J2M Raiden and N1K1/2 Shiden/Shiden-Kai AcesBloomsbury Publishing, 2016/04/21 - 96 ページ Although seen as a replacement for the A6M Zero-sen carrier-based fighter, the Mitsubishi J2M Raiden was actually designed as a land-based naval interceptor optimised for speed rather than manoeuvrability. Engine cooling problems for its Mitsubishi Kasai 23 engine, airflow and flight control issues plagued the Raiden's development, but despite these production delays, aces Sadaaki Akamatsu Yoshihiro Aoki, Susumu Ito and Susumu Ishihara all claimed significant scores in the Raiden. Kawanishi's N1K family of fighters were privately developed by the manufacturer from the N1K Kyofu floatplane fighter. Again plagued by structural and engine maladies, the N1K1-J Shiden eventually entered frontline service in time to see considerable action in the doomed defence of the Philippines in October 1944. Despite suffering heavy losses, the units equipped with new fighter proved that the N1K could more than hold its own against P-38s and F6Fs. The improved N1K2-J Shiden-KAI started to reach the frontline by late 1944 – in time for defence of the Home Islands. Here, it proved to be the best IJN fighter of the war. |
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302nd Kokutai 341st Kokutai 343rd Kokutai A6Ms ace Lt aeroplane Air Arsenal aircraft airfield Akamatsu altitude April Atsugi attack bombed buntai Capt Genda carrier claimed cockpit combat Corsairs credited damaged defence destroyed dive enemy aircraft engaged engine F6F Hellcats F6Fs fire flew flight flown flying formation Hayashi Hellcats IJNAF IJNAF fighters IJNAF pilots intercept interceptor Islands Itoh Iwo Jima J2M3 Raiden 21 JAAF Japan Japanese kamikaze Kanoya Kasei Model Kawanishi killed Kyofu Kyushu later led by Lt Lt Cdr Lt Kanno Lt Oshibuchi Lt(jg Matsuba Matsuyama Minoru Honda mission Mitsubishi Mustangs Mutoh N1K2-J Shiden-Kai Naruo naval aviators Navy Oh-hara Okinawa Omura Oppama Philip Jarrett Philippines PO1c prototype Rabaul raid Raiden Raiden pilots Sasebo scrambled Sento 301st Hikotai Sento 402nd Hikotai Sento 407th Hikotai Sento 701st Shiden Shiden-Kai 21 Shima shot squadron Superfortress target Tokko unit USAAF veteran victories wing wingman XXI Bomber Command Yamada Yokosuka Kokutai Zero-sens