What's a Japanese B5N "Kate" doing in Nebraska?!! ...

[Mark Allen M]

... well it was at a 1946 post-war Naval Airshow at Offutt Airfield of course ....
One of several "Victory Squadron" airshows across the country just after the war. (Dad was in a couple as well).

US Navy Victory Squadron VS-1 thru 3 were squadrons of aircraft formed in 1946 to show the navy might that helped win the war in the Pacific. Squadrons consisted of all the major types of USN aircraft used in the Pacific Theater and consisted of several of each type. Aircraft were painted with multiple kill markings and were displayed and flown at several bases in the United States during the 1946-1947 time frame.































Offutt was also the site of the First Worlds Fair of Aviation July 18-21 1946. Below are some photos of that event as well.

[RyanShort1]

Amazing. Wish that Kate was still on the airshow circuit!!!

[Randy Wilson]

I'll take a stab at the ID of the Kate. The printing on it seems to say "Technical Air Intelligence Center". According to "War Prizes" by Phil Butler, aircraft TAIC 6 was a Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" Type 97 Carrier Attack Bomber Model 12, C/n 2194. It was captured on Saipan in June 1944 and taken to the US aboard the USS Copahee. After various tests, mostly of its radar, it says this on page 172:

"In October 1945, the 'Kate' and a 'Zeke 52' also from the TAIC at Anacostia, were attached to a group known as 'The Navy's Flying Might'. This unit, under the command of Lt/Cdr Willard E. Elder, was set up as a travelling display to take part in nation-wide Victory Loan promotions across the USA. The 'Kate' was flown to NAS Wildwood to join this unit and it took part in a number of displays at various locations across the USA. Thereafter, the history of the 'Kate' becomes obscure, although it is believed to be the aircraft which appeared on static display during an Air Fair at Omaha in July 1946."

As always, for what it is worth. Randy

Added note: In Phil Butler's later work "War Prizes The Album", on page 125, he lists the Kate TAIC 6 as "scrapped in 1946". Randy

Last edited by Randy Wilson on Sun Jan 03, 2021 4:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Chris Brame]

Love the RFC/WAA display - AT-6, BT-13 and PT-26 ready to go (what, no Stearman?) Kid-in-a-candy-store time!

Attn Scott: a couple more Forgotten Jets images are in there - P-80s 44-85103 and 44-85144. On the original Forgotten Jets site, '103 had no info and '144 Dottie was listed as "9/14/51 Crashed near Indian Springs, NV after a collision with F-80A 45-8311". AAIR lists '144 as a bailout but '311's pilot didn't make it.

Neither had a photo in Forgotten Jets, so there you go.

[Chris Brame]

One more thing: I hope these two shots weren't taken in sequence?

[mike furline]

Saipan, July 1944






Bolling Field








Pax River, Feb.1945




Omaha, Aug. 1946

Last edited by mike furline on Sun Jan 03, 2021 4:51 pm, edited 3 times in total.

[Randy Wilson]

The image of the drone aircraft on a mobile launching rail, just before the V-2 rocket image, looks like a Radioplane OQ-14 target drone, mounted on a Type A-2 catapult launcher. The engine in front of the prop seems to be a starting engine. The seaman's head and cap block most of the drone's engine and other details, making an exact model match a bit difficult. Of note, an attractive young woman named Norma Jean Dougherty, worked as a Radioplane drone assembler in June 1945. You probably know her by her later stage name

Randy

[CoastieJohn]

During the war, there was alot of top secret drone testing out of NAS Traverse City, MI. An aircraft carrier was in West Bay (Traverse City) for this purpose. I think someone may have posted up some pics of that before??

[LysanderUK]

As usual, some great pics with lots of interest. Thanks for putting them up!

Last edited by LysanderUK on Mon Jan 11, 2021 5:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Stephan Wilkinson]

Of note, an attractive young woman named Norma Jean Dougherty, worked as a Radioplane drone assembler in June 1945. You probably know her by her later stage name

A friend of mine has one of the drones that Marilyn Monroe helped to build.

[JohnB]

Odd to see a CW-1 in photo 19.
Seems to be the only civil type there.

A precursor of the old post-war flying clown or "flying farmer" act?

[junkman9096]

I wish there were more photos of the P-51's out of that group. That close up gives just enough info to know it was from the 20th FG (yellow spear point from the nose) likely from Shaw Army Air Field. Postwar photos, or even info, is so limited.

[Mark Allen M]

I wish there were more photos of the P-51's out of that group. That close up gives just enough info to know it was from the 20th FG (yellow spear point from the nose) likely from Shaw Army Air Field. Postwar photos, or even info, is so limited.

There’s several more coming up soon.

[junkman9096]

There’s several more coming up soon.

Looking forward to them, as I always do as regards your photos.

[Tulio]

If I managed to correctly post the image, does the second airplane inside the hangar, from Right to Left, looks like a Curtiss CW-19 or -21?


Saludos,

Tulio

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