Mitsubishi's F1M "Pete"
 
Topics:
F1M2 Pete's at Midway
Reference info included with Tamiya Pete (New)
Petes in Singapore (New)
 
F1M2 Pete's at Midway
 
Posted By: Jerry <mailto:j.wes@worldnet.att.net?subject=F1M2 Pete's at Midway>
Date: Friday, 6 October 2000, at 6:34 p.m.
 
Hi guy's,
I need some information on the F1M2 Pete floatplanes that were at Midway. As part of a personal project, a good friend of mine is building a set of 1/48 aircraft from the battle of Midway. He's even going so far as to back date a Monogram B-26 with a torpedo and the short wings. Anyway on page 73 and 74 of A GLORIOUS PAGE IN OUR HISTORY. There is mention of US Navy PBY BuNo 04975. Piloted by Lt(jg) Robert S. Whitman. This aircraft was jumped and subsequently shot down by F1M2s from the seaplane tender CHITOSE. My question is. Does anyone have any information as to the tail markings, and camouflage of the attacking Petes? Also did they have any fuselage stripes, or white surrounds to the Hinomarus?
We found some referance in the Tamiya Pete instruction sheet but its very sketchy. It shows the tail marking in white as Y1-11. With an overall green camouflage, 2 white fusalage stripes, a white spinner, and no surround to the Hinomaru. Does anyone know if this is correct for the Midway battle era?
Any help, or confirmation at all, will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks guys.
Jerry
 
Re: F1M2 Pete's at Midway
 
Posted By: Allan <mailto:Wildcat42@AOL.com?subject=Re: F1M2 Pete's at Midway>
Date: Friday, 6 October 2000, at 9:08 p.m.
 
In Response To: F1M2 Pete's at Midway (Jerry)
 
Jerry,
I'm looking at a partial illustration of a Chitose F1M2 on Page 14 of Asahi Journal 4.3 that has a Dark Green with one white band and no surround around the Hinomaru. The band is near the tail of the aircraft. The floats appear to be a Light Gray. The aircraft Code is Y1-. This code was with Chitose until her conversion. There is a photo of this plane in FAW 47 that shows a medium color and the code wearing thin. As to the spinner, I'm at a loss, perhaps someone else has that info.
This should give you a start until someone else can better clarify the scheme.
 
Al
 
Re: F1M2 Pete's at Midway
 
Posted By: Tom Hall <mailto:hall41@ix.netcom.com?subject=Re: F1M2 Pete's at Midway>
Date: Saturday, 7 October 2000, at 5:06 p.m.
 
In Response To: Re: F1M2 Pete's at Midway (Allan)
 
Allan and Jerry,
I did the profile in AJ Allan is referring to. It's in AJ 4,2. It's based on a fairly common
published photo, but I don't know when the photo was taken. I assume from the upper surfaces of the
plane being camouflaged that it was sometime after around March 1942, and it may or may not be right
for June 1942. I think it is safer to say that the tail code was YI- .
Jimmy Waehrens raised the issue of this paintjob some months back on these message boards. I still
interpret the photo as showing some sort of medium color on top, perhaps FS 4201/6350, or something else. I am not fully convinced it shows a black-green plane, but I do believe it shows an upper surface paintjob done after the plane was delivered.
It would be wonderful to know what color the Chitose seibiin (maintenance men) used!
Finally, Asahi 4,3 has not been printed yet, and it is going to be a while longer. My computer hard
drive failed last month, taking with it hours of graphics for that issue. Fortunately, the text
for AJ 4,3 is safe, and no subscriber information has been lost, either. What has been lost is time,
and on that I ask our subscribers' indulgence.
 
Reference info included with Tamiya Pete
 
Posted By: Jeff McGuire <jmcguire@j-aircraft.com>
Date: Friday, 16 February 2001, at 8:45 p.m.
 
In glancing through the contents of my Tamiya Pete I noticed that there is a pretty extensive list of all the ships that carried the Pete, along with codes, a/c colors etc. My question is, is this accurate information?
 
Data table on sheet... cruisers and battleships
 
Posted By: Dan Salamone <heroncreek@qwest.net>
Date: Friday, 16 February 2001, at 10:53 p.m.
 
