World War 2 In Review

Nakajima J1N "Irving"

Nakajima J1N1-C-KAI night fighter converted from J1N1-C.

J1N1-C-KAI night fighter converted from J1N1-C.

J1N1-S night fighter with airborne radar although no armament is pictured here.

J1N1-R with dorsal turret with single 20mm cannon, after nosing over during a landing.

J1N1-S likely on a Kamikaze mission.

Yokosuka Naval Air Depot, 1945 after occupation by US Navy. Note the J1N1-S night fighter. The pointed nose is obscured since the left engine is behind it, but the quad radar antennae are clearly visible. Another J1N1-S nose is visible in the lower left corner.

J1N1-S.

Scores of Japanese aircraft warming up for takeoff. In the foreground are four J1N1s.

J1N1-C first prototype.

J1N1-S. Note victory markings on tail.

J1N1-S captured on ground.

Another view of same J1N1-S as above.

J1N1-C Navy Type 2 Reconnaissance Plane.

J1N1-Sa. No downward firing gun, and a third 20mm cannon added to the top (rear is a twin 20mm Type 99).

Another view of the same J1N1-Sa.

J1N1-C KAI Model 11 of the Kokosuka Kokutai. J1N1-C KAI is a field conversion of J1N1-C recon to fighter. This has upward and downward cannons, but rear observation area that was deleted in J1N1-S is still present.

J1N1-R.

J1N1-C Navy Type 2 Reconnaissance Plane. Close-up of observer’s separate cockpit.

Mitsubishi G3M2 (J-BACI) “Nippon”

Mitsubishi G3M2 (J-BACI) “Nippon.” Completed a round-the-world flight August 29 - October 20, 1939, for Mainichi Shimbum newspaper.

Mitsubishi G3M2 (J-BACI) “Nippon.” The most famous of the 20 or so Mitsubishi G3M2 converted to airliners, J-BACI (the 328th G3M) made a sensational round the world flight between August 26 and October 20, 1939. “Nippon” traveled 32,850 miles (52,867 km) in 194 flying hours.

Martin B-10

The Martin B-10 was the first monoplane land bomber to reach full production.

Martin XB-10.

Martin XB-907.

Martin B-10B, USAAC.

Martin B-10 formation, San Francisco, 4 April 1936.

Martin B-10 at Nichols Field, Philippines.

Martin B-10 at Nichols Field. The ‘4M’ on the tail denotes 4th Composite Group (Philippines). ‘B’ is for heavy or bomber. ‘P’ is seen on fighter and pursuit aircraft.

Martin B-10B.

Martin B-10B, March Field.

Martin B-10B of the 28th Bombardment Squadron, 1935.

Sikorski JRS Amphibian

U.S. Navy Sikorski JRS-1 amphibian of Utility Squadron 4 (VJ-4) undergoing maintenance, circa 1941 or early 1942. The plane’s forward fuselage is marked 4-J-10.

Sikorsky JRS-1 amphibian flying boat, 1-J-1, aircraft number 1 of Utility Squadron One (VJ-1), U.S. Navy, 1938. This is the military version of the Sikorsky S-43 “Baby Clipper.”

Sikorsky JRS-1 amphibian flying boat, 1-J-1, aircraft number 1 of Utility Squadron One (VJ-1), U.S. Navy, 1938.

Sikorsky (S-43) JRS-1 (1-J-1; Bu Number 0504), circa 1940.

Sikorsky JRS-1 amphibian, 1-J-1.

Sikorsky JRS-1 amphibians parked on an airport apron next to a lake or river. The aircraft bear the squadron markings 1-J-3 and 1-J-2.

Sikorsky S-43 amphibians lined up at the Sikorsky Company plant in Bridgeport, Connecticut, prior to being delivered to the U.S. Navy; 1938.

U.S. Navy Sikorsky JRS-1 of utility squadron VJ-1 in flight in the late 1930s. VJ-1 operated eight aircraft from San Diego, California.

Sikorsky JRS-1, 1-J-2, aircraft number 2 of Utility Squadron One (VJ-1), assigned to the destroyer tender USS Rigel (AD-13), circa 1940.

Sikorsky JRS-1 (00351), VJ-1, November 1940.

Sikorsky JRS-1, U.S. Navy.

U.S. Marine Corps Sikorsky JRS-1 (BuNo 1061) of Marine utility squadron VMJ-1 in flight in the late 1930s. This aircraft (c/n 4344) was destroyed by fire during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. The plane marked as 1061 on display at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona, is really c/n 4325 which saw no military service.

The Sikorsky JRS-1 amphibians were utility transport versions of the civil S-43. This is but one example of the 17 bought by the Navy and was flown at Langley in 1945 and 1946. May 10, 1945.

U.S. Navy Sikorski JRS-1 amphibian of Utility Squadron 4 (VJ-4) parked at a Naval Air Station, circa 1942-1943. The plane’s forward fuselage is marked 4-J-10. This is the same aircraft as seen in the previous photograph.

Ryan YO-51 Dragonfly

Ryan YO-51 Dragonfly US Army Air Corps.

The Ryan YO-51 Dragonfly was an observation aircraft designed and built by Ryan Aeronautical for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). A single-engined parasol wing monoplane, it was designed for optimum STOL capability, but although three prototypes proved highly successful in testing, the Stinson YO-49 was judged superior and no production contract was placed.

Ryan YO-51 Dragonfly US Army Air Corps.

This YO-51 incorporates fixed slots along the wing's leading edge.

Ryan YO-51 Dragonfly US Army Air Corps.

Ryan YO-51 Dragonfly observation aircraft on the ground during evaluation by the United States Army Air Corps.

The first of three Ryan YO-51 Dragonfly prototypes (40-703) demonstrates its leading-edge slats and massive, full-span Fowler flaps during a spirited takeoff. 3 March 1941.