This is a list of Japanese Aircraft in use during the
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) or War of Resistance (Chinese term) was a military conflict that was primarily waged between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. The war made up the Chinese theater of the wider Pacific Th ...
.
Allied nicknames are in quotes (").
Japanese Army Aircraft
Reconnaissance
*
Kawasaki Ki-88 (KDA-2)
*
Nakajima Ki-4
The Nakajima Ki-4 was the last biplane reconnaissance aircraft of the Japanese Imperial Army. It saw combat service in Manchukuo and in north China during the early stages of the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Design and development
The Ki-4 was i ...
*
Mitsubishi Ki-15 "Babs"
*
Mitsubishi Ki-46
The Mitsubishi Ki-46 was a twin-engine reconnaissance aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. Its Army ''Shiki'' designation was Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Aircraft (); the Allied brevity code name was "Dinah".
Devel ...
"Dinah"
Liaison/Training
*Nakajima J.S.S.F.
*
Kokusai Ki-86 "Cypress"
*
Mansyu Ki-79
The was the main fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service up until 1940. Its Allied nickname was "Nate", although it was called "Abdul" in the "China Burma India" (CBI) theater by many post war sources; Allied Intelligen ...
*
Nakajima Ki-27a-Kai & Ki-27b-Kai "Nate"
*
Tachikawa Ki-9
The was an intermediate training aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force built by Tachikawa Aircraft Company Ltd in the 1930s. It was known to the Allies of World War II, Allies World War II Allied names for Japanese aircraft, under t ...
"Spruce"
*
Tachikawa Ki-17
The was a basic training aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force built by Tachikawa Aircraft Company Ltd in the 1930s. It was known to the Allies under the nickname of ''Cedar'' during World War II.
Design and development
The Ki-9 wa ...
"Cedar"
*
Tachikawa Ki-24
*
Tachikawa Ki-54 "Hickory"
*
Tachikawa Ki-55
The Tachikawa Ki-55 was a Japanese advanced trainer.
Design and development
The excellent characteristics of the Tachikawa Ki-36 made it potentially ideal as a trainer. This led to the development of the Ki-55 with a single machine gun. Afte ...
"Ida"
Light bombers
*
Kawasaki Ki-3
The was a light bomber built by Kawasaki Kōkūki Kōgyō K.K. for the Imperial Japanese Army in the 1930s. It was the last biplane bomber design to be produced for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, and saw combat service in Manchukuo and ...
*
Mitsubishi Ki-2
The was a light bomber built by Mitsubishi for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS) in the 1930s. Its Allies of World War II, Allied World War II Allied names for Japanese aircraft, nickname was "Louise". Despite its antiquated appeara ...
*
Kawasaki Type 88
The Kawasaki Army Type 88 Reconnaissance Aircraft was a Japanese single-engined biplane designed for Kawasaki by Richard Vogt. Originally known by its company designation KDA-2, it was accepted by the Imperial Japanese Army as the Type 88 Reconn ...
(KDA-2)
*
Kawasaki Ki-32 "Mary"
*
Mitsubishi Ki-30
The was a Japanese light bomber of World War II. It was a single-engine, mid-wing, cantilever monoplane of stressed-skin construction with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage and a long transparent cockpit canopy. The type had significance in bein ...
"Ann"
*
Mitsubishi Ki-51 "Sonia"
*
Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily"
Dive bombers
*
Nakajima Ki-4
The Nakajima Ki-4 was the last biplane reconnaissance aircraft of the Japanese Imperial Army. It saw combat service in Manchukuo and in north China during the early stages of the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Design and development
The Ki-4 was i ...
*
Kawasaki Ki-32 "Mary"
Army land support
*
Tachikawa Ki-36
The Tachikawa Ki-36 (named ''Ida'' in Allied reporting code) was a Japanese army co-operation aircraft of World War II. It was a two-seat, low-wing monoplane with a single piston engine and fixed, tailwheel-type undercarriage.
Design and deve ...
"Ida"
Ground attack
*
Rikugun Ki-93-Ib
*
Kawasaki Ki-102b "Randy"
Heavy bombers
*
Mitsubishi Ki-1
*
Mitsubishi Ki-2
The was a light bomber built by Mitsubishi for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS) in the 1930s. Its Allies of World War II, Allied World War II Allied names for Japanese aircraft, nickname was "Louise". Despite its antiquated appeara ...
*
Mitsubishi Ki-21
The (Allied reporting name: "Sally" /"Gwen") was a Japanese heavy bomber during World War II. It began operations during the Second Sino-Japanese War participating in the Nomonhan Incident, and in the first stages of the Pacific War, including ...
