Karigane 95 Japanese Aircraft

Alan65

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Karigane 95 Japanese Aircraft

« on: 27 February 2009, 18:54:48 »

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This image is from a bubble-gum card or perhaps a trading card from crackers, cookies or cereal from the 40s or maybe '50s. It shows the Karigane 95 Japanese fighter plane.


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Alan65

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Re: Karigane 95 Japanese Aircraft

« Reply #1 on: 28 February 2009, 19:23:23 »

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here is the back of the card, which turns out comes from a Tydol Flying 'A' gasoline promotion.
the info here tells us it was a single-seat fighter designed to fly off of aircraft carriers, was powered by a Nakajima Kotobuki III 550 hp engine, had a top speed of 325mph (520km/hr) and had 6 machine guns, although size of gun isn't mentioned.


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Mad Russian

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Re: Karigane 95 Japanese Aircraft

« Reply #2 on: 1 March 2009, 01:32:47 »

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However, the Karigane is the direct ancestor of the Zero fighter. The Karigane was modified for combat and became an outstanding warplane in its own right, serving Japan's military forces in the Pacific fighting.

The post card shows a 4 blade prop. That's an artists mistake, no IJN fighter aircraft before late 43 or early 44 had a 4 blade prop.

I'm looking to see if that aircraft ever flew from an IJN carrier in the war. I'm pretty sure they didn't. That doesn't mean that the IJN didn't operate them as they had ground based air units all over the Pacific. The most famous at Lae.

Good Hunting.

MR


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Mad Russian

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Re: Karigane 95 Japanese Aircraft

« Reply #3 on: 1 March 2009, 01:49:15 »

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It appears that there were 7 combat aircraft types employed on carriers by the IJN in actions in WWII.

Those six aircraft types are:

Fighters
Mitsubishi A5M4 - Allied Code Name "CLAUDE"
Mitsubishi A6M2 - Allied Code Name "ZERO"
Mitsubishi A6M5 - Allied Code Name "ZERO"

Dive Bombers
Aichi D3A1 - Allied Code Name "VAL"
Yokosuka D4Y2 - Allied Code Name "JUDY"

Torpedo Attack Aircraft
Nakajima B5N2 - Allied Code Name "KATE"
Nakajima B6N2 - Allied Code Name "KATE"

Imperial Japanese Navy coding for their aircraft is:

A - Carrier Based Fighter Plane
B - Carrier Based Attack Plane
C- Long Range Reconnaissance Plane
D - Carrier Based Bomber
E - Reconnaissance Seaplane, shipborne
F - Observation Plane
G - Land Based Attack Plane
H - Reconnaissance/Patrol Flying Boat
J - Land Based Fighter Plane
L - Transport Plane
M - Special Plane
N - Fighter Seaplane
P - Land Based Bomber
Q - Land Based Patrol Plane
R - Land Based Short Range Reconnaissance Plane
S - Night Fighter

An example of this system is the A6M2 or A6M5 "Zero".

A - Carrier Based Fighter Plane
6 - sixth "A" type design
M - designed by Mitsubishi
2 - manufacturer model number of that design

If the Karigane 95 fighter is the Mitsubishi A5M4 that aircraft served in WWII aboard these ships:
Hosho
Zuiho
Ryujo
Taiyo
Kaga
Soryu
Hiryu

As well as with these land based units:
1st Naval Air Group
12th Naval Air Group
13th Naval Air Group
15th Naval Air Group
Oita Naval Air Group
Hyakurihara Naval Air Group
Suska Naval Air Group
Yokosuka Naval Air Group

PRIMARY SOURCES:

"Japanese Carrier Air Groups 1941-1945" by Rene Francillon

"Japanese Naval Air Force Camouflage and Markings World War II" by Donald W. Thorpe

Good Hunting.

MR


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