IJA and IJN Cooperation
 
Posted By: George Elephtheriou <elgeorge@otenet.gr>
Date: Saturday, 19 August 2000, at 1:36 p.m.
 
Since I first started digging on the subject of WW2 in the Pacific and the Japanese forces, there was/is only one thing that everybody mention with certainty. The complete lack (very often rivalry) of cooperation between the two services. Now, taking into account the China campaign and the Papua/New Guinea theatre, what do we know about the "cooperation" of the two services? And how was this materialized? Both services fought in China and Zeros fought in P/N.G. Was there any intermix?
 
Let's put it in another way. "Hey pal, we've run out of "hairyokukashoku" (?!?!?!). Do you have something that looks like this?" Or "That plane's @#$* cannon doesn't function properly no matter what. How about borrowing something from the guys next base?"
 
Apart from the fantastic situations above, do we know anything about both service's planes fighting alongside? And how did it turned out, if it ever occurred? Not to mention the couple (?) of companies whom designed/produced planes for both. A subject for the historians in this site mostly but let's see if something interesting will come out for the modelers too.

Yours
 
George
 
Posted By: James F. Lansdale <LRAJIM@aol.com>
Date: Saturday, 19 August 2000, at 4:28 p.m.
 
George
 
Many Japanese airfields over-run by Allied forces were found littered with both IJNAF and IJAAF aircraft which would indicate the sharing of these facilities and, presumably, close cooperation during desperate times. To name a few, Munda, New Georgia in the Solomons (7/43): Lae, P/N.G.(9/43); Babo, N/N.G ('44); and, Clark Field, P.I. (2/45).
 
Many a diorama could be created from these photos, which would show IJA and IJN aircraft next to one another in a combat setting and be historically accurate! I hope this topic will provide interesting modeling-fodder for some of our board members! (:>)
 
Jim Lansdale
 
Posted By: George Elephtheriou <elgeorge@otenet.gr>
Date: Saturday, 19 August 2000, at 6:21 p.m.
 
Lansdale sama, Randy and everybody else,
 
Thank you so much for the info. Unfortunately I don't have the "LAMBERT" book (we get VERY few books in Greece) but I will try to find it. Randy's account is very interesting although it opens another subject too. It shows, anyway, the familiarity, if nothing less, of this member of a IJA ground crew with a IJN plane. And of course some short of cooperation must naturally have existed between them. Ex. If I was flying a Zero (dream on!) and I had an engine problem (or drunk too many beers before take off!) I wouldn't pay attention at all if the airfield that I see below me is IJA or IJN as long as it has the Japanese flag.
 
Now, let's get a bit serious. Please allow me to make 4 questions:
 
1) are there any documents, accounts, evidence.... whatever that can put this "cooperation" into modeling practical use?
(Lansdale sama: what an excellent idea the "mixed" fields!!) I can only come up with the Hiryu with torpedoes.
2) any accounts of IJA and IJN planes flown together?
3) could this "mix" explain oddities found on planes? Colours etc.
4) what was the situation in the home front? Could IJN planes have been flown/tested by IJA and the opposite? I can think for ex. of the Dinah. Something else?
 
I hope I didn't give you a headache with my questions.
 
Domo
George
 
Posted By: Jim Broshot <jbroshot@socket.net>
Date: Monday, 21 August 2000, at 10:09 p.m.
 
A brief note: JAAF Ki-67s (and crews) incorporated into IJNAF units to fly torpedo strike missions against the US Navy off Formosa.
 
Posted By: Randy <r.stone.eal@juno.com>
Date: Saturday, 19 August 2000, at 4:18 p.m.
 
Hi All:
 
On this topic, I met, interviewed and have corresponded extensively with a former IJA mechanic who related -- among many subjects -- his service at Rabaul during the Solomons campaign. He noted that there was extensive cooperation between the services and that he was, in fact, seconded to service strictly for the Navy Zeroes. He even explained the real weak point of the Zero: it's main landing gear legs. I had met him at the Air Museum and had noticed how he longingly looked at the Zero from behind the barricades. When I spoke with him (his English is excellent) I found out about his service and proceeded to allow him to spend time real close to the plane he professed such love for. He was very soft-spoken and polite and appreciated the cook's tour I arranged for the Zero and the Jack (of course, he knew little of the Jack). In any event, he is a treasure trove of information about the Zero and was able to part with a lot of tips regarding the maintenance of that beautiful bird. He commented that the IJN lost many Zeros with less than 50 hours total time simply because of the landing gear issue. But that is part of another story; Japanese hydraulics were never a strong suit.
 
Posted By: James Holloway <fholl46282@aol.com>
Date: Sunday, 20 August 2000, at 9:26 p.m.
 
Sirs, here’s an observation I hope you might find interesting. I have three Uncles, two went into the Navy and the third is considered a "black sheep" because he went Army. According to them and their mates, there were two wars: Army vs Navy and everyone else, and Navy vs Army and everyone else. When these two get drunk they argue over whose marching step was more manly, even though it was the same step. When they talk bad about each other's service they spat out Army or Navy as though they were the real enemy. They never say Americans or British in that tone of voice. On the other hand, the second Navy Brother died on one of the supply runs to Guadalcanal, trying to supply the Army Brother. The Navy also rescued him before the Island finally fell. Also Sakai Saburo mentioned that one of the reasons you see land based Zero pilots wearing clocks around their necks is that at night soldiers would sneak in and steal the clocks out of planes. He also said Army in that tone of voice. This may not directly relate to this topic, but I thought you might find what the individual soldier or sailor thought about the other's service. Sincerely, James Holloway
 
Posted By: DOUG VERNON <SDAM.MIA@USA.NET>
Date: Monday, 21 August 2000, at 12:07 p.m.
 
Dear James,
 
Regarding Japanese pilots wearing watches around their necks. I have been told the same story by a friend of mine who was a pilot with the imperial Japanese navy air force.
 
I asked him some years ago why the space for the watch on the instrument panel was always empty. He told me that the watches were stolen from the panel and that it was best for the pilots to take the watches out of the aircraft and simply hang them around one's neck. He also verified that the pilots used parachute cord on which to hang the watches on. There have been times I have seen pictures of these cords being of different colors. It was explained to me that each color of cord...apparently they were dyed...had different meanings. However, I cannot remember the meanings.
 
Best wishes, Doug Vernon
 
Posted By: Rob Graham <reishikisenguy@aol.com>
Date: Monday, 21 August 2000, at 5:46 a.m.
 
James:
 
The interservice rivalries have been around forever, and I think it's a healthy thing. Units WITHIN each branch have rivalries as well, and it's this that keeps things going.
 
--Rob
 
Posted By: Tony Williams <autogun@globalnet.co.uk>
Date: Saturday, 2 September 2000, at 2:24 p.m.
 
Competition can be healthy, but the Japanese took diversity to ridiculous extremes. When it came to aircraft guns, they used at least nine different rifle calibre machine guns (in 7.7x56R, 7.7x58SR and 7.92x57mm calibres), three different heavy machine guns (in 12.7x81SR, 13x64B and 13.2x99 calibres), five different 20mm cannon (all using different ammo) and three 30mm (also all using different ammo). The IJN and IJA seemed to take it as a point of honour not to use each other's weapons. The supply problems must have been immense.
 

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