"Sally"
*
Fiat BR.20 Cicogna
The Fiat BR.20 ''Cicogna'' (Italian: " stork") was a low-wing twin-engine medium bomber that was developed and manufactured by Italian aircraft company Fiat. It holds the distinction of being the first all-metal Italian bomber to enter service;B ...
(85 examples)
*
Nakajima Ki-49
The Nakajima Ki-49 ''Donryu'' (呑龍, "Storm Dragon")Francillon, 1970, p.223 was a twin-engine Japanese World War II heavy bomber. It was designed to carry out day bombing, daylight bombing missions, without the protection of escort fighters. Con ...
''Donryu'' "Helen"
*
Mitsubishi Ki-67
The Mitsubishi Ki-67 ''Hiryū'' (飛龍, "Flying Dragon"; Allied reporting name "Peggy") was a twin-engine heavy bomber produced by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company and used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service and Imperial Japanese Navy Air Serv ...
''Hiryu'' "Peggy"
Fighters
*
Nakajima Type 91
The Nakajima Army Type 91 Fighter was a Japanese fighter of the 1930s. It was a single-engine, single-seat parasol monoplane with a fixed, tailwheel undercarriage.
Development
Designed in response to an Army requirement of 1927, the Type 91 wa ...
(NC)
*
Kawasaki Ki-10 "Perry"
*
Nakajima Ki-27 "Nate" or "Abdul"
*
Nakajima Ki-43
The Nakajima Ki-43 ''Hayabusa'' (, "Peregrine falcon", "Army Type 1 Fighter" ) is a single-engine land-based tactical fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service in World War II.
The Allied reporting name was "Oscar", but it was o ...
''Hayabusa'' "Oscar"
*
Nakajima Ki-44
The Nakajima Ki-44 ''Shoki'' (鍾馗, " Devil Queller") was a single-seat fighter-interceptor which was developed by the Nakajima Aircraft Company and operated by the Imperial Japanese Army from 1942 to 1945 during World War II. Its official de ...
''Shoki'' "Tojo"
*
Kawasaki Ki-61
The Kawasaki Ki-61 ''Hien'' (飛燕, "flying swallow") is a Japanese World War II fighter aircraft. Used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service, it was designated the "Army Type 3 Fighter" (三式戦闘機). Allied intelligence initially b ...
''Hien'' "Tony"
*
Nakajima Ki-84 ''Hayate'' "Frank"
Heavy fighters
*
Kawasaki Ki-45 ''Toryu'' "Nick"
*
Kawasaki Ki-51 ''Tokyo'' "Sonia"
*
Kawasaki Ki-93 ''Toroku''
*
Rikugun Ki-93-Ia
*
Kawasaki Ki-102a, Ki-102c "Randy"
Transports
*
Fokker/Nakajima Ki-6 "Super Universal"
*
Nakajima Ki-34
The Nakajima Ki-34 was a Japanese light transport of World War II. It was a twin-engine, low-wing monoplane; the undercarriage was of tailwheel type with retractable main units. During the Pacific War, the Allies assigned the type the reporting ...
"Thora"
*
Mitsubishi Ki-57
The Mitsubishi Ki-57 was a Japanese passenger transport aircraft, developed from the Ki-21 bomber, during the early 1940s.
Development
In 1938, when the Ki-21 heavy bomber began to enter service with the Imperial Japanese Army, its capability ...
"Topsy"
*
Kawasaki Ki-56 "Thalia"
*
Kokusai Ki-59 "Theresa"
*
Tachikawa Type LO "Thelma"
*
Tachikawa Ki-54 "Hickory"
Autogyro
*
Kayaba Ka-1
The Kayaba Ka-1 and Ka-2 were Japanese autogyros, seeing service during World War II for artillery spotting.
Design and development
The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) developed the Ka-1 autogyro for reconnaissance, artillery-spotting, and anti-s ...
Japanese Navy Aircraft
Reconnaissance
*
Mitsubishi C5M "Babs"
*
Nakajima C6N ''Saiun'' "Myrt"
Reconnaissance Seaplanes
*
Nakajima E4N
The Nakajima E4N was a Japanese shipboard reconnaissance aircraft of the 1930s. It was a two-seat, single-engine, equal-span biplane seaplane used primarily by the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Development
The first prototype of the Type 90-2 Reconna ...
*
Kawanishi E7K
The Kawanishi E7K was a Japanese three-seat reconnaissance seaplane mainly in use during the 1930s. It was allocated the reporting name Alf by the Allies of World War II.
Design and development
In 1932 the Imperial Japanese Navy requested the K ...
