Warplanes of Japan: Yokosuka P1Y Ginga

Yokosuka P1Y Ginga (Frances)

(IJNAF Photos)

The Yokosuka P1Y Ginga (銀河, "Galaxy") is a twin-engine, land-based bomber developed for the Japanese Imperial Navy in the Second World War. It was the successor to the Mitsubishi G4M and given the Allied reporting name "Frances". The P1Y was designed by the Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal to Navy specification 15-Shi, calling for a fast bomber with speed matching the Zero, range matching the G4M, a 907 kg (2,000 lb) bombload, and the ability to dive-bomb as well as carry torpedoes. As the result, the construction suffered from excess complexity, difficulty of manufacture, and poor serviceability. Problems with the availability of enough reliable Nakajima Homare engines led to their replacement by the Mitsubishi Kasei in the P1Y2-S night-fighter version.

The Ginga made its first flight in August 1943. Nakajima manufactured 1,002 examples, which were operated by five Kōkūtai (Air Groups), and acted as land-based medium and torpedo bombers from airfields in China, Taiwan, the Mariana Islands, the Philippines, the Ryukyu Islands, Shikoku, and Kyūshū. During the last stages of the war the P1Y was used as a kamikaze aircraft against the United States Navy during the Okinawa Campaign in Operation Tan No. 2. A night fighter version, the P1Y2-S Kyokko (極光, "Aurora"), with Mitsubishi Kasei engines, was equipped with radar and Schräge Musik-style upward-firing as well as forward-firing 20 mm cannon. A total of 96 were produced by Kawanishi,[5] but due to inadequate high-altitude performance against the B-29 Superfortress, many were converted back to Ginga bombers. (Wikipedia)

‍

‍

‍

‍

(IJNAF Photos)

Yokosuka P1Y Ginga twin-engined land based bomber, codenamed Frances, developed for the IJNAF.

(USN Photo)

A P1Y1 in flames after being hit by anti-aircraft fire during its Kamikaze attack on 15 December 1944, likely during the Battle of Ormac Bay in the Phillipines. FM-2 Wildcat fighters on the deck of the escort carrier USS Ommany Bay are in the foreground.

(IJNAF Photos)

(Official USN Photos, located at the US National Archives, 80-G-344092)

Yokosuka P1Y2-S Ginga night fighter version of the Frances, equipped with radar and 20-mm slanted upward firing Schräge Musik style cannon. Kisarazu Naval Air Base near Tokyo, late 1945.

(USAAF Photos)

Yokosuka P1Y-1 Ginga in USAAF markings, one of three brought to the USA.  FE-1700 and FE-1701 were scrapped at Newark, New Jersey.  FE-1702 is in storage at the NASM.

(USAAF Photo)

Yokosuka P1Y-1 Ginga, FE-1702.  This aircraft is in storage with the NASM.

(Aviation of Japan Photo)

Two Yokosuka P1Y-1 Ginga (銀河 - Milky Way or Galaxy) and a Zero in Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF) markings, on a Formosan airfield c1948.