Nakajima J1N "Irving" Night Fighter

[P.Kinville]

How good was the Nakajima J1N night fighter when compared to, say, the P-61 or Mosquito? How was Japanese radar compared to systems found in USAAF and RAF night fighters in 1944-1945? I've heard the story of Sachio Endo, who shot down 8 B-29s while flying a J1N, but I'd like to know more about the technological aspects and operational history of the Irving. Thanks.

 

[DarrenW]

Hi P. Kinville,
I have a book titled Aggressors: Interceptor vs. Heavy Bomber, by David A. Anderton. It has some pretty good information on the types of early warning radar used by the Japanese military, as well as AAA placements and fighter units that protected mainland Japan. The book stated that for the most part Japanese night fighters did not have airborne radar and had to use "cat eyes" to find their targets. It also has some information on the Gekko night fighter units. I will do my best to post this information ASAP.

 

[DarrenW]

Here's some of what's in the book. It's dimensionally rather large and I couldn't scan the pages, so I took photos with my phone. I hope you can read them. The book is very good and these excerpts don't do it justice, I suggest you purchase a copy if you can. Hopefully you will at least have a start to the information that you are looking for.

By the way, the side profile is the J1N3 MK 11a flown by Warrant Officer Juzo Kuramato and navigated by Lieutenant (jg) Shiro Kurotori of the Yokosuka Kokutai. According to the book, the team shot down five B-29s over the Kanto district (Tokyo) during the night of August 25-26, 1945. Victory markings placed on the rear fuselage denote six kills and two damaged.

 

[taly01]

The Nakajima J1N was a plane that never should have made it to series production! It was designed as a long range escort fighter for the JNAF, but had so poor performance it only entered production as a long range reconnaisance plane, thing is the Japanese had much better light twin engine planes to choose from in the superlative Ki-46 reconnaisance plane and decent Ki-45 heavy fighter, both which could have done the same roles as J1N and better! But these were Army planes and the Navy had fierce interservice rivalry with them!

The J1N is best compared to the early German night fighters of 1941-42, a night fighter built from an obsolete plane no one else wanted!

 

[taly01]

Heres a cool pic I found J1N, D4Y, C6N?, P1Y............ The front J1N seems to have radar aerials, they have alot of wing for just 2x1130hp, looks more like a bomber, probably pleasant to fly at night.

Now thats an observation dome!

 

[DarrenW]

Very nice pictures, thanks for sharing!

 

[windswords]

"Now thats an observation dome! "

Actually it is gun turret. It was equipped with a 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon.