Japenese W.W.II Aircraft

Japenese W.W.II aircraft

 The naming conventions for Japanese aircraft during W.W.II by the USAAF and USN were not very strict, but in general male names were used for fighter and reconnaissance seaplanes, female names were used for all sorts of bombers and other seaplanes and reconnaissance aircraft, female names starting with 'T' were assigned to transport aircraft, tree names to trainers and bird names to glider. At the beginning of the war, due to confusion and lack of information, many code names were assigned to non- existent or not used aircraft, especially German designs.

  1. Names of Boys - Fighters and Reconnaissance Seaplanes;
    Abdul
    Nakajima Ki.27; (unofficial code name);
    Adam
    Nakajima SKT-97; (did not exist);
    Alf
    Kawanishi E7K;
    Ben
    Nagoya-Sento KI-001; (did not exist);
    Bob
    Aichi 97 seaplane; (did not exist) and
    Kawasaki Ki.28
    Claude
    Mitsubishi A5M / S-96 / Type 96;
    Dave
    Nakajima E8N;
    Dick
    Seversky A8V; American;
    Doc
    Messerschmitt Bf 110; German; not in Japanese military service;
    Frank
    Mitsubishi TK-4; (did not exist) and
    Nakajima Ki.84 'Hayate'; and Nakajima Ki.106; and Nakajima Ki.113; and Nakajima Ki.116;
    Fred
    Focke-Wulf Fw 190; German; not in Japanese military service;
    George
    Kawanishi N1K2-J 'Shiden';
    Glenn
    Yokosuka E14Y;
    Gus
    Nakajima AT-27; (did not exist);
    Hamp
    Mitsubishi A6M 'Rei-Sen' with clipped wing tips; ex 'Hap';
    Hank
    Aichi E10A;
    Hap
    Mitsubishi A6M 'Rei-Sen' with clipped wing tips; renamed 'Hamp';
    Harry
    Mitsubishi TK-4; (did not exist);
    Irving
    Nakajima J1N; (J1N1-S 'Gekko');
    Jack
    Mitsubishi J2M 'Raiden';
    Jake
    Aichi E13A;
    Jerry
    Heinkel He 112; German;
    Jim
    Nakajima Ki.43; (unofficial code name ?);
    Joe
    TK-19; (did not exist);
    Luke
    Mitsubishi J4M;
    Mike
    Messerschmitt Bf 109; German;
    Nate
    Nakajima Ki.27;
    Nick
    Kawasaki Ki.45 'Toryu' / Type 2;
    Norm
    Kawanishi E15K 'Shiun';
    Omar
    Suzukaze 20; (did not exist)
    Oscar
    Nakajima Ki.43 'Hayabusa';
    Paul
    Aichi E16A 'Zuiun';
    Perry
    Kawasaki Ki.10;
    Pete
    Mitsubishi F1M;
    Randy
    Kawasaki Ki.102;
    Ray
    Mitsubishi Type 1; (did not exist); could have been A6M;
    Rex
    Kawanishi N1K1-J 'Kyofu';
    Rob
    Kawasaki Ki.64;
    Rufe
    Nakajima A6M2-N, floatplane version of Mitsubishi A6M2;
    Sam
    Mitsubishi A7M 'Reppu';
    Slim
    Watanuabe E9W;
    Toby
    Lockheed 14; American;
    Tojo
    Nakajima Ki.44 'Shoki';
    Tony
    Kawasaki Ki.61 'Hien' / Type 3; and Kawasaki Ki.100 / Type 5;
    Willow
    Yokosuka K5Y;
    Zeke
    Mitsubishi A6M 'Rei-Sen';
  2. Names of Girls - Bombers, Dive-Bombers, Torpedo-Bombers, Seaplanes, Reconnaissance aircraft;
    Ann
    Mitsubishi Ki.30;
    Babs
    Mitsubishi Ki.15 'Karigane' / Type 97; and
    Mitsubishi C5M;
    Belle
    Kawanishi H3K;
    Bess
    Heinkel He 111; German; not in Japanese military service;
    Betty
    Mitsubishi G4M; and
    Mitsubishi G6M;
    Cherry
