Air Power in View

Kawanishi E17K “Alf” floatplane being hoisted aboard a Japanese seaplane tender, circa 1939. Note details of the aircraft handling crane.

Arado Ar 64c.

Arado Ar 76 V2 (D-IRAS, 364).

Arado Ar 77 (D-ABIM).

 

Arado Ar 79 V2 (D-EHCR, 002) in the Dutch East Indies shortly before World War II while on a demonstration tour.

Arado Ar 80 V2 (D-ILOH).

Arado Ar 81 V2 (D-UPAR).

Arado Ar 81 V3 (D-UDEX). This third prototype differed from the first two in having a single tail instead of twin tails as seen on the second prototype, D-UPAR. The type was not taken into production.

Arado Ar 96 (D-IRUU).

Arado Ar 195 V1 (D-OCLN).

Arado Ar 197 V2 (D-IVLE, 2072). Designed to meet a requirement for a shipboard fighter for use from the carrier Graf Zeppelin, the all-metal Ar 197 appeared early in 1937. Derived from the Ar 68, it was Germany's last biplane fighter.

Arado Ar 199 V3 (D-ITLF, 3673). The Ar 199 was designed in 1938 to meet the requirements of a specification calling for a light float seaplane suitable for initial and basic floatplane flying training, and for the training of navigators and radio operators. Owing much of their design to that of the Ar 79 two-seat light cabin monoplane, the first of five prototypes was flown in 1939.

Arado Ar 231. Mid-1938 Arado received on order from the RLM to develop an on-board aircraft for the projected Type XI submarine. It called for an unarmed, single-engine, single-seater with a seaworthiness up to sea state 2. Furthermore, the type should be able to reach an altitude of at least 3,000 m and have a flight duration of three and a half hours. Special emphasis was placed on the dimensions and the dismantling of the aircraft, which should fit in a 24 ft 7.3 in (7.50 m) long tube with a diameter of 7 ft 4.6 in (2.25 m). the Navy had halted the construction of the type XI submarine, so further development of the Ar 231 ended.

Arado Ar 234B-2 Blitz jet bomber (W.Nr. 140312) painted in Royal Air Force markings after it was captured by British forces at Sola Airfield near Stavanger, Norway.

Fairchild Argus FS626 in the Pacific theater. Worn dark green upper and light gray lower surfaces.

Messerschmitt Me 323 "Gigant" with PaK 40 7.5cm anti-tank guns in the foreground.

Republic Thunderbolt in RAF service being transported on a Queen Mary trailer.

Commer Q2 vehicle tender with a Queen Mary trailer hauling aircraft parts.

Montage of four commanding officers and P-51 “Mary, Queen of Scotts” of the 339th Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force Station F-378, Fowlmere, England, 23 April 1945.

VII Fighter Command Mustangs parked in the confusion that was Iwo Jima in 1945.

After the blaze of the P-51 (44-14034) had been extinguished, members of the 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, removed the pilot’s body from the wreckage at 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 30 July 1944.

Major W. B. Bailey and his ground crew pose beside their North American P-51 “Double Trouble Two” of the 352nd Fighter Squadron, 353rd Fighter Group, at a fighter base in England.

Major Jack Ilfrey, pilot, and ground crew beside the P-51 “Happy Jack’s Go Buggy” of the 20th Fighter Group in England.

Major Gravette of the 359th Fighter Group, poses on the wing of his P-51 “Ollie” at the Eighth Air Force Station F-378 in England, 1 June 1944.

Lt. William P. Hess of the 364th Fighter Group, poses beside his P-51 “Bergie III” at an Eighth Air Force base in England, 15 December 1944.

Major General Earle E. Partridge seated in the cockpit of a P-51 of the 353rd Fighter Group, while on inspection tour of the group at an airbase in England.

Lt. Robert M. McKibben, 385th Fighter Squadron, 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, stands beside his P-51 “Mary-Al” at an Eighth Air Force base in England, 17 December 1944.

Lt. Murphy and his crew chief pose on the wing of their P-51 “Jersey Bouncer” of the 364th Fighter Group at an Eighth Air Force base in England, 20 December 1944.

Lt. McClure standing beside his P-51B “Miss Priss,” England, 1 August 1944.

Lt. Lahke of the 351st Fighter Squadron, 353rd Fighter Group, stands in the cockpit of his P-51 “Jenny M.,” England.

A pilot of the 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, poses beside his P-51 “Sally” at the Eighth Air Force Station F-35, Honnington, England, 14 October 1944.

