Mitsuo Fuchida's B5N2 (tora!)

[Octavius]

Not sure where exactly this photo comes from, but the site from which it came claims it was  only a few weeks after Pearl Harbor.  

When it was taken doesn't make any difference to me really.  I have a question about the colors and markings.

Just ahead of the tail on the fuselage and before the fuselage insignia, is there a red band outlined in white?

Some message boards claim it is, but, this photo being black and white, it's difficult to tell.  The model at that page has it.  Do any other photographs exist?

[Jester]

Fuchida's KATE carried the following markings:

PAINT SCHEME:
IJN Dk. Green over Light Grey under surfaces with a black painted nose and engine cowl up to the windscreen. During the PH operation it also carried a solid red tail and horizontal stabs.

NATIONAL INSIGNIA: Type 1 red disks (no outline) on all six positions.

NUMBERING:
AI-301 Numbers are yellow in color.
AI was the code for the carrier AKAGI, Ist Carrier, 1st Carrier Division
301: "3" is the code number for the Torpedo Bombers from the Akagi. (Fighters carred a number starting with 1, Dive Bombers a number starting with 2.) "01" Was the first aircraft of the Chutai.
The a/c also carried a large "1" on the underside of each wing between the wheels and national insignia.

FUESLAGE BAND:
Single broad red band with white outlines. One Red band was the marking for the Akagi up till the time she was sunk at Midway. The red color was the designate for the 1st Carrier Division. (KAGA was the 2nd carrier of the 1st Carrier Div. so her aircraft carried two red stripes on their fuselage.)

TAIL MARKINGS:
One broad yellow stripe above numbers. Two broad yellow stripes below numbers.
The one yellow stripe above the numbers was to mark a "Lieutenant's" rank. (The a/c was assigned to his pilot, Lt. Matuzaki not Cmdr. Fuchida.)
The two stripes below the number are the designate of a Flight Leader.
On your pic it appears the red tail has been painted over. Hard to tell with B&W photos of the era.

Hope this helps some. If you are looking for even more detailed info go to this website and post your pic.  http://www.j-aircraft.com/    
 Many there who can help you out.

!

[Octavius]

Thank you very much Jester

Here is a work in progress of Cmdr Fuchida's Kate.  It is lacking the fuselage red with white outline band.  The insignia is outlined in white... I like it this way and will cringe when I remove the white outline in the final version.

[Jester]

Looks damn good! !

Slight correction on my part - the tail markings and numbers were all yellow on this aircraft. You have them correct on your skin.

The broad red stripe with white outlines was definately there. All AKAGI's Kate's were marked that way.

One note on your skin - the tail cone on Fuchida's Kate was also red both top and bottom from the fuselage seam back to tip. (Just aft of where the rudder starts).

If you would rather do a Kate with the White outlined Himomaru's I can help you research one up. Just Advise.

Keep up the good work! !