Tag: Pacific War

The Survivors: Imperial Japanese Navy Kawanishi N1K Kyōfū Floatplane Fighter

Imperial Japanese Navy Kawanishi N1K Kyōfū aka “Rex” 562 floatplane fighter on display at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas (September 2019)

Designed during World War Two to provide air cover for Imperial Japanese forces deployed for amphibious beach landings in advanced locations that lacked prepared airstrips or aircraft carriers, the Kawanishi N1K Kyōfū (“Strong Wind” or “Mighty Wind” depending on the translation, Allied reporting code name “Rex”) floatplane fighter must have seemed a great idea to the Imperial Japanese… Read More The Survivors: Imperial Japanese Navy Kawanishi N1K Kyōfū Floatplane Fighter

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Restoring a RAAF DAP (Bristol) Beaufort Torpedo Bomber

1942 DAP (Bristol) Beaufort Mk.VII A9-141 restoration project at the Australian Aviation Heritage Centre in Caboolture, Queensland (November 2018)

During World War Two the Australian Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) licence built 700 Bristol Beaufort torpedo bombers for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). They conducted maritime patrol, anti-shipping, maritime reconnaissance, bombing and training duties in Australia and the South West Pacific theatre. The Beaufort’s were constructed at the main DAP factories in Fishermens… Read More Restoring a RAAF DAP (Bristol) Beaufort Torpedo Bomber

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Classic Jets Fighter Museum – Vought F4U-1 Corsair Restoration Update 2018

Classic Jets Fighter Museum Vought F4U-1 Corsair (Bu. 02270) restoration – Parafield Airport, South Australia September 2018

During a recent visit to Adelaide in South Australia I couldn’t miss revisiting the Classic Jets Fighter Museum at Parafield Airport to catch up on their restoration of a very rare Vought F4U-1 Corsair (Bu. 02270) which is one of only two early “birdcage canopy” Corsairs in existence. It was the 124th example produced by Vought. In… Read More Classic Jets Fighter Museum – Vought F4U-1 Corsair Restoration Update 2018

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The Survivors: Mitsubishi J2M Raiden – The Last Japanese Thunderbolt

Imperial Japanese Navy Mitsubishi J2M Raiden (Jack) interceptor at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California in 2013

One of the better fighter designs operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War Two but not built in enough numbers, was the Mitsubishi J2M Raiden (“Thunderbolt” – Allied Code Name: Jack) land based interceptor used to attack Allied bombers such as the USAAF Boeing B-29 Superfortress. It was designed to be fast with… Read More The Survivors: Mitsubishi J2M Raiden – The Last Japanese Thunderbolt

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Australian War Memorial: CAC Wirraway – The Unlikely “Zero Killer”

CAC Wirraway (serial number A20-103) at the Australian War Memorial Zero Killer

The Aircraft Hall was one of the original display halls in the Australian War Memorial when it opened in 1941. Dark and somewhat crowded, it contains some absolute aviation treasures from Australia’s involvement in World War Two and the Korean War, including one very historic RAAF CAC CA-5 Wirraway Mk.II advanced trainer/utility aircraft. The main theme of the… Read More Australian War Memorial: CAC Wirraway – The Unlikely “Zero Killer”

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Restoring the Last Surviving RAAF Consolidated B-24 Liberator – 2016 Update

Big brother, little brother - the Werribee Consolidated B-24M Liberator February 2016

In 2013 I wrote about the long-term project by the B-24 Liberator Memorial Restoration Fund (formed in 1989 and manned by a dedicated group of volunteers) in Werribee, Victoria to restore the last surviving Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber operated by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in World War Two. This particular aircraft is a… Read More Restoring the Last Surviving RAAF Consolidated B-24 Liberator – 2016 Update

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Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka – The Height of Kamikaze Madness in 1945!

Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka I-18 captured at Yontan in 1945 (now at the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino CA)

The Japanese Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka (“Cherry Blossom”) was a piloted, rocket powered, anti-shipping Kamikaze suicide aircraft with a 1,200 kg / 2,646 lb ammonal warhead designed to unleash hell upon Allied fleets. The Ohka was essentially a piloted missile… absolute pure madness! Kamikaze Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka were deployed by the Imperial Japanese Navy for use by Kamikaze units… Read More Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka – The Height of Kamikaze Madness in 1945!

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The Battle of Midway 1942: US Navy Flying Legends

US Navy Grumman F4F Wildcat and Douglas SBD Dauntless - USS Midway 2015

On December 7th, 1941 the Imperial Japanese Navy conducted a surprise attack on Pearl Harbour in Hawaii which was intended to cripple the US Navy Pacific Fleet and ultimately started the Pacific War. The stunning and brazen attack saw the entry of the United States into World War Two and very quickly Japanese forces had overrun or attacked US, British Commonwealth and Dutch forces… Read More The Battle of Midway 1942: US Navy Flying Legends

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Restoring the last surviving RAAF Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Werribee B-24 Liberator Restoration

In Werribee (a town in Victoria), is a very unique piece of Australian military history.  The restoration of the last remaining Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Consolidated B-24 Liberator (and the only one in the southern hemisphere) is taking place there in an old air force hangar. The B-24 was a large (wingspan 33.5 metres/110 feet and length 20.7 metres/68 feet)… Read More Restoring the last surviving RAAF Consolidated B-24 Liberator

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