Warbird Information Exchange

The latest set posted in the SDASM archives

"This group of photos depict a large number of captured Japanese warplanes that were transported to the U.S. for evaluation just after the war. Some of the photos are of the aircraft being prepared for shipments at Yokosuka, Japan in late October and early November, 1945. Others depict the planes on board USS Barnes (CVE-20) during its transit to Norfolk via Alameda and the Panama Canal.
Aircraft depicted include:
Kawanishi N1K2
Kawasaki Ki-48
Kawasaki Ki-102
Kyushu Q1W
Mitsubishi A6M
Mitsubishi Ki-46
Nakajima C6N
Nakajima J5N
Yokosuka P1Y
Yokosuka D4Y
Also included are photos of experimental Japanese wooden props, an aircraft revetment at Yokosuka and group of Japanese naval maintenance personnel that presumably assisted in preparing the aircraft for shipment."








































USS CORE (CVE-13) as part of a shipment of Japanese warplanes being loaded in Japan, 21 November 1945

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Zero Surprise!!...

Wow, thank you for posting. We see many photos of Watson's Wizzers and the load of German aircraft coming to the US aboard the HMS Reaper, but way too few of the aircraft from Japan. Interesting that all markings have been painted over, and only a rough 2 digit manifest number on a few. Color of the aircraft looks interesting as well; tough to tell in black and white, but perhaps this whole lot was painted over in the same color for the transport, either to cover up markings or to afford more protection for the open transit? I would have expected more paint variants given the mix of aircraft. IIRC correctly an order was given to remove all props to prevent unauthorized uses, I wonder if an order was issued to cover all markings.

Any color photos?

Probably coated in wonderful cosmoline just like U.S. aircraft shipped to the theatre were to keep salt spray out of the airframes. Enough to make you shake your head and dab your eyes over where they wound up-

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

terrific!! as good as the Japanese "koku fan" books!!! I've never seen any of these pics, just like "koku fan" produces. it's great that the allies took the time & trouble to make fitted canvas cowling & canopy covers...... but didn't have the foresight to preserve some of the captured birds.

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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!!

Actually several of these were preserved, and until the 1980s constituted virtually all of the surviving Japanese wartime aircraft, and in many cases are still the only intact survivors of their types today. It's too bad not ALL of these machines were preserved, but these are happy pictures, showing many planes most of us have seen personally.

August

Those Japanese in the group photo really look like they're glad it's ( the war) over.

My thought was they looked happy they still had a job.

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"I can't understand it, I cut it twice and it's still too short!" Robert F. Dupre' 1923-2010 Go With God.

It strikes me that there is someone to the right of the photographer trying to make everyone laugh. Several of the Japanese are looking down or away. Others are trying not to smile. Some look mad. To me, they are trying to make the best of a bad situation and show that they still have esprit de corps. The American third from the left looks like he'd like to shoot them all.

Great photos, by the way. Thanks for the post.

Probably happy to get three squares a day! I'm sure supplies were meager on the mainland towards the end.

whole lotta clean lines there on that carrier deck. the japanese seemed to place aesthetics as high as functionality, at least to my eyes. good looking bunch of planes.

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Daviemax
Researcher of Post-War B-17 History
Maintains database of B-17s used from 46- on.

IIRC a lot of the German & Japanese aircraft were held in storage in Chicago (Douglas Plant?) for NASM, but when the plant/warehouse was needed during the Korean war the aircraft collection had to be moved. What didn't fit easily on a railcar or truck were scrapped.

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45-47=-2

I think some were buried or dumped at NAS Glenview as well.

In the 3rd photo ,top center, what aircraft is that?

Ki46III Dinah

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Lest Hero-worship raise it's head and cloud our vision, remember that World War II was fought and won by the same sort of twenty-something punks we wouldn't let our daughters date.