Repaint for Akemi Mizoguchi's latest version of J2M3 Raiden
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Credits:
This repaint is put together from different P.F. textures by Pappy Boyington.
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History:
Akamatsu was widely known as the "Master of the Raiden." With the Allied code name of "Jack," this stubby interceptor was designed to attack B-29's. It carried two 20mm cannon in each wing, and could attain a speed of more than 380mph. It's only drawback was it's lack of maneuverability. None believed that it could outfight the dreaded P-51 Mustang; it had never been done before. Prewar trained, Akamatsu was repeatedly broken in rank due to his off-base behavior, his lack of respect for superiors, and his thoroughly un-Japanese individualism.
Only his superlative flying skills, at a time when Japan had fewer and fewer pilots of his ability, kept him from being cashiered from the service.
Akamatsu was a demon in the air and became one of the highest-scoring IJN aces.Additionally, Akamatsu was one of the few pilots to become an ace in both the A6M Zero and the J2M Raiden (Thunderbolt, Allied code name 'Jack'). He specialized in going after P-51s while flying the J2M.
When you consider he shot down over ten P-51s and five B-29s in an aircraft, which was supposed to be 'meat on the table' to the Mustang, you get an idea of his accomplishments. Akamatsu survived the final battles over the Japanese home islands and became a restauranteur after the war.
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Morton, January 2008
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Credits:
This repaint is put together from different P.F. textures by Pappy Boyington.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
History:
Akamatsu was widely known as the "Master of the Raiden." With the Allied code name of "Jack," this stubby interceptor was designed to attack B-29's. It carried two 20mm cannon in each wing, and could attain a speed of more than 380mph. It's only drawback was it's lack of maneuverability. None believed that it could outfight the dreaded P-51 Mustang; it had never been done before. Prewar trained, Akamatsu was repeatedly broken in rank due to his off-base behavior, his lack of respect for superiors, and his thoroughly un-Japanese individualism.
Only his superlative flying skills, at a time when Japan had fewer and fewer pilots of his ability, kept him from being cashiered from the service.
Akamatsu was a demon in the air and became one of the highest-scoring IJN aces.Additionally, Akamatsu was one of the few pilots to become an ace in both the A6M Zero and the J2M Raiden (Thunderbolt, Allied code name 'Jack'). He specialized in going after P-51s while flying the J2M.
When you consider he shot down over ten P-51s and five B-29s in an aircraft, which was supposed to be 'meat on the table' to the Mustang, you get an idea of his accomplishments. Akamatsu survived the final battles over the Japanese home islands and became a restauranteur after the war.
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Morton, January 2008
