guys! Any more thoughts will be appreciated!

i'd say you got a pretty good a pretty good deal on the compass. i paid around the same price for mine better than 10 years ago. it is 1 of the more common japanese instruments still floating around for sale privately & on other selling / auction venues. that compass ( yours or mine or anybody elses) is not exclusively linked to the betty or jaaf army air force. the compass was used in a variety of aircraft of both japanese aviation branches & in many other types of aircraft. this compass was also used in the jaaf hayabusa or oscar fighter aside from others. if the data plate has a star it is of jaaf origin. if the plate has an anchor it is japanese navy. as mentioned by the ebay seller i do not recommend that you change the compass liquid, as it has been in with the compass numbers & hashmark readings for many years & is tainted with radium which is radioactive & a hazard to you when exposed in the open, + there is not a very simple way of disposing of the fluid safely. otherwise enjoy a cool piece of aviation history used by the enemy.

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Hey thanks tom!
Wow!!! Good to know I got for a good price! I mainly collect scraps from Japanese aircraft so I'm not too knowledgeable about instruments..
WOW! I really wonder what aircraft this was taken from. Wish the data plate can tell us. Anyway to date these items by the serial number like you can on type 99 rifles?
Anymore thoughts would be great! Thanks guys!

Also, how come these compasses are more common than other instruments? Why not the altimeter? Or something else?

yes the compass can be dated, but i don't have till next leap year to explain it to you. try a google search of japanese data plates. the only reason the japanese compass is so much more common is because i've seen so many available, & thus due to the fact its a physically beautiful & well built piece that it was very attractive to american war booty collectors during the war. also it is very well illustrated in japanese aircraft books of cockpit layouts etc.

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!