"Alf"
*
Nakajima E8N
The Nakajima E8N was a Japanese ship-borne, catapult-launched, reconnaissance seaplane of the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was a single-engine, two-seat biplane with a central main-float and underwing outriggers. During the Pacific War, it was k ...
"Dave"
*
Watanabe E9W
The Watanabe E9W was a Japanese submarine-borne reconnaissance seaplane, the first aircraft designed by Watanabe Ironworks.
Development and design
In January 1934, the Imperial Japanese Navy had a requirement for a two-seat reconnaissance se ...
"Slim"
*
Aichi E10A
The Aichi E10A was a Japanese night reconnaissance flying boat of the 1930s. A single-engined biplane, 15 were built for the Imperial Japanese Navy as the Type 96 Night Reconnaissance Seaplane, serving from 1936 but were retired in 1941 before th ...
"Hank"
*
Aichi E11A
The Aichi E11A (九八夜偵, ''Kyū-hachi Yatei'') was an Imperial Japanese Navy flying boat used during the first year of World War II for maritime patrol duties. The Allied reporting name for the type was "Laura"; the Japanese Navy designation ...
"Laura"
*
Aichi E13A "Jake"
*
Aichi E16A
The Aichi E16A ''Zuiun'' (瑞雲 "Auspicious Cloud", Allied reporting name "Paul") was a two-seat reconnaissance seaplane operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.
Design and development
The Aichi E16A originated from a 1939 s ...
"Paul"
*
Yokosuka E14Y "Glen"
*
Mitsubishi F1M "Pete"
Dive bombers
*
Aichi D1A
The Aichi D1A or Navy Type 94/96 Carrier Bomber ( Allied reporting name "Susie") was a Japanese carrier-based dive bomber of the 1930s. A single-engine, two-seat biplane based on the Heinkel He 50, the D1A was produced by Aichi for the Imperia ...
"Susie"
*
Aichi D3A "Val"
*
Yokosuka D4Y ''Suisei'' "Judy"
*
Aichi B7A
The was a large and powerful carrier-borne torpedo-dive bomber produced by Aichi Kokuki for the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during the Second World War. Built in only small numbers and deprived of the aircraft carriers it was intended ...
''Ryūsei'' "Grace"
*
Mitsubishi A6M7 model 62,63 ''Rei-Sen'' "Hamp"/"Zeke"
Flying boat
*
Kawanishi H6K
The Kawanishi H6K was an Imperial Japanese Navy flying boat produced by the Kawanishi Aircraft Company and used during World War II for maritime patrol duties. The Allied reporting name for the type was Mavis; the Navy designation was .
Design ...
"Mavis"
*
Kawanishi H8K
The Kawanishi H8K was a flying boat used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during World War II for maritime patrol duties. The Allied reporting name for the type was "Emily".
The Kawanishi H8K was a large, four-engine aircraft designed ...
"Emily"
Fighters
*
Nakajima A4N
*
Nakajima A6M2-N
The Nakajima A6M2-N (Navy Type 2 Interceptor/Fighter-Bomber) was a single-crew floatplane based on the Mitsubishi A6M Zero Model 11. The Allied reporting name for the aircraft was Rufe.
Design and development
The A6M2-N floatplane was develo ...
"Rufe"
*
Mitsubishi A5M "Claude"
*
Mitsubishi A6M ''Rei-Sen'' "Zero"
*
Heinkel He 112
The Heinkel He 112 is a German fighter aircraft designed by Walter and Siegfried Günter. It was one of four aircraft designed to compete for the 1933 fighter contract of the ''Luftwaffe'', in which it came second behind the Messerschmitt Bf 10 ...
(Japanese designation A7He1)
*
Mitsubishi A6M Zero
The Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" is a long-range carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft formerly manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and was operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 19 ...
''Rei-Sen'' "Hamp"/"Zeke"
*
Nakajima J1N ''Gekko'' "Irving"
*
Mitsubishi J2M ''Raiden'' "Jack"
*
Kawanishi N1K ''Kyofu'' "Terry"
Escort Fighter
*
Seversky 2PA-B3 "Convoy Fighter" (Japanese design:A8V1) "Dick"
Torpedo Bombers
*
Mitsubishi B2M
The Mitsubishi B2M was a Japanese carrier-based torpedo bomber of the 1920s and 1930s. It was built by Mitsubishi to a design by Blackburn Aircraft of Britain and was operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Design and development
In 1927, the ...
*
Kugisho B3Y
*
Yokosuka B4Y "Jean"
*
Nakajima B5N "Kate"
*
Mitsubishi B5M
The Mitsubishi B5M was an Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) land-based attack aircraft, originally intended for carrier use. The B5M was also given the long formal designation and Allied reporting name of Mabel.
