Zero Chance of Victory: Japanese Aircraft of WWII Quiz

Answer: Zeke

The popular name "Zero" for the A6M was the designation given by Japan for the date of its introduction into service, year 2600 Rei Shiki Sento Ki (Type 0 carrier fighter). In 1942 "Zeke" was used as the official Allied code name for the "Zero". Due to a case of mistaken identity the Allies thought a new aircraft model had been introduced and gave the aircraft the code name "Hap" for Hap Arnold but the chief of the USAAF was not pleased with the designation so the code name was changed to "Hamp" for a brief period, then to "Zeke" at around the time of the Battle of Midway when it was realized that the supposedly new model was just a variant of the same plane.

Answer: Aichi D3A "Val"

The D3A "Val" dive bomber is regarded as the most successful ship killer in the Japanese aerial inventory. This carrier based aircraft reigned supreme in the early stages of the conflict in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The American oiler Neosho and destroyer Sims were sunk while the carriers Lexington and Yorktown were damaged at the Battle of the Coral Sea.

The Lexington was the victim of a combined torpedo plane and dive bombing attack and later had to be scuttled by an American destroyer. At the Battle of Santa Cruz Island (26 October 1942) Vals damaged the carrier Enterprise, battleship South Dakota and cruiser San Juan.

In a combined attack with torpedo bombers the carrier Hornet was severely damaged and later sunk by Japanese destroyers.

In the Battle of the Eastern Solomons (24-25 August 1942) Vals scored several bomb hits and a near miss, heavily damaging the carrier Enterprise. In the Battle of Midway (4-7 June 1942) Vals bombed Midway airfield and later caused damage to the carrier Yorktown, which also received crippling torpedo hits from Kates.

As the Yorktown was being towed away from the action she received the coup de grāce from a Japanese submarine.

Answer: 40

The 40 torpedo bombers were used in the first wave to attack the most important targets available; aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers. They all were armed with Type 91 aerial torpedoes. A very effective weapon, it could be dropped at high speeds into shallow water and at a steep angle into choppy seas. Of the remaining 104 torpedo bombers 50 were armed with 1760 pound armor piercing bombs in the first wave and 54 were armed with 550 and 132 pound general purpose bombs in the second wave.

Answer: G4M "Betty" and G3M "Nell"

The "Betty" bomber was a beautiful sleek design. Called The Flying Cigar due to its cigar shaped fuselage, the Betty design was the result of a compromise of IJN specifications for a land based, fast, long range bomber able to carry a large payload and torpedoes, and the Mitsubichi design of a four engined bomber with self sealing fuel tanks and well protected airframe. Due to IJN insistence for a two engined bomber the resulting compromise was an unfortunate one for the Betty aircrew. In order to meet specifications sacrifices in weight had to be made. Self-sealing fuel tanks and airframe protection had to be discarded which made the Betty very vulnerable to cannon and heavy machine gun fire. A few well placed hits would turn the Flying Cigar into a "flying Ronson lighter".

The "Nell" bomber was the result of a recommendation by Admiral Yamamoto for a long range land based bomber to help support IJN actions. The "Nell" first saw action in 1937 against China. By 1941 it was IJN main land based bomber and continued to be the most numerous until replaced by the "Betty" after 1942.

In the action against the two British vessels mentioned above both Japanese planes used torpedoes to sink the warships. The sinking of the two British capital ships in battle was the first instance of such a loss to aircraft in the high seas.

Answer: Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka

The MXY-7 Ohka was designed from scratch to be carried within sight of its intended target in the redesigned bomb bay of the "Betty". Once it reached its designated launch point the wood/aluminum designed Ohka would glide into its target. When tests results demonstrated the Ohka could not reach enough speed in its glide to avoid AA fire the design was modified to carry 3 rocket engines providing 1,750 lb of thrust. Performance was 400 MPH in level flight with a dive speed of 576 MPH while armed with a 2,646 lb bomb.

The aircraft was designated Model 11 and went into production in late 1944. A total of between 755 and 852 Model 11 were planes built, along with about 50 turbo jet powered Model 22. In its first recorded mission 16 Ohka Model 11 carrying Betties were shot down by USN fighters on 21 March 1945 with the loss of all the Ohka. Of all the Model 11 produced only a few dozen saw action and their combat record left much to be desired.

The Allies held the concept in such contempt they gave the Ohka the code name "Baka", meaning fool in Japanese lingo.

Answer: Mitsubichi A5M Type 96 carrier fighter

The A5M was an open cockpit fixed undercarriage fighter. The little fighter began active service against the Chinese in 1937. There it squared off against the American made P-26 'Peashooter", a plane of very similar characteristics. When these two engaged in a dogfight it was the first time in history two all metal monoplanes had engaged in battle. With the experience gained in China the A5M4 version became the standard model with production beginning in 1938.

The A5M4 had a few refinements, including an enclosed cockpit, a new 785 HP engine and a 36 gallon drop tank.

Answer: as a suicide plane

The "Sally" ended the war as a Tokkatai, a fate shared by many of the obsolete models still able to have the honor of dying for the emperor. During the early stages of the war the improved model IIb was a good aircraft for its day. It still suffered from the typical maladies that afflicted Japanese aircraft but it had very good range of 1,680 miles, a decent payload of 2,200 lbs, decent max speed of 300 MPH and service ceiling of 32,000 feet. This good performance was bought at the heavy price of being relatively easy to destroy.

Answer: Aichi 13A Type 0 "Jake"

Along with the "Pete" the "Jake" was the best and most numerous floatplane in the IJN inventory. The reconnaissance plane of choice for the attack on Pearl Harbor and Midway. Launched from aircraft carriers "Jake" first entered service in 1941 in the Sino-Japanese War.

The decision was later made to use "Jake" from catapaults attached to auxiliary ships, cruisers and the battleship Haruna. Besides serving as the main reconnaissance aircraft for fleet carriers, "Jake" was also pressed into service as a small transport, sea rescue, and light attack bomber.

At Midway it was the lately launched "Jake" from the cruiser Tone that found one of the American aircraft carriers which led to the fateful decision by Nagumo to exchange bombs destined for a second strike on Midway for torpedoes to be used against the American carrier.

Answer: Fiat BR.20 Cicogna

At the start of the Sino-Japanese War the IJA needed a long range bomber to replace the obsolete Mitsubichi Ki-1 Army Type 93-1 and 93-2 bomber. Orders were placed for foreign built bomber that would meet its current needs. The Italians were very eager to win this contract and offered two models, the Fiat BR.20 and the Caproni Ca.135.

The IJAAF chose the BR.20 and placed an order for approximately 80 aircraft. Deliveries began in February 1938.

Answer: Yokosuka E14Y1"Glen"

On 9 September 1942 Japanese submarine surfaced close to the Oregon coast. Attached to the submarines deck was a small hangar housing the Yokosuka E14Y1 "Glen" floatplane. The pilot and co-pilot emerged from the submarine, unfolded and fastened the wings, then took of with two to four phosphorus bombs heading for the forests of Oregon.

At Wheeler Ridge the tiny floatplane discharged its nasty little incendiary cigars with the hope of causing massive forest fires. Those were forlorn hopes. There was no damage worthy of a barbecue cookout.