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A6M2-N Rufe - 'Floatplane Zero' in the Aleutian Campaign (Part 2)

Showtime112

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After the Americans built an airfield on the island of Adak, their single engine fighters P-39 and P-40 were able to escort bombers all the way to the Japanese stronghold on Kiska Island. This was a real turning point in the Aleutians campaign but the Japanese were still determined not to allow the Americans to kick them out easily. A6M2-N 'Rufe' pilots were still able to hit hard and a number of American planes fell as their victims.

Sources:
John Haile Cloe - The Aleutian Warriors: A History of the 11th Air Force & Fleet Air Wing 4,
https://amzn.to/4bjGyai

Krzysztof Janowicz - A6M2-N Rufe
https://amzn.to/42qNIWl

Brian Garfield - Thousand-Mile War: World War II in Alaska and the Aleutians
https://amzn.to/496NRkm

Report from the Aleutians | 1943 Authentic Colour Film
Report from the Aleutians | 1943 Authentic...

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20 Comments

@Spitfiresammons 2 years ago (edited)

The A6M2N-Rufe must be the best and successful Japanese seaplane fighter of WW2 I would like to hear another Rufe story over Solomons and pacific Islands.

@sohrabroozbahani4700 2 years ago

P40 is one of those unsung heroes of WW2, it fought all over the place when things were the worst as they could get, it needs to receive more love than it does...

@robgraham5697 2 years ago

Thanks again for bringing an obscure piece of history to life. Much enjoyed,

@martinblunden4689 2 years ago

Thanks for posting both parts of this video,I love obscure campaign stories that don't get the coverage elsewhere...and this was fascinating

@tominva4121 2 years ago

More please!

@thomasfarley5070 2 years ago

These under covered battles are very interesting, Thank you!

@juancarlosperezcortes9259 2 years ago

Outstanding story. It shows the complexity of World War II and how the isolated placed became battlefronts

@jeannezehner9450 2 years ago

Excellent part II, I believe that the american had found a japonese zero in the Aleutian virtually intact. They rebuild it and studied it for understanding the points of weakness of this aircraft And one of their general said about it : " it is a passenger plane with a big engine !!!". But this plane had no protection, virtually no shelding and burned easily.

@Paladin1873 2 years ago

I knew about Chennault's son commanding the P-40s, but I did not know Canadian aircraft were involved in the Aleutian Campaign. It makes sense because Canadian soldiers were part of the forces we landed on Kiska and Canadian corvettes participated in the Attu operation.

@offshorequest 2 years ago

Another great video ! Looking forward to more coverage of lesser known engagements !

@davidpope3943 2 years ago (edited)

Another great episode. Thank-you for all the effort you put into this.
I’ve always thought it extremely lucky that Yamamoto decided to combine the invasion of Attu and Kiska in the Aleutians with the planned assault on Midway. If Yamamoto hadn’t split his forces, the Americans would have had to face at least 6 Japanese carriers at Midway instead of 4, plus there were another 2 fleet carriers under repair and refit from the battle of the Coral Sea just a few weeks beforehand. Yamamoto was known to be a great gambler, particularly at poker ~ but the cards weren’t right for him at Midway. Fortunately.

@taraeggers9122 2 years ago

Historical bit of fact. My Grandfather, was aboard the U.S.S. Tangiers, in the Aleutians. A seaplane tender, that tended the very type of American Seaplane, shown. In his words, "It was all we had to fight them with."

@MrSpirit99 2 years ago

Hey, I'm early. Nice work as always, I appreciate the work that goes into your videos.

@shauny2285 2 years ago

I like the addition of the gun camera film along with the animation. Cheers!

@cammobunker 4 months ago

The Kawanishi N1K1 was too late to be useful as a float plane. But they removed the float and did some re-working of it. It emerged as the N1K-J Shiden and N1K-J2 Shiden Kai, Allied name "George". A highly capable fighter with plenty of power, some very advanced combat flaps, 4 20MM cannon and a serious combat capability. While it still wasn't able to take on the Hellcat on even terms, it was a HUGE step up from the Zero, which was an amazing aircraft but outclassed by Allied fighters, especially the Corsair and Hellcat.

@williamlydon2554 2 years ago

It always surprises people in the U.S when tell them the Japanese occupied part of Alaska during the Second World War.

Another amazing video. A forgotten fromt and aircraft brought to life!

@sailordude2094 2 years ago

John Chennault, who's father was of Flying Tigers fame. Both flying P-40s. Thanks for the history videos!

@天使のずんだもん 2 years ago

日本人が知らない太平洋戦争の戦いについて教えていただきありがとうございます。
日本では知られていないアリューシャンの戦いはとても興味深かったです🙇

Thank you for telling us about the battles of the Pacific War that Japanese people do not know about.
The Battle of Alishan, which is unknown in Japan, was very interesting. 😚

@yveaux500 2 years ago (edited)

Brilliantly done as always. I really like hoe you focus on unknown battles but where people died just same. Kudos on that “one shot kill” with that P-39! Wonder how many takes that took! 😊