The B5M was designed ...
"Mabel"
*
Nakajima B6N ''Tenzan'' "Jill"
*
Aichi B7A
The was a large and powerful carrier-borne torpedo-dive bomber produced by Aichi Kokuki for the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during the Second World War. Built in only small numbers and deprived of the aircraft carriers it was intended ...
''Ryūsei'' "Grace"
*
Mitsubishi G3M "Nell"
*
Mitsubishi G4M "Betty"
*
Yokosuka P1Y ''Ginga'' "Frances"
*
Mitsubishi Ki-67
The Mitsubishi Ki-67 ''Hiryū'' (飛龍, "Flying Dragon"; Allied reporting name "Peggy") was a twin-engine heavy bomber produced by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company and used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service and Imperial Japanese Navy Air Serv ...
''Hiryu'' "Peggy"
Torpedo Bombers
*
Nakajima B5N "Kate"
Medium Bombers
*
Mitsubishi G3M "Nell"
*
Mitsubishi G4M "Betty"
*
Yokosuka P1Y ''Ginga'' "Frances"
*
Mitsubishi Ki-67
The Mitsubishi Ki-67 ''Hiryū'' (飛龍, "Flying Dragon"; Allied reporting name "Peggy") was a twin-engine heavy bomber produced by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company and used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service and Imperial Japanese Navy Air Serv ...
''Yasukuni'' "Peggy"
Antisubmarine Patrol
*
Kyushu K11W
The Kyūshū K11W Shiragiku (白菊, "White Chrysanthemum") made by the Kyūshū Aircraft Company, was a land-based bombing trainer aircraft which served in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in the latter years of World War II. As indicated ...
''Shiragiku''
*
Kyushu Q1W
The Kyūshū Q1W ''Tokai'' (東海 "Eastern Sea") was a land-based anti-submarine patrol bomber aircraft developed for the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II. The Allied reporting name was ''Lorna''. Although similar in appearance to the Ge ...
''Tokai'' "Lorna"
Transport
*
Kawanishi H6K2-L & H6K4-L "Mavis"
*
Kawanishi H8K1-L, H8K2-L & H8K4-L "Emily"
*
Nakajima C2N
*
Mitsubishi G6M1-L2
The Mitsubishi G4M was a twin-engine, land-based medium bomber formerly manufactured by the Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945. Its official designati ...
*
Mitsubishi K3M
The was a trainer built by Mitsubishi which was used by the Imperial Japanese Navy in an extremely wide variety of roles, including light transport, liaison aircraft, utility aircraft and occasionally light bomber. Its Allied reporting na ...
"Pine"
*
Mitsubishi L3Y "Tina"
*Showa/
Nakajima L2D "Tabby"
Trainer/Liaison
*
Aichi D3A2-K "Val"
*
Hitachi (Tokyo Gasu Denky) LXG
*
Kyushu K9W
is the third-largest island of Japan's five main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands ( i.e. excluding Okinawa). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regional name referred to Kyushu and its surroun ...
"Cypress"
*
Kyushu K10W
The Kyushu K10W Type 2 Land based intermediate trainer (Code Named ''Oak'' by the Allies) was a single engine low wing fixed undercarriage monoplane training aircraft which served in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in the latter part of Wo ...
"Oak"
*
Kyushu K11W
The Kyūshū K11W Shiragiku (白菊, "White Chrysanthemum") made by the Kyūshū Aircraft Company, was a land-based bombing trainer aircraft which served in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in the latter years of World War II. As indicated ...
''Shiragiku''
*
Mitsubishi A5M4-K "Claude"
*
Mitsubishi A6M2-K & A6M5-K "Zeke"
*
Mitsubishi G6M1-K "Betty"
*
Nakajima B5N1-K "Kate"
*
Yokosuka K5Y
The was a two-seat unequal-span biplane trainer that served in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Due to its bright orange paint scheme (applied to all Japanese military trainers for visibility), it earned the nickname ''"aka-tomb ...
"Willow"
See also
*
Aerial Engagements of the Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War began on 7 July 1937 with the Marco Polo Bridge Incident in the Republic of China and is often regarded as the start of World War II as full-scale warfare erupted with the Battle of Shanghai, and ending when the Emp ...
*
Development of Chinese Nationalist air force (1937-1945)
*
List of aircraft of Japan during World War II FAircraft
This is a list of aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.
Fighters
Attack Aircraft
Bombers
Reconnaissance Aircraft
Trainers
World War II Imperial Japanese Navy traine ...
References
{{reflist
Japanese aircraft
Second Sino-Japanese War, aircraft
Japanese, Second Sino-Japanese War