1st Lt. Vincent G. Dressendorfer, attached to Headquarters, 1st Bomb Division, stands in front of his plane, the P-51 “The Starduster,” at an Eighth Air Force base in England, 31 July 1944.

A pilot of the 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, poses beside his P-51 “Rugged Rebel” at the Eighth Air Force Station F-35, Honnington, England, 14 October 1944.

A pilot sitting on the wing of his P-51 “Twinklenose IV,” England.

A pilot standing beside his P-51 “Mary, Queen of Scotts,” England.

Burkholden, pilot, looks over the nose of his P-51 “The Little Duchess” of the 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, at Eighth Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 5 February 1945.

Capt. Eisenhart sitting on the wing of his P-51 “Bonny Bea,” England, 16 July 1944.

Engine change on a P-51C, 355FS, 354FG, England.

Anderson’s P-51C B6-S "Old Crow" with invasion stripes over upper and lower surfaces. Kills were black crosses with white edges. Note whitewall tires.

P-51B, Debden, December 1944.

P-51B, 311th Fighter Group, 14th Air Force, China.

Pilot and ground crew of P-51B “The Mighty Midget” with six kill markings.

P-51 44-14798 “Butch Baby” 357FG, RAF Leiston, England.

Colonel James Beckwith, commander of the 15th Fighter Group, in his P-51 Mustang 'Squirt' leading P-51s of the 45th Fighter Squadron from their base on Saipan to their new base on Iwo Jima, March 7, 1945. Note the VLR tanks.

North American P-51D Mustangs of the 45th Fighter Squadron lined up on South Field, Iwo Jima, March 7, 1945. Fire is from a P-51 from the 78th Fighter Squadron that crashed on landing and struck two parked 45th Fighter Squadron P-51s.

USAAF North American F-6C Mustang fighter (42-103--) "Big Mamma" 111th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in World War II.

Major George E. Preddy and his P-51D Mustang ‘Cripes A’ Mighty 3rd,’ 1944.

Donald S. Lopez, 75th Fighter Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group, seen with his P-51B “Lope’s Hope 3rd.” Scored five aerial victories.

A P-51B of the China-based Fourteenth Air Force. The muzzles of the generally unsatisfactory gun installation (only four .50 caliber machine guns which remained standard through the Merlin-powered B and C models) can be seen just above the tube-type rocket launchers.

P-51A, 43-6198, “XX,” 529th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Assam, March 1944.

Brand-new P-51B, 43-7116.

P-51B “Peggy” GQ-_ of the 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, England.

Majors Don Gentile (left) and Duane Beeson (right) of the 4th Fighter Group alongside Gentile’s P-51B “Shangri-La.”

P-51B, 43-6438, C3-U, of the 382nd Fighter Squadron, 363rd Fighter Group, Ninth Air Force, fitted with the English-designed Malcolm hood.

P-51B “The Hun Hunter from Texas” flown by Capt. Henry W. Brown, 355th Fighter Group. Brown scored 14.20 aerial victories before being shot down in October 1944 and becoming a POW.

P-51B “Killer” flown by Maj. Bob Stevens of the 354th Fighter Group, May 1944. Note the Malcolm Hood.

Lt. Ken Dahlberg with his P-51B “Shillelaugh,” 354th Fighter Group. Scored 14 aerial victories, nine in Mustangs.

Col. Jim Howard’s “Ding Hao!” so named in remembrance of his days in China with the “Flying Tigers.”

Capt. Don Gentile of the 4th Fighter Group stands on the wing of his P-51B “Shangri-La.”

The 343rd Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group, flies above solid clouds as they return from an escort mission over Germany.

Mustangs of the 357th Fighter Group taxi out for takeoff. The external tanks on the wings gave them all the range they needed.

Beautiful side view of the 364th Fighter Group’s P-51D 5Y-L “Penny” flown by Lt. Col. John W. Lowell.

The first Mustangs to see service with the USAAF were a handful of early North American P-51 Mustangs modified as F-6A tactical reconnaissance fighters, which were used initially by the 154th Observation Squadron late in the Tunisian campaign in April 1943. One of these aircraft, “Mah Sweet-Eva Lee,” serial number 41-37322, is seen here soon after its arrival in Morocco, still bearing the U.S. national flag on the tail.

This P-51B, “72,” lost half its rudder but still managed to make it home to Lesina. 325th Fighter Group.

P-51Bs, 118th Reconnaissance Squadron, China, 1944-45.

