Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka 櫻花 (Cherry Blossom)
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Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka 櫻花 (Cherry Blossom)
A human guided, rocket powered Kamikaze missile of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service, used against US Navy ships towards the end of the war.
They were launched from beneath Mitsubishi G4M2e “Betty” bombers. Flying at over 400 mph, Ohkas were difficult to shoot down but the bombers that carried them were slow and vulnerable.
Only 50 of the 850 built saw combat, sinking just three US Navy ships.
Photographed at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, UK.
Image below from Wikimedia Commons
Mitsubishi G4M2e Betty carrying an Ohka photographed while under attack from an American fighter.
The page you found from the Tech Air Intel Center is an eye-opener… Thanks for posting, Ian.
Hi Koji, amazing what you can find isn’t it!
A grim aircraft indeed.
War sucks. !!!!!!!
Great shot.
Wow!!!!!
Awesome shot Ian and amazing information!!!!!
what a great shot, great use of selective.
i hadn’t heard of these (!) – not for the faint at heart – what an astounding thought!
great history – thanks for sharing 🙂
Interesting set of images Ian. %-)
Nice shot, just finished reading a book about the Kamikaze, worth a read.
http://www.greenmetropolis.com/book.aspx?isbn=9780304352005
The ingenuity of people who want to kill each other above all other things. Fascinating… but also depressing and frightening.
great job here ian enjoyed the b&w picture.
fast little mothers.
heady times those were, if i think my job sucks how bout those fellas-
Pretty amazing~
Never see before this photo sequence!
Great!
Fantastic shot! It’s amazing what some people will resort to.
Can’t imagine what must be going through that pilot’s head as he plunged downward…
Makes you stop and ponder, that does.
~ Graham ~
Most people don’t realise that Mitsubishi Motors had such a grim past.
Nicely composed shot.
Seems such a wrongness to be calling it "Cherry Blossom" considering its main remit in life, maybe they had a sense of irony?!
I seems to recall some where it stated that the cherry blossom was brilliant, bright and beautiful, but it only lasted for a very short time. So their life might be short, but brilliant.
i guess this is why an old guy near me would never drive a Japanese car!
terrific work Ian , a great idea to desat all but the ’roundels’ . a tough place to take worthwhile shots but you have done so here !
Many thanks for all your comments and faves.