On 13 December 1917, the birthday of Ukrainian military aviation

 

105 years ago, on 13 December 1917, the Ukrainian Central Council created the Air Fleet of the Ukrainian People's Republic. The history of Ukrainian military aviation begun on this day.

No, he is not a kamikaze

Today I've learned, that one of the most iconic photo of kamikaze pilots shows no kamikaze :) This is 2nd class Petty Officer OISHI Hideo, assigned to the IJN 12th Kokutai (air group). The photo was taken sometime around August 1940 so he is not a kamikaze pilot. He is probably a fighter pilot - behind him is a tail of A6M fighter. Another incorrect caption of the Japanese photo :( Thank you, Tony Feredo, for the correct photo caption. 

IJN Kido Butai (“Mobile Force”) launching the striking force on Pearl Harbor on the early morning of 7 December 1941

Great artwork showing carriers of IJN Kido Butai (“Mobile Force”) launching the striking force on Pearl Harbor on the early morning of 7 December 1941. Without this force outstanding speed of early was Japanese offensives was simply impossible.

One-man “Yamato spirit”, ridiculed so often by historians…

IMHO, foundation of IJN success at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 was an unwavering belief of one man – Admiral Yamamoto – that attack could be done. Even pessimists felt obliged to work their best to make attack work. One-man “Yamato spirit”, ridiculed so often by historians…

Fuchida Mitsuo, IJN Captain and Christian missionary

On 3rd December 1902 Fuchida Mitsuo, future IJN Captain and later Christian missionary, was born.

Now in historical circles he is mostly remembered for his "war tales", that deceived Pacific War historians for years. But we shouldn't forget, that was appointed senior flying officer of the IJN Carrier Task Force not for his nice mustaches, but for his skill and experience. IJN planners could plan whatever they wanted - without Fuchida and other experts aviation could do little in combat. For example during his service as "Akagi" air Officer in 1940 Fuchida worked on mass use of aircraft carriers. His work on training of torpedo bomber squadrons before war also was a part of early war successes. I think all this should be remembered as well.

3 Japanese books on IJN carriers

The author, who goes by the pen-name "Kaz" of the dojinshi circle “Reppu-Kai”, is writing books about technical and operational details of IJN aircraft carriers.

His books are small (some 30 pages each) and have no photos.

It’s the text of those books that made me to overcome all the hassles of buying books in Japan and shipping them to Ukraine, as well as translating them.

Author research is about very narrow topics, but he studies them in great depths, using many original period sources. 

Add to this small, but clear drawings by the author, and you’ll get invaluable books for the IJN carriers’ researcher.

More about each book.

“Carrier Force Reconstruction Plan” (空母部隊再建計画).

After the defeat at Midway in June 1942 IJN tried really hard to regain its carrier superiority. You can find information about carrier-building programs in English-language sources. But this books studies something lightly described even in Japanese – ideas how to make and use IJN Carrier Task Forces from Midway till the end of the war.

 

“Aircraft Carrier Aircraft Capacity Situation. Enlarged and Revised Edition” (空母飛行機搭載状況　増補改訂版).

IJN carriers aircraft-carrying capacity, air groups’ compositions from 1930s till 1945, capacity of flying decks of the ships to launch and recover aircraft.

 

“Japanese Navy aircraft carrier catapults” (日本海軍の空母用射出機).

Description of various attempts to install catapults aboard IJN aircraft carriers. IJN did worked on various designs of catapults for their aircraft carriers, yet the only catapults that saw operational service, were ones installed on battleship-carriers of “Ise” class.

 

One of the drawings from the later book: design of carrier catapult from c.1940-41.

Cossack Mamay - inspiration for the defenders of Ukraine

 

Cossack Mamay is a Ukrainian folkloric hero. For some 300 years he is painted and repainted by various artists. Literally volumes are written on what does this painting meant, yet still nobody sure.

This popular painting is also widely parodied and re-imagined in Ukraine. Yes, first one is Boris Johnson.

 

 

 

 
 

  

But after the war with Russia begun in 2014, Cossack Mamay become the source of the inspiration for Ukrainian soldiers, who made photos like famous Cossack Mamay paintings.

So after all those years Cossack Mamay is still the inspiration for the defenders of Ukraine. Quite a life for the hero, probably invented by some village painter 300 years ago.