A new P-51C, 43-12457, 7F-F, 485th Fighter Squadron, 370th Fighter Group, Ninth Air Force, with red spinner and rudder stripe. Used as a transition aircraft during the changeover from P-38s to Mustangs.

P-51D “Floogie II” of the 362nd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group, being loaded for a mission.

P-51D, 44-72180, G4-H, flown by Capt. John Kirla, 362nd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group. Kirla was the Group’s CO and scored 11.5 aerial victories.

P-51D, 44-72361, WR-N, white spinner and red cowl band, 354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group.

P-51Ds of the 383rd Fighter Squadron, 364th Fighter Group. In the lead is N2-W, followed by X, -E, -A. The unusual placement of the aircraft letter in a black circle on the tail were a holdover from the Group’s P-38 days.

P-51D of the 353rd Fighter Group late in the war. Note the lack of invasion stripes and full nose coverage of the black and yellow checkerboard.

P-51D, 44-14450, “Old Crow,” flown by Maj. C. E. “Bud” Anderson, 357th Fighter Group, stripped to bare metal with name outlined thinly in black. Rudder red, “450” yellow and eighteen kills similar to German Navy flag. Invasion stripes on undersurfaces with black stripes on upper wings and around tailplane.

P-51D undergoing maintenance at a field in Italy.

P-51Ds of the 348th Fighter Group on Ie Shima.

An armorer of the 15th U.S. Air Force checks ammunition belts of the .50 caliber machine guns in the wings of a P-51 Mustang fighter plane before it leaves an Italian base for a mission against German military targets. Circa September 1944.

Members of the ground crew of a Negro fighter squadron of the 15th U.S. Air Force in Italy place a empty wing tank on a P-51 Mustang before the group takes off on another mission escorting bombers over enemy targets. The squadron uses the auxiliary fuel tanks for long distance flights. Left to right: T/Sgt. Charles K. Haynes, S/Sgt. James A. Sheppard, and M/Sgt. Frank Bradley.

Staff Sgt. Alfred D. Norris, crew chief of a Negro fighter group of the 15th U.S. Air Force, closes the canopy of a P-51 Mustang for his pilot, Capt. William T. Mattison, operations officer of the squadron based in Italy.

Capt. Wendell O. Pruitt, one of the leading pilots of the 15th Air Force, always makes sure that he leaves his valuable ring with his crew chief, S/Sgt. Samuel W. Jacobs. Circa November 1944.

Maj. Fred Haviland, 355th Fighter Group, watches crew chief Gale Torrey paint the 10th kill on the canopy frame of his P-51D. Haviland scored a total of six air and 14 ground victories.

Lt. Royce “Deacon” Priest sits on the lap of Capt. Bert Marshall, in the cockpit of a P-51D, illustrating the manner in which they returned from France following Priest’s daring rescue in August 1944.

Capt. Clayton K. Gross and his P-51B “Live Bait.”

Captain Thomas Smith in the cockpit of his P-51 “Caroline” 359FG, RAF East Wretham, England.

Major Charles J. Rosenblatt watches his crew chief add a “kill” marking below the cockpit of his P-51B, circa 1944. His crew were Sergeant Perdue and Sergeant Culver. Rosenblatt was born in Tampa and was a long-time resident of Jacksonville. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 22 years and was a fighter pilot during both World War II and the Korean Conflict. He received two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Air Medal, and three Oak Leaf Clusters in World War II alone. He was credited with destroying four German planes and damaging three others.

Capt. Eisenhart climbing into the cockpit of his P-51, England, 10 September 1944.

“Col. Kenneth R. Martin, Ninth Air Force P-51 pilot missing in action after a collision with an Me 410, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, it was announced today. Col. Martin, escorting heavy bombers was simultaneously attacked by eight Me 410s, one of which he destroyed as the rest dispersed, then later flew directly into another Me 410 interceptor.”

As other members of the ground crew look on, Lt. S.D. Bradshaw, pilot, shakes hands with the ground crew chief of his P-51 “Jeanie” of the 20th Fighter Group.

Capt. Binkely and ground crew of the P-51 “Osage Chief” of the 20th Fighter Group in England.

Capt. C.R. Hamme and ground crew of the P-51 “Kitty and Bunny” of the 20th Fighter Group in England.

Capt. D. Michel talks with Crew Chief T/Sgt. L.A. Martens and other members of the ground crew of the P-51 “Li’l Eva” of the 20th Fighter Group in England.

Capt. Bowman talks things over with his ground crew beside his P-51 of the 20th Fighter Group, England.

