I am trying to reconstruct historically accurate voice-radio (radio telephone) communications used by Imperial Japanese Navy A6M5 Zero pilots in 1944.
I am not primarily looking for information about the reliability or technical specifications of the Zero's radio. I am trying to find the actual Japanese words and phraseology used when voice radio (無線電話) was used in combat.
For example, what would an IJN fighter pilot actually say for:
I am also trying to determine whether a formation leader would actually address a formation by its organizational designation, such as 第一小隊 (Dai-ichi Shōtai / 1st Shotai), over voice radio, or whether an assigned radio call sign would normally have been used.
One Japanese Army aviation example I have found is:
「二時、四マル、敵戦闘機二六」
which appears to convey direction → altitude → enemy type → number in a very compressed form.
However, I do not assume that IJAAF and IJNAF phraseology or procedures were identical. I am specifically looking for IJN evidence, preferably from 1943–45 fighter units.
I have also been examining 『海軍作戦通信史』 (Kaigun Sakusen Tsūshin-shi / History of Naval Operational Communications), which discusses special communication procedures for aircraft and refers to aviation-specific communication regulations. So far, however, I have not found examples of the actual spoken fighter calls.
Does anyone know of an IJN wartime manual, combat report, pilot diary/memoir, communication regulation, or other source that records the actual words spoken over voice radio by Zero or other IJN fighter pilots?
Japanese-language sources are completely fine. A scan, archival reference number, manual title, page reference, or even one documented example of an actual IJN fighter voice transmission would be extremely helpful.
Thank you.
I am not primarily looking for information about the reliability or technical specifications of the Zero's radio. I am trying to find the actual Japanese words and phraseology used when voice radio (無線電話) was used in combat.
For example, what would an IJN fighter pilot actually say for:
- "Enemy fighters, two o'clock"
- "Enemy aircraft above / behind"
- "Form up"
- "Attack"
- "Follow me"
- "Cover me"
- "Disengage"
- "Return to base / carrier"
I am also trying to determine whether a formation leader would actually address a formation by its organizational designation, such as 第一小隊 (Dai-ichi Shōtai / 1st Shotai), over voice radio, or whether an assigned radio call sign would normally have been used.
One Japanese Army aviation example I have found is:
「二時、四マル、敵戦闘機二六」
which appears to convey direction → altitude → enemy type → number in a very compressed form.
However, I do not assume that IJAAF and IJNAF phraseology or procedures were identical. I am specifically looking for IJN evidence, preferably from 1943–45 fighter units.
I have also been examining 『海軍作戦通信史』 (Kaigun Sakusen Tsūshin-shi / History of Naval Operational Communications), which discusses special communication procedures for aircraft and refers to aviation-specific communication regulations. So far, however, I have not found examples of the actual spoken fighter calls.
Does anyone know of an IJN wartime manual, combat report, pilot diary/memoir, communication regulation, or other source that records the actual words spoken over voice radio by Zero or other IJN fighter pilots?
Japanese-language sources are completely fine. A scan, archival reference number, manual title, page reference, or even one documented example of an actual IJN fighter voice transmission would be extremely helpful.
Thank you.
