D. … TO THE BITTER END
By the autumn of 1944 disaster loomed for Imperial Japan. The war in the Pacific had taken a decidedly negative turn for the Japanese Empire with the US Navy steadily growing in strength and already poised to strike at the heart of the Home Islands.
In October 1944, American forces had landed on the island of
Leyte in The
Philippines and Japan’s commanders there concluded that only a dramatic and radical force of action could stem the tide of the American advance… aerial suicide attacks against high-value enemy targets, particularly
US Navy aircraft carriers!
By this late stage of the war in the Pacific many Japanese pilots of both the Army Air Force and the Imperial Japanese Navy already knew that
‘their days were numbered’ both in the air and on the ground. They were outnumbered and outflown by many more numerous enemy pilots and the superior quality of the aircraft they flew.
“Why not”, many thousands of Japanese pilots thought,
“die a meaningful death crashing your whole aircraft into or onto an enemy warship”.
This unique form of Japanese self-sacrifice was known as
‘Kamikaze’ or
‘Divine Wind’, a reference to a great storm that destroyed an enemy Mongolian fleet off the coast of Japan in 1281.
Now, K&C are introducing two unique all-new versions of the classic
Mitsubishi A6M5 ‘ZERO’ fighter.
These two
‘Zeroes’ are typical of the late-war versions of this classic WW2 Japanese fighter aircraft.
JN078 A6M5 ‘KAMIKAZE’
This well-worn A6M5 is painted in overall dark green on all upper surfaces and fuselage.
As the seated pilot gives his farewell salute to his flying comrades and the ground crew he prepares to taxi his
‘Zero’ onto the flight line and take off on his one-way mission towards the enemy fleet.
Slung underneath the fuselage, on the centre line of his Zero is a single 500-pound bomb which he will fly together with his aircraft directly into his chosen enemy target.
JN079 ‘Mitsubishi A6M5 ‘Zero’ Army / Navy’
Although many young pilots did take off on
‘One-Way Missions’ thanks to the
‘Kamikaze’ movement not all were willing to sacrifice themselves at this late stage of the war… Some wanted to survive, difficult though that might be.
This second
Mitsubishi A6M5 also reflects the dire reality of aircraft production in Japan in late 1944 going into the middle of 1945.
Aircraft factories and airfields throughout Japan were being constantly bombed and strafed by Allied aircraft on an almost daily basis. All kinds of aircraft were being produced and repaired as well as being
‘cannibalized’ for spare parts.
This particular
A6M5 has combined parts and elements from both Army Air Force and Imperia Navy Zeroes to provide one of the more unique aircraft colour schemes defending the skies over Japan at this late stage of the Pacific War.
In addition to its two 20mm cannons and 7.7mm machine guns this model also has two small bombs attached
(one under each wing).
A standing Japanese fighter pilot figure is also included.
JN-S04 ‘A Pair of Zeroes’
If you buy both of these great models you get them at a
VERY SPECIAL PRICE!
JN075 ‘Saluting Kamikaze Pilot’
Before flying off on their fatal last mission it was usual and expected to salute your comrades and fellow pilots.
JN076 ‘Standing Japanese Pilot’
This standing figure is modeled on a life-size statue of a young kamikaze pilot that stands at the entrance to the
Yashukan Military Museum located within the
Yasakuni Shrine in Chiyoda, Tokyo.
Visitors entering the museum will also see an actual
Mitsubishi A6M Zero on display opposite the ticket booth.
AVAILABLE: Mid to Late April
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