Ka-1 and Ka-2 'helicopters'

[Brian]

Hi guys

I'm a bit out of my depth here, so were any of the Japanese Ka-1 and Ka-2 'helicopters' observed/engaged/shot down by Allied air, naval or ground forces?

Cheers
Brian

[Col Bruggy]

Hi Brian,

It might help a little if we tell people, that the Ka-1 and Ka-2 were the Kayaba Ka-1 Ka-Go and Ka-2 observation autogyro, respectively. Both were versions of the Kellett KD-1A.

When shipping losses began to rise alarmingly the Japanese Army commissioned the light escort carrier "Akitsu Maru", a converted merchant ship. The short take-off characteristics of the Ka-1 rendered it suitable for operation from this small vessel and accordingly a number of Ka-1s were modified as anti-submarine patrol aircraft. As the load-carrying capability of the standard Ka-1 was too limited, the carrier-borne Ka-1s were operated as single-seaters and carried two 60 kg (132 lb) depth-charges. In this role the Ka-1s operated over Japanese coastal waters and particularly over the Tsugara and Korean channels. At least one of these aircraft, the Ka-1 KAI, was tested with powder rockets on the rotor tips in an attempt to improve its load-carrying capability while another aircraft was fitted with a 240hp Jacobs L-4MA-7 seven-cylinder air-cooled radial. With the Jacobs engine the type became the Ka-2.

Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War
Francillon,Rene J
London:Putnam,1994(rep.)
pp.143-5.

Col.