Japanese "Popular" names for Aircraft - Aircraft of World War II

ccheese · 07-30-2007, 01:24 PM

After July of 1943, names were given to Japanese Naval aircraft instead of
type designations, according to a scheme based on the aircraft's role.

Carrier & Seaplane fighters: "Wind" names usually ending with pu
or fu.

Interceptors: "Lightening" names ending in den.

Night Fighters: "Light" names ending in ko.

Attack Planes: "Mountain" names ending in zan.

Bombers: "Star" or "Constellation" names usually ending in sei.

Patrol: "Sea" or "Ocean" names ending in kai.

Recon: "Cloud" names ending in un.

Trainers: names for "Trees", "Plants" and "Flowers"

Transports: "Sky" names ending in ku.

Miscellanous aircraft were give "Landscape" names.

It should be noted, on two special occasions, "Ohka" (Cherry Blossom)
and "Kikka" (Orange Blossom), both types were designated 'special
attackers' (kamizaze weapons) and were named for fruit trees in the
gardens of the Imperial Palace.

More on this later......

Charles

Soundbreaker Welch? · 07-30-2007, 06:35 PM

Somehow the "Mountain" name rings a bell.

HoHun · 07-30-2007, 06:44 PM

Hi Charles,

Maybe instead of "popular", they might be considered "propaganda" names?

I think I read on Dan Ford's site about the Japanese army for propaganda purposes introducing flashy names like "Hayabusa" for their types at some point of the war, but of course the Navy decision might be entirely unrelated ...

Just to feed thought ...

Regards,

Henning (HoHun)

Graeme · 07-30-2007, 07:23 PM

I think a bit of both HoHun:

"Soon after the opening of hostilities in the Pacific area it became evident to the Japanese High Command that the use of the Kitai and Type number systems in battle communiques had two shortcomings: they revealed too much to the enemy and were too complex for any particular aircraft to appeal to the Japanese populace. Therefore popular names were given to the principal aircraft likely to attract the enthusiasm of the public. Whereas the Navy gave popular names to their aircraft according to a set pattern, the Army chose their names haphazardly".

Charles, two more to add under the Blossom-Special Attack (Suicide) Plane category;

BAIKA (Plum Blossom)
TOKA (Wistaria)

Graeme · 07-30-2007, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundbreaker Welch?

Somehow the "Mountain" name rings a bell.

FUGAKU (Mount Fuji) Nakajima G10 N1
NANZAN (Southern Mountain) Aichi M6A1-K
RENZAN (Mountain Range) Nakajima G8N/G8N3
SIERAN (Mountain Haze) Aichi M6A-1
SHINZAN (Mountain Recess) Nakajima G5N1/G5N2
TAIZAN (Great Mountain) Mitsubishi G7M1-PROJECT ONLY
TENZAN (Heavenly Mountain) Nakajima B6N1/B6N3
TOZAN (Eastern Mountain) Mitsubishi attack plane-PROJECT ONLY

07-30-2007, 01:24 PM	#1
ccheese Older Than Dirt Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia Posts: 7,986	Japanese "Popular" names for Aircraft After July of 1943, names were given to Japanese Naval aircraft instead of type designations, according to a scheme based on the aircraft's role. Carrier & Seaplane fighters: "Wind" names usually ending with pu or fu. Interceptors: "Lightening" names ending in den. Night Fighters: "Light" names ending in ko. Attack Planes: "Mountain" names ending in zan. Bombers: "Star" or "Constellation" names usually ending in sei. Patrol: "Sea" or "Ocean" names ending in kai. Recon: "Cloud" names ending in un. Trainers: names for "Trees", "Plants" and "Flowers" Transports: "Sky" names ending in ku. Miscellanous aircraft were give "Landscape" names. It should be noted, on two special occasions, "Ohka" (Cherry Blossom) and "Kikka" (Orange Blossom), both types were designated 'special attackers' (kamizaze weapons) and were named for fruit trees in the gardens of the Imperial Palace. More on this later...... Charles __________________ Good people sleep peacefully in their beds at night, only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." George Orwell

07-30-2007, 06:35 PM	#2
Soundbreaker Welch? Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 1,896	Somehow the "Mountain" name rings a bell. __________________ "His motor's conked out!" "What's the differance, they're all Nazis!" "Luke, shut up!" "Fear the hook!" "Oh.....I wanna fly." "You mean the kind that go under water and fly up the stairs?" "What you doing? Oh Nooooo!"

07-30-2007, 07:23 PM	#4
Graeme Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2,082	Popular names I think a bit of both HoHun: "Soon after the opening of hostilities in the Pacific area it became evident to the Japanese High Command that the use of the Kitai and Type number systems in battle communiques had two shortcomings: they revealed too much to the enemy and were too complex for any particular aircraft to appeal to the Japanese populace. Therefore popular names were given to the principal aircraft likely to attract the enthusiasm of the public. Whereas the Navy gave popular names to their aircraft according to a set pattern, the Army chose their names haphazardly". Charles, two more to add under the Blossom-Special Attack (Suicide) Plane category; BAIKA (Plum Blossom) TOKA (Wistaria)

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07-30-2007, 06:44 PM	#3
HoHun Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,765	Hi Charles, Maybe instead of "popular", they might be considered "propaganda" names? I think I read on Dan Ford's site about the Japanese army for propaganda purposes introducing flashy names like "Hayabusa" for their types at some point of the war, but of course the Navy decision might be entirely unrelated ... Just to feed thought ... Regards, Henning (HoHun)