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Re: "Balls of Fire" attacks against B-29s over Japan
Stig,
Are you aware of all of the technical reports produced by the American investigators that were in Japan? That is one reason I keep looking for original reports and specialized books. I don't expect this sort of information to appear in some "popular," widely circulated book. Apparently, you do. For example: Do you have a copy of Japanese Special Attack Aircraft & Flying Bombs by Ryusuke Ishiguro and Tadeusz Januszewski?
From page 129: "Just before the end of hostilities, on 2 July 1945 the Kaigun Koku Hombu issued to Kawanishi their specifications for the development and production of a new aeroplane, which received the designation 'Experimental Navy Special Attack Aeroplane Baika' [Plum Blossom - Ed]. The new design was to replace the existing Ohka Models 11 and 22 and Nakajima Kikka special attack aircraft. Similar specifications were also received by Dai-Ichi Koku Gijyutsusho (generally shortened to Kugisho) at Yokosuka, in response to which a development of the Ohka Model 22, designated the Ohka Model 43 Otsu, was designed.
"... The Ohka Model 43 Otsu was intended to be powered by the Ne-20 turbojet engine, while it was planned that the Baika would use the Ka-10 pulse-jet."
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