Kyūshū J7W2 飛竜 [Flying Dragon]

[Leading Observer]

Kyūshū J7W2 飛竜 [Flying Dragon]
As the aerial assault on the Japanese Home Islands gathered pace ahead of Operation Downfall, American B-29 bomber pilots began reporting encountering a strange Japanese fighter which looked like it was "flying backwards with flames shooting out of it". This new aircraft was subsequently identified as the Kyushu J7W2, a development of the pusher propeller driven J7W1. Despite having some success against the high flying B-29's, it was only available in small numbers.
Aircraft 352-60 was assigned to the 352nd Air Group assigned to the defence of Tokyo, and was flown by the highly experienced IJN Ace Naoshi Kanno, who had survived being shot down on 1st August 1945 whilst attacking a group of B-24 bombers escorted by P-51 Mustang fighters off the island of Yakushima, south of Kyushu, when his aircraft suffered severe damage when the barrel of his gun exploded whilst dog fighting with the Mustangs. After recovering from his injuries, he was transferred from the  301st Squadron of the 343rd Air Group to take command of the 352nd Air Group and initially enjoyed some success attacking the high flying Superfortresses, adding several more kills to his score. Once again he was lucky to survive when his cockpit canopy was virtually destroyed by return fire from a B-29. Diving away, he managed to land unscathed, and his aircraft was repaired, the canopy being replaced with one fresh from the factory, still in its primer paint.
Eventually his luck ran out, when returning to his home airfield as it grew dark, he was intercepted by a Martin-Baker Sea Ferret NF.Mk.1 Night fighter operating from HMS Implacable.

[Rick Lowe]

 

[Old Wombat]

Nice! 

Now I'm waiting for the Sea Ferret (I'm fairly sure I haven't missed it). 

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice. The OOB Hasegawa thing, I assume?

[Leading Observer]

Nice! 

Now I'm waiting for the Sea Ferret (I'm fairly sure I haven't missed it). 

You haven't missed it OW, although what with a forthcoming road trip to Scotland, it's doubtful I will get it finished by the GB Deadline, as I have only just started work on it!

[NARSES2]

Looks very good 

[zenrat]

 

[su27rules]