In Response To: Reference info included with Tamiya Pete (Jeff McGuire)
 
I figured there were at least a few who did not have this info, so I copied it below for everybody to see:
Cruisers:
Ship Date Code Example
Aoba 1940-June,1942 DI-2
" " June-July, 1944 KI-1
" " August 1944 961-01
Nachi 1943 WI-2
" " August 1944 511-01
Haguro July 1942 to 1944 FII-2
" " August 1944 252-01
Myoko July 1942 to 1944 FI-1
" " August 1944 251-01
Ashigara 1941 to 1942 N-2
" " August 1944 512-01
Atago July 1942 EI-1
" " August 1944 241-01
Takao June 1942 DIV-1
" " July 1942 EIII-1
" " August 1944 242-02
Chokai July 1942 Z-2
" " August 1944 244-02
Maya July 1942 EII-2
" " August 1944 243-01
Battleships:
Kongo 1941 to 1944 CI-2
" " August 1944 231-01
Kirishima 1941 to 1944 CIII-1
Hiei 1941 on... CN-2
Haruna 1941 CII-2
" " 1942 CIII
" " 1943 CII-2
" " August 1944 232-03
Fuso 1943 on... BIV-1
Yamashiro 1942 to 1943 BII-2
Ise 1942 on.. BI-2
Hyuga 1942 on... BII-1
Nagato February to July 1942 AII-1
" " July 1942 to 1943 BI-2
" " 1944 to 1945 211-01
Mutsu February to July 1942 AIII-1
" " July 1942 to 1943 BII-2
Yamato February to July 1942 AI-1
" " July 1942 to 1943 A-1
" " August 1944 212-02
Musashi February 1943 AI-2
" " August 1944 213-01
I omitted the Seaplane Tenders as I'm going blind trying to read the sheet! :-) I double checked, and even though some codes
are repeated that is how they are printed on the sheet.
Petes in Singapore
 
Posted By: Mike Yeo <mailto:mikeyeo@bigpond.com?subject=Petes in Singapore>
Date: Friday, 20 July 2001, at 9:53 a.m.
 
I've seen an old picture of Seletar Airfield, Singapore shortly after the Japanese surrender showing numerous "Petes" and "Jakes" on the field. The "Jakes" were probably from the 936 Ku but I have no previous informations regarding "Pete" units based in Singapore. Does anyone have any idea which unit the "Petes" might have come from?
 
Thanks
Mike
 
Re: Updated
 
Posted By: Allan Alsleben <mailto:Wildcat42@AOL.com?subject=Re: Updated>
Date: Friday, 20 July 2001, at 4:07 p.m.
 
In Response To: Petes in Singapore (Mike Yeo)
 
Hello Mike,
Those Petes were a combination of those that were landed by Myoko and Takao plus those turned over by 934 Ku when they disbanded. They operated out of Labuan and Tourane and other places (Indo-China) in the South China Sea.
 
HTH - Al
 
Re: Singapore Petes
 
Posted By: Mike Yeo <mailto:mikeyeo@bigpond.com?subject=Re: Singapore Petes>
Date: Friday, 20 July 2001, at 11:14 p.m.
 
In Response To: Re: Updated (Allan Alsleben)
 
Al,
thanks. I knew you would have some kind of answer to that question :-)
I actually scanned the photo I have but left it in my computer in Singapore. Shows a couple of Allied servicemen taking a siesta among a *lot* of Jakes and Petes parked in a haphazard fashion. Unfortunately the 2 Petes closest to the camera had either their tailcodes blocked(by a Jakes wing) or it was head on view. So no tailcodes were discernible.
 
Mike
 
Re: Petes in Singapore
 
Posted By: Allan Alsleben <mailto:Wildcat42@AOL.com?subject=Re: Petes in Singapore>
Date: Friday, 20 July 2001, at 10:14 a.m.
 
In Response To: Petes in Singapore (Mike Yeo)
 
Mike,
Those Petes might have come off those cruisers that were laid up there. Also, Seletar was a repair facility and those could have been under repair. But without some sort of tail markings, it is too difficult to ascertain, but I'm leaning heavily of those cruisers.
 
Al
 
F1M2 of Floatplane Tender CHITOSE *PIC*
 
Posted By: UCHIDA, Katsuhiro <mailto:2000GT-B@mui.biglobe.ne.jp?subject=F1M2 of Floatplane Tender CHITOSE *PIC*>
Date: Friday, 20 July 2001, at 11:48 a.m.
 
In Response To: F1M2 of Cruiser ASHIGARA *PIC* (UCHIDA, Katsuhiro)
 
F1M2 of CHITOSE, 11th Air Flotilla (CHITOSE and MIZUHO) in early 1942. The tail code is "YI-17".
 