American pilots of a P-51 Mustang fighter group listen intently as they are briefed for a mission at a base in Italy. Like cavalrymen of old, they ride down the enemy in their flying steeds and have destroyed German installations and personnel throughout Europe. They are members of the 15th U.S. Army Air Force, whose fighters and bombers are part of the Mediterranean Allied Air Force, which also includes British, French, and Polish fliers. Circa September 1944.

Maj. William A. Shomo (left) recipient of the Medal of Honor for his feat of seven victories in one combat, with crew chief, Ralph Winkle, standing next to Shomo's P-51D.

Lt. Col. Glenn T. Eagleston in the cockpit of his P-51B, 354th Fighter Group, Ninth Air Force. Scored 18.5 aerial victories.

Capt. William T. Whisner holds up six fingers to announce his claim of six Fw 190s on 21 November 1944.

Capt. Dempsey and ground crew of a P-51 of the 20th Fighter Group at an airbase in England.

Board showing officers of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, at Eighth Air Force Station F-357, Duxford, England, 18 January 1945.

Last fighter mission of the European war was flown by these 9th Air Force P-51 fighter-bomber pilots. They took off on a fighter sweep to Pilsen, Czechoslovakia. Upon their return they learned from Sgt. Raymond Touchstone (extreme right) that the war was over. Left to right: 2nd Lt. Willie E. Johnson; 2nd Lt. Donald M. Cohen; Flight Officer Robert T. Mankey; Flight Officer William J. Matthews; 2nd Lt. Norman R. Reinecke; 2nd Lt. Robert H. Jones; Sgt. Raymond Touchstone; and on the wing, 1st Lt. Harry A. White; 1st Lt. Henry S. Rudolph; and 1st Lt. John J. Hangen.

RAF trucks and trailers transporting P-51 Mustang fighters from the docks to an airfield, Liverpool, 1943.

Two Mustangs of the 352nd Fighter Squadron, 353rd Fighter Group fly formation with one of the bombers that they escorted so well.

“Double Trouble” of the 352nd Fighter Squadron, 353rd Fighter Group. Drop tanks in place.

Col. Jim Howard of the 354th Fighter Group, Ninth Air Force, receives the Medal of Honor from Gen. Carl A. Spaatz for his action of 11 January 1944.

A bomb-laden North American P-51 Mustang attacking a Japanese camp in Burma.

P-51B-1-NA (F-6C) 43-12330 26th FS. When the 118th TRS shipped out for the CBI in December 1943 they transited around South Africa for India. The squadron's Tac-R P-51B/C's were shipped across the Pacific and arrived in the CBI before the squadron. The airplanes were assigned to other fighter squadrons and the 118th TRS received P-40N's upon arrival in India. Notice the Chinese people working on the airfield in China.

Lineup of ten newly arrived P-51C Mustangs at Kanchow Airbase, China. First in line is P-51C-11-NT Mustang (44-10807) which was being flown December 18, 1944 by 1st Lieut. Wallace D. Cousins, 74th Fighter Squadron, from Kanchow escorting B-25s to Wuchang Airdrome at Hankow-Wuchang, China. Second in line, P-51C-10-NT Mustang (43-24963), was being flown by 2nd Lieut. Richard R. Fitzgerald, 74th Fighter Squadron from Kanchow on a strafing mission to Tien Ho Airdrome, Canton, China on December 22, 1944. She was hit by AAA fire over the airdrome, killing Lieut. Fitzgerald.

A well-known shot of David Lee "Tex" Hill with one of the 14th AF P-51B Mustangs. After the incoming of the Mustang at 23rd FG the shark mouths slowly started to disappear.

Pilot of P-51 Mustang of the 23rd Fighter Group, China, c. 1945.

North American P-51A Mustang, 43-6013, accompanied by a Douglas P-70 Havoc night fighter and a Bell P-39 Airacobra on training flight in the U.S.

North American P-51D Mustang  serial number 44-13357 coded B7-R nicknamed "Tika-IV") of the 374th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group, piloted by Lieutenant Vernon R. Richards, during a bomber escort mission in 1944. The group was first organized at Richmond Army Air Base, Virginia on 10 February 1943. Its components were the 374th, 375th, and 376th Fighter Squadrons. The group was equipped with Republic P-47 Thunderbolts and trained for combat at bases in Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey. The group arrived in England in November 1943, stationed at RAF Bottisham. The 361st flew its first combat mission with its P-47 aircraft on 21 January 1944. The group converted to North American P-51 Mustangs in May 1944 and flew them for the remainder of the war. In September 1944, the 361st moved to RAF Little Walden. In February 1945, the entire group deployed to Chievres Airfield, Belgium. The unit returned to RAF Little Walden and flew its last combat mission on 20 April 1945. 

