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Are there any photos of Kaneyoshi Muto's N1K2 Shiden available?


Sturmovik

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I´m interested in knowing if there´re any profiles or photos of Muto´s N1K2-J Shiden Kai. I´ve only managed to find articles with pictures of a recovered Shiden Kai from the Bungo channel (where Muto, Takashi Oshibuchi and other 4 pilots fell), but it was restored with the national insignia only, since the historians couldn´t find who flew the aircraft.

If nothing can be found, then I´ll buy a Shiden Kai and build it as the restored aircraft, while adding the 343 decal (since Muto was a member of said unit). Better than nothing I imagine.

Any help would be appreciated.

http://www.ww2wrecks.com/portfolio/salvaged-and-restored-the-story-of-the-kawanishi-n1k-j-shiden-紫電-probably-flown-by-kaneyoshi-muto-武藤-金義/

http://ww2awartobewon.com/wwii-articles/kaneyoshi-muto-restored-shiden/

Edited by Sturmovik
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Just want to point out a small inaccuracy in the profile description:

early production machines, i.e N1K2-J, were the 'Big-tail' version (only 100 built IIRC), while the N1K2-Ja 'Small-tail' was the standard version, of which the vast majority of these fighters were produced.

The profile above depicts a small-tail model (the difference was minute - see the bottom drawing of the picture below)

 

0068__01.jpg

source: https://rarebooksjapan.com/?p=1162

Edited by warhawk
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Until now, no photos of Muto's Shiden-Kai exist. If there were any they would have been printed in 'Genda's Blade', the ultimative book about the 343 Ku, but there are none. I also don't know about any drawings (no photo - no drawing, or it would be very speculative). The tail number of the ditched airplane seems not to be known either. Pilots frequently swapped planes according to availability and mission roster, so it is questionable if any 'fixed' plane can be attributed to Muto.

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6 hours ago, Toryu said:

Until now, no photos of Muto's Shiden-Kai exist. If there were any they would have been printed in 'Genda's Blade', the ultimative book about the 343 Ku, but there are none. I also don't know about any drawings (no photo - no drawing, or it would be very speculative). The tail number of the ditched airplane seems not to be known either. Pilots frequently swapped planes according to availability and mission roster, so it is questionable if any 'fixed' plane can be attributed to Muto.

Thanks for the thorough answer.

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