Re: F1M2s at Davao, Mindanao in Dec. 1941
 
Posted By: Tony Feredo <mailto:tferedo@yahoo.com?subject=Re: F1M2s at Davao, Mindanao in Dec. 1941>
Date: Saturday, 21 July 2001, at 7:08 a.m.
 
In Response To: F1M2s at Davao, Mindanao in Dec. 1941 *PIC* (UCHIDA, Katsuhiro)
 
Hi Katsuhiro,
Great Photo of Petes in Mindanao. Any ideas on the tail markings? It looks that they are over-all light grey. Any ideas on this.
 
TIA
Tony
 
Re: F1M2s at Davao, Mindanao in Dec. 1941
 
Posted By: Allan Alsleben <mailto:Wildcat42@AOL.com?subject=Re: F1M2s at Davao, Mindanao in Dec. 1941>
Date: Saturday, 21 July 2001, at 7:22 a.m.
 
In Response To: Re: F1M2s at Davao, Mindanao in Dec. 1941 (Tony Feredo)
 
Hello Tony,
According to the Order of Battle for that time period, my guess would be Sanuki Maru, but maybe Katsuhiro-san give us a caption reading. Sanuki Maru was known to be operating over Mindanao in December.
 
Al
 
Re: F1M2s at Davao, Mindanao in Dec. 1941
 
Posted By: Bob <mailto:bob5@home.com?subject=Re: F1M2s at Davao, Mindanao in Dec. 1941>
Date: Saturday, 21 July 2001, at 10:25 a.m.
 
In Response To:  (Allan Alsleben)
 
If Allan is correct and the F1M2's are, in fact, from the Sanuki Maru, then the tail codes would be II-B-?? (not sure of what the individual plane numbers are).
 
Re: F1M Pete Color/Markings
 
Posted By: James F. Lansdale <mailto:LRAJIM@aol.com?subject=Re: F1M Pete Color/Markings>
Date: Saturday, 21 July 2001, at 5:12 p.m.
 
In Response To: Re: F1M2s at Davao, Mindanao in Dec. 1941 (Allan Alsleben)
 
Hi Al
Some base units did use the Roman numeral/B codes during the late 1941/early 1942 period. SANUKI MARU also used the code [Q-] along with SAGARA and SANYO MARU [O-] and [P-], but I need to check the time frame for these markings. I believe it was during the time they were assigned to Nos. 1,2,and 3 KF and their respective Base forces (and I will check later).
 
As to color: I have relics from two Petes provided by Dr. Charles DARBY. These Mitsubishi F1M2 relics definitely were painted hairyokushoku (gray-green) overall or a color close to FS-16350, as were the Mitsubishi constructed A6M2 Zeros and Ki-46 Dinahs (as evidenced by other relic samples from these aircraft I have also analyzed). This color appears to be a standard Mitsubishi color of the time.
 
IHTH
Jim Lansdale
 
Re: F1M2s at Davao, Mindanao in Dec. 1941
 
Posted By: Bob <mailto:bob5@home.com?subject=Re: F1M2s at Davao, Mindanao in Dec. 1941>
Date: Saturday, 21 July 2001, at 2:48 p.m.
 
In Response To: Re: F1M2s at Davao, Mindanao in Dec. 1941 (Allan Alsleben)
 
Hi Allan,
I'm no expert on IJN aircraft, but Don Thorpe is. His "JNAF Camouflage and Markings" clearly shows a "Pete" from the Sanuki Maru during Dec 41-June 42 in early wartime light grey. She does, in fact, sport the tail code II-B-3.
 
Bob
 
Re: F1M2s at Davao, Mindanao in Dec. 1941
 
Posted By: Allan Alsleben <mailto:Wildcat42@AOL.com?subject=Re: F1M2s at Davao, Mindanao in Dec. 1941>
Date: Saturday, 21 July 2001, at 5:49 p.m.
 
In Response To:  (Bob)
 
Bob,
Sanuki Maru was attached to the 2nd Base Force, 3rd Fleet, but the code you gave would indicate it to be Pre-War (Before 4/10-'41). You have produced an interesting piece of information, but "Q" was assigned to Sanuki Maru in April 1941.
 
Al
 
Sanuki Maru Code Markings
 
Posted By: Andrew Obluski <mailto:aoba41@yahoo.com?subject=Sanuki Maru Code Markings>
Date: Wednesday, 25 July 2001, at 7:10 a.m.
 
In Response To:  (Allan Alsleben)
 
Have found SANUKI MARU code markings in Koku Fan. 'IIB' was used during period of Sep 1941-Mar 1942 and 'Q' was used since Jul 1942.
Regards
 
Andrew
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