361st Fighter Group emblem.

374th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group.

375th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group.

376th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group.

Members of the 376th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group, Bottisham, Little Warden, circa 1944.

Captain John D. Duncan of the 361st Fighter Group in the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang.

P-51 Mustangs including: coded E9-S serial number 42-106707 nicknamed "Sleepytime Gal"; coded B7-E serial number 42-106839 nicknamed "Bald Eagle III" and coded E9-K nicknamed "Vi" of the 361st Fighter Group line up for takeoff on D-Day at Bottisham.

P-51 Mustangs of the 361st Fighter Group prepare for takeoff at Bottisham.

P-51 Mustang coded E2-D serial number 42-106875 nicknamed "Queen Jean" of the 361st Fighter Group prepares for takeoff at Bottisham.

North American P-51D Mustang nicknamed "Small Fry IV" of the 361st Fighter Group prepares for takeoff at Bottisham.

P-51 Mustang  coded B7-H serial number 44-13704 nicknamed "Ferocious Frankie" of the 361st Fighter Group prepares for takeoff at Bottisham.

P-51 Mustangs, including coded E2-X, of the 361st Fighter Group take off in tandem at Little Walden.

North American P-51B Mustang serial number 42-106942 coded B7-H of the 374th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group.

North American P-51B Mustang  serial number 42-106779 coded  J2-Y nicknamed "War Weary" of the 374th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group. Declared War Weary 16 October 1944.

North American P-51D Mustang serial number 44-14669 coded E2-R nicknamed "My Mac") of the 361st Fighter Group.

North American P-51D Mustang serial number 44-13537 coded B7-W nicknamed "Sweet Thing IV" of the 374th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group.

P-51D-5-NA Mustang serial number 44-13763 coded E9-O of the 376th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group, based at Little Walden Airfield, England. Piloted by Captain Sam C. Wilkerson.

North American P-51D Mustang  serial number 44-15024 coded E9-Y nicknamed "Sweet Sue IV" of the 361st Fighter Group.

North American P-51D-20NA Mustang  serial number 44-72940 coded E9-R nicknam ed "Death's Angel" piloted by 2nd Lt. Harry Chapman of the 361st Fighter Group.

North American P-51D Mustang serial number 44-13704 coded B7-H nicknamed "Ferocious Frankie" (named  after the wife of Lieutenant Colonel Wallace E. Hopkins) of the 374th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group.

P-51 Mustangs of the 361st Fighter Group fly in formation during a mission.

Two P-51 Mustangs of the 361st Fighter Group with a B-24 Liberator.

P-51 Mustang coded B7-R nicknamed "Scarlet Kate III" of the 361st Fighter Group. Maj. George Rew, Chievres, 1945.

Major James B. Cheney of the 361st Fighter Group with his P-51 Mustang coded E9-A serial number 42-106944 nicknamed "Mary Jane".

An aircraft of the 361st Fighter Group strafes a railway line. Gun camera image.

Ground crew of the 361st Fighter Group work on the engine of a P-51 Mustang.

Two P-51 Mustangs coded E9-V serial number 44-14600 and coded E9-B serial number 43-25044 nicknamed "War Weary") f the 361st Fighter Group, fly together.

P-51 Mustang coded B7-U serial number 44-15036 of the 361st Fighter Group flies alongside a Vultee A-31 Vengeance on a training flight.

Lieutenant Paul H. Klees of the 375th Fighter Squadron, assists a ground crewman of the 361st Fighter Group on an inspection of his P-51 Mustang coded E2-V serial number 44-14827, November 1944.

The control tower of the 361st Fighter Group at Little Walden.

Armorers of the 361st Fighter Group clean the guns of P-51 Mustangs.

Captain James D. Smith of the 361st Fighter Group with a mobile control vehicle at Little Walden.

Lieutenants Victor E. Bocquin, Donald T. Woodward, Jimmie C. Wright, Ray S. White, Robert D. Shirmer and Cecil A. Laxton of the 361st Fighter Group use a Dodge Ambulance as a bar before three days leave at Bottisham.

P-51 Mustangs of the 361st Fighter Group fly in formation during a mission.

Two P-51s fly in formation with a P-38.

