Tonies or Judies attacking the BPF
 

I have often wondered why a single Tony is mentioned among a group of Zekes, Tojos or Oscars, especially in attacks on the BPF in 1945. Is it not more probable that the "Tony" is in fact a Judy, with a fighter escort.

Likewise are the "Kates" encountered in 1945 more likelt to be "Jills"

regards

Keith

Re: Tonies or Judies attacking the BPF
 

It's been some years since I was looking into this, so from memory...

Tokkotai aircraft sent against the BPF mostly (if not completely) originated from Formosa, staging up through the Sakishima Islands. Most were JNAF but a few were JAAF (I recall one specific incident in which Sonias were sent against the BPF without success) so a Tony is a possibility. Another aircraft type that may have been misidentified is the C6N Myrt, which was used to guide the tokkotai and report on results (what the BPF called "Gestapo" aircraft). A Myrt from 762 Kokutai was definitely present during the attack on Formidable on 4 May for example.

Kates were most definitely used as kamikazes during the Okinawa operations as well as Judys. Can't remember offhand if any Kates were sent against the BPF though.

Re: Tonies or Judies attacking the BPF
 

I expect the claims on 12 April were Judies. Most of the claims later in the day were for Zekes, and therefore a Navy aircraft feeds my hypothesis but as you say it is possible a single Tony was among a group of Kamikaze. I think my original thought derived from a claim by an Australian Spitfire pilot on the Darwin Raids in 1943.

A Myrt would be a reasonable misidentification for a Jill or a radial-engine Judy or a Kate...

I wonder if the Oscars claimed may have been "Hamps"?

regards

Keith

Re: Tonies or Judies attacking the BPF
 

Yup, lots of misidentifications by both sides during that campaign!

I don't think any Hamps were used for kamikaze attacks during the Okinawa campaign. There weren't any left by then...

Oscars are a definite possibility for 12 April. Quite a few were thrown against the Radar Picket Stations around Okinawa that day; some Oscars also sortied from Formosa that day, presumably to attack the BPF, though if memory serves none got through to the BPF.

A6M2s are also a definite possibility. Some Franks were sent on tokkotai missions that day as well, though again I think they all went after the Radar Picket Stations.

I do remember that a Ki.46 Dinah was shot down on the morning of 12 April somewhere near the BPF though I don't remember which squadron got the victory.

Re: Tonies or Judies attacking the BPF
 

Cheers Steve :)

Re: Tonies or Judies attacking the BPF
 

From notes I took 10+ years ago (and unfortunately I didn't write down the source at the time):

Two units flying Oscars out of Formosa on kamikaze sorties 12 April 1945:

Dai 20 Shinbu-tai
Dai 43 Shinbu-tai

IIRC they each sent 3 Oscars, presumably against the BPF. None returned, no hits credited.