World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
7 Jul 2013 03:14:02 PM

PRE-WAR NAVY: BRIGHT COLORS

Aircraft on flight deck are Mitsubishi B1M Type 87 and B2M, Type 89 Bombers. At this time the carrier would have a fighter group of Nakajima A2N Fighters.
Pre-war aircraft were colored over-all silver w/red tails and red sun insignia in six positions

The B1M and B2M were active up to 1937 the B2M was later replaced by the Yokosuka B4N "Jean" the B1M saw service into the late 1930s same for the Nakajima A2N Fighter.

IMPROVED EQUIPMENT:

By the start of the Pacific War, all or most bi-plane aircraft were replaced with improved low-wing monoplane designs.
By 1940 most carrier groups were equipped with the new Mitsubishi A6M Zero Fighter, Nakajima B5N Torpedo Bomber and the Aichi D3A, Dive Bomber.

The older A5M Claude and BYN "Jean" were still in service aboard the older carrier Hosho and saw action during the early months of the Pacific War.
The older aircraft, were side-lined to training schools and served in other flying duties in Japan.

2. Anonymous says:
25 Oct 2019 06:51:10 AM

This photo needs to be reversed. Akagi had a portside island, and on this photo the island is shown (incorrectly) on the starboard side.

3.  David Stubblebine says:
16 Oct 2020 06:13:02 PM

Anonymous #2 (above):
You are correct that Akagi had an unusual portside island but that came later. She started out with a flush-deck (no island at all), later had a small island located starboard side forward (seen here), and between 1935 and 1938 underwent a modernization that repositioned a slightly larger island to the portside amidships. The full-sized version of this photo (click on photo) shows markings on the aircraft that tell us this photo orientation is correct. (Special thanks to viewer Rich Miller who initiated a brisk conversation that helped us determine all of this.)

4.  David Stubblebine says:
16 Oct 2020 06:33:20 PM

Note also the Rear Admiral's flag flying above the island.

5. Anonymous says:
19 Mar 2021 02:50:03 PM

To David Stubblebine,

Very good answer to my "objection" to the placement of the island on the early Akagi photo. You are correct, and I was wrong---the photo does not need to be reversed. The new 1/700 scale waterline model kit of the early, 3-flight deck Akagi includes this small, starboard-side island, just as you described, and just as shown in this photo.

Good work on your part!