Japanese Aircraft with Iron Cross?

[ronjc]

This picture was taken in the Phillipines 1945, at an airfield captured by the Americans. Notice the Japanese wreckage tail section with Iron cross. Anyone ever heard of the Japanese using that on their insignia or have any idea what Japanese unit this might have been?

 

[Wurger]

The picture was of too large. I have resized it down. The shot with its origin size was uploaded as the Zip file.

 

[renrich]

I think what you see on the tail is actually called a Maltese Cross. The Japanese may have used it.

 

[buffnut453]

According to "Emblems of the Rising Sun" the marking was worn by Ki-49s of the 74th Sentai from 1943-1945.

HTH.

Cheers,
Mark

 

[antoni]

I think what you see on the tail is actually called a Maltese Cross. The Japanese may have used it.

No, this is called in heraldry a cross pattée. Other names for it are cross pattee, crosse pattée, cross patty, cross formée, cross formy. In German it is called Tatzenkreuz.

For it to be called a Maltese Cross the triangular arms must end in two points. See: The Maltese Cross - Kasukabe High School

 

[buffnut453]

To be honest, I don't care what it's called but it was worn by 74th Sentai aircraft.

 

[ronjc]

Thanks for your help! I very much appreciate it.

 

[buffnut453]

You're most welcome Ronjc.