Stratus - MMP Books

Japanese Experimental Transport Aircraft of the Pacific War in WWII 

by Giuseppe Picarella

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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Recently released by MMP Books and printed in Poland by Stratus this new title provides coverage of the “less glamorous” World War Two era transport aircraft of both the Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army.

The title is a bit of a misnomer as whilst the experimental types are detailed you are also provided far more information on the operations of their military transport organisations, operations and operational aircraft.

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The book consists of 13 chapters in all preceded by a foreword, a Preface an introduction and followed by 5 appendices and a selected bibliography.

The chapters are:

• Imperial Japanese Army Transport Aircraft - An Overview. 15 pages in all, the chapter details not only the aircraft used but also provides a complete synopsis of the organisation down to the air routes flown, the structure and even the tail markings for the individual squadrons.
  

• Imperial Japanese Navy Transport Aircraft - An Overview. 16 pages in all, the chapter provides the same comprehensive coverage of the transport arm of the Imperial Japanese Navy as does the previous chapter.
  

• Paratroop and Special Forces Operations. 21 pages. The chapter informs on the operations from 1942 through to 1945. Again, the information is very comprehensive.
  

• Experimental Transport Aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force 1941-1945. 26 pages. The “meat and potatoes” part of the book. Types detailed include the Tachikawa Ki-77, Ki-74, Ki-74, and Ki-92. The Mitsubishi Ki-97, Kokusai Ki-105 and Ki-111, as well as the Tachikawa Ki-110, Ki114, and Ki-120.
  

• Experimental Transport Aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force. 14 pages. Types covered include The Nippi L7P1flying boat, the huge Kawanishi HiiKi-L Soku, Kawanishi’s’ K-60, 120 and K-200. The Showa Kaso Type 0 L2D5 series, and the Dewotine/Mitsubishi D.350.
  

• Silent Wings of the Empire. A short 5 pages, the chapter also informs on the six types used operationally as well as the organisation down to the individual squadrons that made it up.
  

• Experimental Transport and Assault Gliders of Imperial Japan. 20 pages. Types covered include the Kokusai Ku-7-11. Nippon/Kokusai Ku-8-II – Army Type 4 Special Transport Glider, the Kokusai Ku-8-III, the Fukuda Ku-9, the Nippon Kogata Ku-11-I and Ku-11-II Transport Glider, and the Kugisho/Nihon Kogata MXY5. The chapter is rounded out by the inclusion of Technical Air Intelligence Center reports on the various types.
  

• Emissaries to the Emperor. This chapter in the main deals with the operation that saw the transporting of the Japanese surrender delegation in two Mitsubishi G6M1-L2 Betty aircraft from the mainland of Japan to Le Shima in the Ryukyu Islands in the August of 1945. The detail provided is quite comprehensive and includes the written orders to the Japanese as well as information on the markings worn by the two machines. Pictorial coverage is also provided of other “surrender” aircraft from other theatres.
  

• The Sun Goes Down. Coverage of the immediate post-surrender period. It includes some excellent images from the various areas of the Pacific and China as well as an Air Command South East Asia Weekly Intelligence Summary (Serial No 105 dated 21 November 1945) that details the aircraft found on Singapore Island.
  

• Post-war Japanese Transport Operations. Seven pages. This short chapter advises on the immediate post-war use of Japanese aircraft by the allied forces, in particular, the Royal Air Force’s Gremlin Task Force in French Indo-China.
  

• Allied Test Flights of Japanese Transport Aircraft. Six pages. In the main it informs on the testing of a Showa L2D3 Tabby and a Tachikawa Ki-54c Hickory as well as the transport of various types back to the United States for testing. The chapter includes an Air Ministry Weekly Information Service Intelligence Report from 2 June 1945 that details the differences between the Douglas C-47 and the Japanese Showa L2D3 Tabby.
  

• Surviving Transport Aircraft of Imperial Japan. 7 pages. Mainly photographic coverage of the Tachikawa Ki-45 Hickory in Australia and the Showa/Nakajima L2D2 Tabby on Yap Island.
  

• Japanese Transport Aircraft Photo Album. 19 pages. As the chapter title states, photographic coverage of various types both wartime and immediate post war.
  

The five individual appendices detail:

• Appendix 1, 18 pages. Operational Japanese Transport Aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Army during WWII. A précis, images, and tabulated data of each type.
  

• Appendix 2, 26 pages. Operational Japanese Transport Aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy during WWII. A précis, images, and tabulated data of each type.
  

• Appendix 3, 2 pages. A service manual for the Showa L2D2.
  

• Appendix 4, 10 pages. Japanese registered “Civil” transport aircraft 1935-1945. Images of as well as a comprehensive database of aircraft by type and registration.
  

• Appendix 5, 6 pages. Japanese Aircraft Designations and Allied Code Names. An explanation of the Imperial Japanese Army system, Kitai numbering system, Type numbers, popular names, the Imperial Japanese Navy naming system, Shi numbers, short designations, type numbering system, the Service Aeroplane Development Programme system, and the Allied codename system.
  

The book is lavishly illustrated throughout with excellent quality period images in both black and white and colour. Full colour line drawings, maps and unit insignia also feature.

The book is hardback, A4 in size and comprise 248 Pages.

All up, a first rate publication that will give you a full and complete picture of the experimental transport types of the WWII Japanese military as well as the overall transport operation.

Postscript

I have included a few images from the book with this review.

You can find more by visiting the Mushroom Modelling Publications site at http://stratusbooks.com.pl/str/books_pdf/154.pdf

Thanks to MMP Books  for the sample.

All MMP Publications books are available direct from the publishers, who now accept credit cards (Visa, MC, Amex, Switch)  

North American distributors are MMD, Australian distributors are Platypus Publications. In Europe, the books are available from any good bookshop (via our UK distributors, Orca). Contact MMP direct in case of difficulties. 

Thanks to Roger at MMP Books  for the sample.

Review Copyright 2012 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 5 April, 2012
Last updated 5 April, 2012

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