Oshio

C. Peter Chen — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:00:00

Like many of her sister ships of the Asashio-class destroyers, Oshio was assigned to Destroyer Division 8 upon commissioning. Between 4 and 24 Dec 1941, she acted as distant cover for Admiral Nobutake Kondo's Southern Force Main Body during the invasion of Malaya and the Philippine Islands. Bet...

Andrei Tupolev

C. Peter Chen — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:00:00

Andrei Nikolayevich Tupolev was born in the village of Pustomazovo, Russia. In 1909, he enrolled in the Moscow Higher Technical College and studied under Nikolai Egorovich Zhukovskii. He helped Zhukovskii organize the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) in 1918 and became the head of its...

Attack on Darwin

C. Peter Chen — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:00:00

In the 1930s the tropical, northern Australian port city of Darwin was considered by government ministers in Canberra as a vital asset in Australia's defence against an expanding, militant imperial Japan, so in the years leading up to the Second World War, the harbour underwent improvements to co...

E13A

C. Peter Chen — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:00:00

The E13A Type Zero Reconnaissance Seaplanes were designed in 1937, though they did not enter production until 1940. However, they were the standard seaplanes of the Japanese Navy by the opening of the Pacific War in 1941. They operated as spotters from cruisers, reconnaissance aircraft from car...

US Navy Report of Japanese Raid on Pearl Harbor, Enclosure E, USS Avocet

C. Peter Chen — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:28:00

AVP4/A16-3
( 039 )

UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET
AIRCRAFT SCOUTING FORCE
U.S.S. Avocet (AVP4)

Pearl Harbor, T.H.
...

Interrogation Nav 43, Captain Toshikazu Ohmae

C. Peter Chen — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 23:21:00

Biography OHMAE, Toshikazu, Captain, I.J.N. OHMAE was a most prolific source of information on all phases of the war, both operational and planning information. His wide background of experience together with his intelligence and insight into naval operations and planning, made him the ...

DUKW in DC

C. Peter Chen — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 02:45:56

Okay, I'm going to admit that I contracted with a tour-trolley company in DC on my most recent visit, but only because we had a "less-mobile" adult in our group. I know. Nothing says tourist more than a tour trolley, and more than a few "locals" sniggered and pointed as we drove on by. In doing t...

Imperial Japanese Navy Battleships 1941-45

C. Peter Chen — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:00:00

I am a WW2 history enthusiast, I do not think there is much room for doubt with that. My particular interest in naval forces, I think, began when I saw the Japanese movie Rengo Kantai in the early 1980s. After that, I remember flipping through books at the library to find out about the names of...

Invasion of Iceland

C. Peter Chen — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:00:00

Iceland, an independent sovereign nation ruled by the King of Denmark, joined Denmark in the pursuit of neutrality when the European War began. Upon the German invasion of Denmark in Apr 1940, Icelandic parliament declared King Christian X unable to perform his constitutional duties, and began t...

Tanikaze

C. Peter Chen — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:00:00

Destroyer Tanikaze was commissioned in 1941 with Commander Motoi Katsumi in command. As a part of Destroyer Division 17 of Destroyer Squadron 1, First Fleet, she set sail from the Kurile Islands in late Nov 1941 and escorted Admiral Chuichi Nagumo's Pearl Harbor strike force. Between 21 and 23 ...

Percy Hobart

C. Peter Chen — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:00:00

Percy Cleghorn Stanley Hobart was born in Naini Tal, India to British Indian Civil Service employee Robert T. Hobart and Janetta Stanley. He was educated at the Temple Grove School and Clifton College in Bistol, England, United Kingdom. In 1904, he graduated from the Royal Military Academy at W...

MS.406

C. Peter Chen — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:00:00

The MS.406 fighters began their lives under the MS.405 design, which was a response to the French Air Force's requirement in 1934 for modern single seat fighters. The prototype took flight in Aug 1935, and it attracted an order for 16 aircraft. Upon some updates including lighter wings and retr...

World War II Memorial

C. Peter Chen — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:46:37

More relatives in town, another day in DC. Some highlights from the World War II Memorial. From left to right… (two clicks will get you to the full picture): Beach landing: this one caught my eye primarily because of the Higgins boats in the upper background. Para...

US Navy Report of Japanese Raid on Pearl Harbor, Enclosure E, Commander Patrol Wing TWENTY TWO

C. Peter Chen — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 21:00:26

VP22/A16-3/L11-1/A9 Patrol Squadron TWENTY-TWO
U.S. Naval Air Station,
Pearl Harbor, T.H.,
December 13, 1941.

From The Commander Patrol Squadron TWENTY-T...

Interrogation Nav 80, Fleet Admiral Osami Nagano

C. Peter Chen — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:19:00
Biography NAGANO, Osami, Fleet Admiral, I.J.N. As his duties would indicate, NAGANO was probably the most authoritative senior naval officer surviving the war. In common with most naval men of his background and experience, he expressed initial opposition to the war and to the Three Pow...

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