Full Moon
Posts: 201
Joined: 1/25/2003 From: Texas Status: offline
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[IMG]http://www.nasm.si.edu/nasm/aero/aircraft/images/nakajima_kikka.t.JPG[/IMG] Nakajima Kikka was the only World War II Japanese jet aircraft capable of taking off under its own power. When Germany began test flying the superb jet-propelled, Messerschmitt Me 262 fighter, the Japanese air attaché to Germany witnessed a number of flight trials. Thanks to the attaché's enthusiastic reports, the Naval Staff directed Nakajima in September 1944 to develop a twin-jet, single-seat, attack aircraft based on the Me 262 design. Their design roughly resembled the Me 262 but was smaller. During this phase of the design, the naval authorities had designated the aircraft Navy Special Attacker Kikka, a suicide aircraft. [IMG]http://www.danshistory.com/ww2/ohkra.jpg[/IMG] MXY-7 Ohka (Cherry Blossom) specialized suicide attack jet aircraft. It was launched from a parent aircraft (usually Betty). After an initial glide, the pilot would turn on his Ohka's rocket or turbo-jet motors and fly the aircraft into its target. April 1, 1945 the US battleship West Virginia and three transport ships fell victim of Ohka and got damaged. First sinking (the destroyer USS Mannert L Abele) occurred on April 12, 1945 off Okinawa.
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"War is a series of catastrophes that results in a victory." Georges Clemenceau
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