keithwwalker
Airman
- 41
- Jan 27, 2014
Aircraft ID? Japanese?
- Thread starter keithwwalker
- Start date
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Snautzer01
Honourably banned
- 43,718
- Mar 26, 2007
Where was it precisely?
I believe Middletown Airfield (Harrisburg, PA.) post-war renamed Olmstead Field.
- Olmsted Field AAF, Middletown 487th/496th Army Air Force Base UnitWas: Olmsted Air Force Base (1947-1968)Now: Harrisburg International Airport (IATA: MDT, ICAO: KMDT, FAA LID: MDT)
Snautzer01
Honourably banned
- 43,718
- Mar 26, 2007
How would .....etc etc.. you know by chance?
It looks like four J1N's were captured/returned to the States with three being scrapped and one surviving at NASM.
airandspace.si.edu
The aircraft in the photo is not the survivor, but does give some clues to its identity if we can find the proper photo.
Edit: A possibility.
Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko (Moonlight) IRVING
Twin-engine, conventional layout with tailwheel-type landing gear.Armament: (2) 20 mm fixed upward firing cannonEngines: (2) Nakajima Sakae 21 (NK1F, Ha35- 21) 14- cylinder air-cooled radial 1,130 horsepower (metric)Originally designed as a three-seat, daylight escort fighter air
The aircraft in the photo is not the survivor, but does give some clues to its identity if we can find the proper photo.
Edit: A possibility.
Last edited:
Various captured aircraft went thru Middletown for some reason. Not sure why. Just a best guess.
During WWII there weren't many large Military Air Fields in PA.. Pittsburgh, Middletown and Philadelphia, that's about it.
Edit: C/n 7334
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #9
keithwwalker
Airman
- 41
- Jan 27, 2014
Thanks, it was at the Fleetwings factory in Bristol PA
- Thread starter
- #10
keithwwalker
Airman
- 41
- Jan 27, 2014
Of course the old closed Naval Air Warfare Center in nearby Warminster PA, had quite a few captured aircraft as gate guards until the late 1980's. I think most of them are now at the Smithsonian.
en.wikipedia.org
Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster - Wikipedia
Many WWII Japanese aircraft were claimed by the Navy for "evaluation" and most wound up being used for post war bond drives, then fell under the control of NAS Willow Grove, opened in 1942, providing aircraft design and testing. Many were parceled out to interested groups like veteran's posts as trophy displays. A select few were displayed, but mostly outside and poorly maintained. However, they were jealously held onto ... "our airplanes!"
With the opening of NASM's large Mall museum, Japanese aircraft curator and historian Bob Mikesh implored then Secretary of Navy, former A-6 b/n, to order the release of the neglected aircraft and prevent further deterioration.
Kudos to both men for preserving their history, and note that many rescued craft that have been conserved, restored, documented and displayed since then. Bob Mikesh authored the definitive books on many of them for the Smithsonian or other appropriate publishers, including one on the Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko (Moonlight) Irving.
With the opening of NASM's large Mall museum, Japanese aircraft curator and historian Bob Mikesh implored then Secretary of Navy, former A-6 b/n, to order the release of the neglected aircraft and prevent further deterioration.
Kudos to both men for preserving their history, and note that many rescued craft that have been conserved, restored, documented and displayed since then. Bob Mikesh authored the definitive books on many of them for the Smithsonian or other appropriate publishers, including one on the Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko (Moonlight) Irving.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
I'm glad someone tried to save those beautiful machines.
When I was working at the Naval Air Station in Norfolk VA, 1975-1977, they were just clearing out the last of the sheds that had contained WW2-era aircraft. I didn't get to see any of the Japanese ones (apart from the Emily flying boat that sat by the seawall at Breezy Point, that I drove past every day on my way to work) but I did get a look at the Curtiss XF-15C and a couple of other US oddballs. Wish I'd snuck a few more photos; the ones I took were really bad. This is a BTD-1 waiting for a barge to take it somewhere. Mostly they went to Pensacola for the museum there, but this one apparently ended up in New York where it was worked over by a team of amateurs who said they knew nothing about how to restore airplanes. Seems like they did a creditable job though, judging by the museum's photos.
You may be thinking of Willow Grove vice the nearby Warminster.
Of course the old closed Naval Air Warfare Center in nearby Warminster PA, had quite a few captured aircraft as gate guards until the late 1980's. I think most of them are now at the Smithsonian.
Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster - Wikipedia