North American P-51B-5-NA Mustang (SerNo 43-6999, code B6-B) 363rd FS, 357th FG, 8th AF. This aircraft was assigned to Capt. Herschel Pascoe but was lost during a training mission on 17 August 1944 with F/O Charles Campbell (T-124308) as pilot, He was KIA. Note the damaged wingtip.

American ground crew preparing to arm P-51 Mustang fighter at an airfield with six M2 machine guns and .50 caliber ammunition.

Kawasaki Ki-100 Goshikisen.

Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien.

Mitsubishi Ki-46 III Kai "Dinah".

Close-up of the nose of a Ki-48 light bomber, date unknown.

Ki-48.

Ki-48.

Ki-48.

Ki-48.

Kawasaki Ki-64 (Allied code name “Rob”). One prototype built, first flew in December 1943. The Ki-64 was developed for the Japanese Army Air Force and was one of the most innovative Japanese designs of the war.

Ki-64 prototype under construction.

Originally conceived in 1939, the Ki-64 had a contra-rotating propeller coupled to tandem mounted engines and equipped with an evaporative cooling system. While originally proposed in 1939, development did not begin until October 1940 with the prototype being completed in December 1943.

The prototype Ki-64 was damaged during testing which delayed further development. Problems also arose with the contra-rotating propeller which were never really overcome. Priorities later in the war caused the project to be shelved.

Ki-64.

Ki-64.

Ki-64.

Ki-64 taking off on its initial flight, December 1943.

Kawasaki Ki-102b “Randy,” undergoing operational evaluation with the JAAF. Three versions were planned: the Ki-102a day fighter, Ki-102b ground attack and Ki-102c night fighter.

Ki-102b, Kiyosu Airfield, near Nagoya, May 1945.

Ki-102b. It was kept out of front line service because it was hoped that it would be the carrier of the Igo-1-B air-to-ground guided missile when the Allied invasion of Japan occurred.

Ki-102b.

Ki-102b.

Ki-102a.

Kawasaki Ki-102b “Randy.”

Kawasaki Ki-102b and Ki-102c “Randy” (left to right).

Kawasaki Ki-102b “Randy.”

Kawasaki Ki-102b “Randy.”

Kawasaki Ki-102b “Randy.”

Kawasaki Ki-102b “Randy” nose-mounted cannon.

Kawasaki Ki-102a “Randy.”

Kawasaki Ki-102c “Randy.”

Kawasaki Ki-102c “Randy.”

Kyushu J7W1 Shinden.

Kyushu J7W1 Shinden.

Kyushu J7W1 Shinden.

Mitsubishi A7M Reppu (Hurricane), Allied code name “Sam.”

Japanese aircraft taken over by the Allies in Malaya were tested and evaluated by Japanese naval pilots under the supervision of Royal Air Force officers. Here two Mitsubishi A6M (A6M2, left, and A6M5) naval fighters (known to the Allies as 'Zeke') are flying in formation during their evaluation.

Mitsubishi F1M2 floatplane (Allied code name “Pete”) on ship’s catapult.

Mitsubishi F1M2 “Pete” being hoisted by the crane of the seaplane tender Kimikawa Maru, 1943.

Mitsubishi F1M2 “Pete” of the Kimikawa Maru, Horomushiro channel, Chishima, 1943.

Tail of Mitsubishi F1M2 “Pete” on a catapult aboard the Kimikawa Maru.

Mitsubishi F1M2s “Pete” await disposition by the occupation forces, Sasebo, September 1945.

Mitsubishi F1M2s “Pete” await disposition by the occupation forces, Sasebo, September 1945.

Mitsubishi G3M Type 96 "Nell" medium bombers.

Mitsubishi G3M1 “Nell” formation.

Mitsubishi G3M1 “Nell” formation.

Mitsubishi G3M1 “Nell” formation.

Civilian version of the Mitsubishi L3Y Type 96 transport (Allied code name “Tina”); civilian markings, J-BEDA. Transport version of the G3M “Nell,” developed by the First Naval Air Arsenal at Kasumigaura.

In 1938 Ishikawa was asked by the Navy to paint scenes of China and during World War II, he contributed paintings of battles; for example his Transoceanic Bombing (Tōyo bakugeki) was exhibited at the Fifth Naval Art Exhibition (Daigokai kaiyo bijutsuten) in 1943.

The wreckage of a Japanese torpedo bomber shot down during the December 7th attack is salvaged from the bottom of Pearl Harbor, January 7, 1942.

Nakajima Ki.34 “Thora” transport in civilian markings, J-BBON.