RapidFireWeb Savoia-Marchetti S.55 maritime patrol flying boat (Regia Aeronautica Photo) The S.55 featured numerous innovative design features. While the passengers and cargo were housed within the twin hulls, the flight crew controlled the aircraft from a cockpit located in the thicker section of the wing between the two hulls. The S.55 had two inline contra-rotating propellers, … Read more
Kamikaze strikes (Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force Photo) Mitsubishi Zero A6M5 Model 52c are sent back from Korea to Kyushû island, to take part in a Kamikaze attack (early 1945). Approximately 2,800 Kamikaze attackers sank 34 Navy ships, damaged 368 others, killed 4,900 sailors, and wounded over 4,800. Despite radar detection and cuing, airborne interception, … Read more
Italian warplanes of the Second World War built by Fieseler, IMAM, Junkers, Klemm, Loire et Olivier Fieseler Fi 156C Storch (Stork), MM12822, liaison. (Regia Aeronautica Photos) Fieseler Fi 156 Storch (Stork), captured by the RNZAF and repainted in RAF colours. (RNZAF Photo) Fieseler Fi 156C Storch (Stork), MM12822, liaison, in the Italian Air Force Museum, … Read more
Fiat G.55 Centauro (Regia Aeronautica Photo) Two Italian Fiat G.55 Centauro fighter aircraft, 1940s. (Regia Aeronautica Photos) Fiat G.55 Centauro (Centaur), fighter. During its short operational service, mostly under the Repubblica Sociale Italiana insignia, after the 8 September 1943 armistice, this powerful, robust and fast aircraft proved itself to be an excellent interceptor at high … Read more
Aichi D1A (IJNAF Photo) Aichi D1A2, Navy Type 94/96 Carrier Bomber, codenamed Susie. The Aichi D1A or Navy Type 94/96 Carrier Bomber (Allied reporting name “Susie”[3]) was a Japanese carrier-based dive bomber of the 1930s. A single-engine, two-seat biplane based on the Heinkel He 50, the D1A was produced by Aichi for the Imperial Japanese … Read more
Aichi E16A Zuiun (IJNAF Photo) Japanese long-range reconnaissance seaplane Aichi E16A “Paul”. The Aichi E16A Zuiun (瑞雲 “Auspicious Cloud”, Allied reporting name”Paul”) was a two-seat reconnaissance seaplane operated by theImperial Japanese Navy during the Second World War. The Aichi E16A originated from a 1939 specification for a replacement for theAichi E13A, which at that time had … Read more
Italian Regia Aeronautica Warplanes of the Second World War: Savoia-Marchetti fighters and bombers Savoia-Marchetti S.56 flying boat trainer. (Regia Aeronautica Photos) (Alan Wilson Photo) (Smolik Photo) Savoia-Marchetti S.56 flying boat trainer, on display in the Italian Air Force Museum, Vigna di Valle on Lake Bracciano in central Italy. (Ad Meskens Photo) Savoia-Marchetti S.56 flying boat … Read more
Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero (Regia Aeronautica Photo) The Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero (Sparrowhawk) was a three-engined Italian medium bomber. It may be the best-known Italian warplane of the Second World War. The SM.79 was easily recognizable due to its fuselage’s distinctive dorsal “hump”, and was reportedly well liked by its crews, who nicknamed it il gobbo maledetto … Read more
Aichi E13A (IJNAAF Photo) Aichi E13A Navy Reconnaissance Seaplane, codenamed “Jake”. The Aichi E13A (Allied reporting name:”Jake”) is a long-range reconnaissance seaplane used by the ImperialJapanese Navy (IJN) from 1941 to 1945. Numerically the most important floatplane of the IJN, it could carry a crew of three and a bombload of 250 kg(550 lb). The Navy … Read more
Aichi D3A (IJNAF Photo) The Aichi D3A (Navy designation “Type 99 Carrier Bomber”; Allied reporting name “Val”) is a Second World War carrier-borne dive bomber. It was the primary dive bomber of theImperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and was involved in almost all IJN actions, including the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Aichi D3A was the first … Read more
