**** DONE: GB-41 1/48 Nakajima B5N2 Kate - PTO from 1937

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Wayne Little

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Username : Wayne Little
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Category : Judge – Non competing
Scale : 1/48
Manufacturer / Model : Hasegawa Nakajima B5N2 Kate
Extras : Eduard Cockpit & Seatbelt Set and canopy Masks.

This subject will depict a Torpedo Aircraft that participated in the Pearl Harbour attack.
This particular B5N2 Kate AII-356 was flown by KAGA 'Buntaicho' (Squadron Leader) Lieutenant Mimori Suzuki.
Lt. Suzuki had the unlucky disadvantage of leading the final 6 Torpedo aircraft against Battleship Row.
The American AA gunners were well and truly ready for this final flight of aircraft, exacting a heavy toll on these attackers, shooting down 4 of the 6 Kates.
As Suzuki's aircraft passed over the submarine pens a lucky bullet hit his torpedoes warhead, the resulting explosion blew the engine from the aircraft killing Suzuki instantly, the engineless aircraft then crashed into the water near the Kuahua inlet.
The midair Torpedo explosion allowed the second aircraft in line following Suzuki to score a hit on West Virginia and survived the encounter, while the third aircraft turned to the right dropping it's torpedo and scoring a hit on Nevada, taking AA hits Number 3 crashed into the harbour just behind its target.
The Shotaicho (Flight Leader) of the final 3 Aircraft Petty Officer 3rd Class Hirotake Iwata in AII-324 dropped the final torpedo on Battleship Row and hit the Oklahoma, he and his crew also surviving the attack, both wingmen were not so lucky, hit by AA fire, the first crashing in the main Channel near Kuahua Inlet and the second crashing across the channel north of Fort Weaver.
Suzuki's B5N2 Kate was later recovered from the harbour and examined by American personnel.
KAGA lost 5 of its 12 Kates in the Torpedo attack, these were the only Kate aircraft lost in the attack.
Overall, KAGA suffered the greatest losses of all 6 participating Aircraft Carriers, 5 Kates, 6 Vals and 4 Zeroes, totalling 15 of the 29 aircraft lost in the attack against Pearl harbour.

B5N2_Kate_AII-356_Box Art_a.jpg
 
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Man that looks good.


Have been thinking about the short history you provided about this aircraft. It just shows that the victory at Pearl Harbour was not a bloodless victory and that IJN was losing critical air leaders as well as (virtually) irreplaceable experienced aircrew from the very beginning
 

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