World War II Database

1.  C. Peter Chen says:
20 Sep 2011 06:24:11 PM

The stamp on the photo indicates that this photo belongs to the library of an "aerospace research center", and the date shows 26 Mar 1938 (Showa 13). Does anyone know exactly which research facility this photo might have come from?

2.  Bill says:
8 Nov 2011 04:59:11 PM

THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY:

On December 8, 1937 Warrant Officer Kanichi Kashimura was in a dogfight with Chinese Curtiss Hawks over Nanchang, he shotdown one and colliding with another aircraft that could have been either Japanese or Chinese.

ANY LANDING YOU CAN WALK AWAY FROM IS A GOOD LANDING:

The collision took off about a third of the
Claude's left wing, Kashimura flew back to base and crash landed his aircraft, he walked
away from the aircraft without injuries.
Kashimura was later reassigned back to Japan
and served as a flight instructor, he later returned to China for a second tour.
Assigned to fly the A6M Zero in New Guinea
in March 1943 Kashimura failed to return from a mission during his service with the
Imperial Navy, Kashimura shotdown twelve
enemy aircraft.

3.  Bill says:
25 Sep 2015 02:51:28 PM

The Mitsubishi A5M1 (Claude) was the only monoplane fighter serving with the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force in China, before the introduction of the Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero.

Returned to operational flying Kashimura served as an instructor and later returned to China for a second combat tour. Later he flew the A6M Zero in New Guinea, in March 1943, he failed to return from a mission, during his service, he shot down twelve enemy aircraft.

4.  Bill says:
8 Dec 2016 02:27:26 PM

EXPERT AIRMANSHIP:

Kanichi Kashimura, Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force, collided w/Chinese fighter over Nanking 9 December 1937, he regained control of aircraft, with loss 1/3rd of his port wing.

WINGING IT:

He flew his A5M1 Claude number 4-115, of the 13th Kokutai 600km / 372 miles back to his base at Shanghai.
He made (4) attempts to land his aircraft on his fourth attempt, he landed, but aircraft turned over and survived his emergency landing.

BACK IN JAPAN:

Kashimura returned to Japan, along with his damaged Claude, that was put on display. He was reassigned as a flight instructor, and later returned to China for a second tour. While in Japan, Navy Minister Mitsumasa Yonai presented Pilot Kashimura with a inscribed photograph of his damaged Claude in flight.

LOST:

During WWII Kashimura was later assigned to the 12th Kokutai and transferred to the 582nd Kokutai and later became a (MIA) Missing in Action on March 6, 1943 he had (12) victories, of which(10) were in China.

I thank the editor/ww2db for allowing me to leave my comments...