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  • Although Akatonbo-title was readily recognized among WW2 Japanese servicemen, Americans found such localized names baffling and a challenge for memory recall. Hence, US intelligence re-localized all Japanese aircraft names to American boy/girl names equivalents. Boy names were assigned to Japanese fighters, girl names assigned to Japanese bombers. For K5Y1 trainer, Allied codename was "Willow". Japanese aircrafts of WW2 - www.daveswarbirds.com/Nippon/Japanese.htm

  • For example, 1) Mitsubishi A6M Type 0 Carrier Fighter called ZEKE (also called ZERO), 2) Nakajima Ki-43 Type 1 Hayabusa Fighter called OSCAR, 3) Mitsubishi G4M Type 1 Ishikirikko Attack Bomber called BETTY, 4) Mitsubishi Ki-21 Type 97 Heavy Bomber called SALLY, 5) Nakajima A6M2-N Type 2 Fighter Seaplane called RUFE. These aircraft names are synonymous not only in Pacific combat engagements, but also "Kamikaze" suicide aerial assaults on US naval task forces or "Geiretsu" (Bravery Acts, aka suicide aerial troop landings on US airbases). Japanese Aircraft Designations 1939-1945 - rwebs.net/avhistory/acdesig/japanese.htm

  • Rollover : Since Japan use Latin-alphabets (called Romaji, or Roman Characters) as part of standard language insertorthography, they were incorporated into Japan Imperial air arm designations. Hence A/B/D referred to carrier based aircrafts, K for trainers, G/P for bombers, S for night fighters. Basic aircraft type letters below :

  • A - Carrier Fighter
    B - Carrier Attack Bomber (i.e. Torpedo or Level Bomber)
    C - Reconnaissance
    D - Carrier Bomber (i.e. Dive Bomber)
    E - Reconnaissance Seaplane
    F - Observation Seaplane
    G - Attack Bomber
    H - Flying Boat
    J - Land-based Fighter
    K - Trainer
    L - Transport
    M - Special Floatplane
    MX - Special Purpose Aircraft
    N - Fighter Seaplane
    P - Bomber
    Q - Patrol Plane
    R - Land-based Reconnaissance
    S - Night Fighter

  • Inset 1 : "Willow" side profile, "Ka-517" markings only on upper/lowe wings and tail section, mid-fuselage only carried 517 numeral. Biggest challenge in building this model was aligning the struts between upper and lower wings, the parts did not fit exactly in place, hence had to "jimming it" into place (American slang for meticulous manual positioning, although this term has also morphed into derogatory slang in recent times). Jimming - www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=jimming&defid=2711691

  • Historical note, in 1930s US military intelligence never seriously considered Imperial Japan to be major air power threat. Assessments were based mainly on Japan's war with China, and subsequent domination of air superiority in the bombing of Chinese urban centers. Among US military and political circles, most assumed Japan would strike against American colonial possessions in Philippines, and not the logistical challenge of navigating an entire naval task force half-way across the Pacific with carrier air power to strike at US forward naval base in Pearl Harbor - Hawaii, Dec 1941 (US only moved its ships/naval HQ from San Diego-California in Summer 1941 to offset potential Japan military expansion). Another US handicap on that period was inferior racial perception of East Asians in general and Japan in particular, hence the concept of coordinated Japan naval arm assault against US Hawaii naval bases were deemed impossible by most. Japan not an air power
    - rwebs.net/avhistory/history/japan.htm

  • Inset 2 : Attaching paint brush insertbristles to Akatonbo wing roots in mimicking taught cables. Paint brush came from Walmart hardware section, various bristle diameters made from resin, thus quite cost-effective to use. K&W Model Airplanes - www.kwmairpl.com.ph/KWPlanesCountry.asp?CountryQ=Japa

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