Strana 39
A6M2-K, Tsukuba Kōkūtai, Tsukuba Base, Japan, 1944
The design of the two-seat training aircraft,
which was based on the A6M2 Type 21 carrier-
based fighter, was developed by 21st Naval Air
Arsenal at the Ōmura base. The development
started in 1942, with the prototype completed
in November of that year. The aircraft was
designated A6M2-K Type 11. To reduce weight,
the cannons were removed from the wings.
Some sources state that only the starboard
machine gun was retained, while others
mention armament consisting of two machine
guns. The front cockpit for the student pilot
was not equipped with canopy and had folding
doors on the sides. Two fins were added to the
rear fuselage to improve stability. Production
of the A6M2-K at the 21st Naval Air Arsenal
began in January 1943 using components from
Mitsubishi and, primarily, Nakajima. A total
of 218 units were produced there by July 1945.
The A6M2-K was also manufactured by Hitachi,
which delivered 279 units between May 1944
and July 1945. According to a painting regulation
issued in September 1942, training aircraft were
painted yellow-orange on all surfaces. Due to
this, the national insignia on the underside was
given a white border. The use of numbers on the
undersides of A6M2-K aircraft in the Tsukuba
Kōkūtai is not photographically confirmed due
to the angle on which the available images
were taken. However, three-digit numbers on
the wings on A6M2s of this unit are confirmed
by photographic evidence. Therefore, their use
on the A6M2-K is also possible.
A6M2-K, Tsukuba Kōkūtai, Tsukuba Base, Japan, 1944
In July 1943, a regulation was issued that,
among other things, mandated that training
aircraft deployed in combat operations or based
in areas where the enemy was active should be
painted like combat aircraft. In practice, this led
to the repainting of already-produced A6M2-K
trainers. One such aircraft was Tsu-415, which
is known from a photograph showing it with
a yellow-orange coating on all surfaces.
However, in a later photograph, it appears
camouflaged with dark green paint on the upper
surfaces, while the original paint and markings
on the tail remained unchanged. A6M2-K
aircraft were also used for target towing during
training. In February 1945, Tsukuba Kōkūtai was
ordered to form Kamikaze units. The training
program for these pilots included the following
requirements: at least eight pattern flights,
a minimum of seven formation flights, at least
ten instrument flights, a minimum of ten special
attack training flights, at least six flights in
darkness, five flights to a designated target,
and a minimum of five navigation flights.
KITS 04/2025
INFO Eduard
39
April 2025