    Yokosuka H5Y;
    Clara
    Tachikawa Ki.70;
    Dinah
    Mitsubishi Ki.46 'Shitei' / Type 100;
    Doris
    Mitsubishi B-97; (did not exist);
    Edna
    Mitsubishi Ki.71;
    Emily or Emely
    Kawanishi H8K / Type 2;
    Eva or Eve
    ? (not a military aircraft);
    Frances
    Yokosuka P1Y1 'Ginga' / P1Y2 'Kyokko';
    Grace
    Aichi B7A 'Ryusei';
    Helen
    Nakajima Ki.49 'Donryu' / Type 100; and Nakajima Ki.58; and Nakajima Ki.80;
    Ida
    Tachikawa Ki.36; and
    Tachikawa Ki.55;
    Ione
    Aichi AI-104; (did not exist);
    Irene
    Junkers Ju 87 'Stuka'; German; not in Japanese military service;
    Janice
    Junkers Ju 88; German; not in Japanese military service;
    Jean
    Yokosuka B4Y;
    Jill
    Nakajima B6N 'Tenzan';
    Joyce
    Tachikawa; (did not exist);
    Judy
    Yokosuka D4Y 'Suisei';
    Julia
    Type 97 heavy bomber; (did not exist); could have been Ki.48;
    June
    Seaplane version of Aichi D3A; (did not exist); could have been E13A;
    Kate
    Nakajima B5N / Type 97; and
    Mitsubishi B5M (Kate 61);
    Laura
    Aichi E11A;
    Lily
    Kawasaki Ki.48;
    Liz
    Nakajima G5N;
    Loise or Louise
    Mitsubishi Ki.2;
    Lorna
    Kyushu Q1W 'Tokai';
    Mabel
    Mitsubishi B5M;
    Mavis
    Kawanishi H6K;
    Millie
    Vultee VG-11; American; not in Japanese military service;
    Myrt
    Nakajima C6N 'Saiun';
    Nell
    Mitsubishi G3M / Type 96;
    Norma
    Type 97 light bomber; (did not exist); could have been Ki.15;
    Pat or Patsy
    Tachikawa Ki.74;
    Peggy
    Mitsubishi Ki.67 'Hiryu'; and Mitsubishi Ki.109;
    Rita
    Nakajima G8N 'Renzan';
    Ruth
    Fiat BR 20; Italian;
    Sally
    Mitsubishi Ki.21 / OB-97 / Type 97;
    Sonia
    Mitsubishi Ki.51;
    Stella
    Kokusai Ki.76;
    Susie
    Aichi D1A;
    Val
    Aichi D3A / Type 99;
  3. Names of Girls, starting with 'T' - Transport aircraft;
    Tabby
    Showa / Nakajima L2D; license built Douglas DC-3;
    Tess
    Douglas DC-2; American;
    Thalia
    Kawasaki Ki.56;
    Thelma
    Tachikawa LO;
    Theresa
    Kokusai Ki.59;
    Thora
    Nakajima Ki.34;
    Tina
    Mitsubishi L3Y;
    Topsy
    Mitsubishi Ki.57 / MC-20; transport version of Ki.21;
    Trixie
    Junkers Ju 52/3m; German; not in Japanese military service;
    Trudy
    Focke Wulf Fw 200 'Condor'; German; not in Japanese military service;
  4. Tree Names - Trainers;
    Cedar
    Tachikawa Ki.17;
    Cypress
    Kyushu K9W;
    Hickory
    Tachikawa Ki.54;
    Oak
    Kawanishi K10W;
    Pine
    Mitsubishi K3M;
    Spruce
    Tachikawa Ki.9;
  5. Bird Names - Gliders;
    Gander or Goose
    Kokusai Ku.8;
  6. Others - Japanese military aircraft without code names;
    Baka - Japanese for 'crazy'; (unofficial code name);
    Yokosuka MXY7 'Ohaka'; Kamikaze rocket propelled bomb;
    ?
    Kyushu J7W 'Shinden'; pusher prop fighter with canards;
    ?
    Mitsubishi J8M 'Shusui'; Me 163 copy;
    ?
    Ki.109; bomber;
    ?
    Nakajima Ki.115; Kamikaze plane;
    ?
    Nakajima Type 95; observation / reconnaissance plane;
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