[Don Boose]

The latest Trotskiy (Reikan_v14) is the Mitsubishi Type Zero (Reikan) floatplane that was given the Allied codename “Pete.” It is an aircraft from the battleship Musashi, Tail Number 212-01.

The heading of the page reads “Type Zero [Rei-shiki] Observation Seaplane [Suijokansokuki] Model 11 [11- Kei] (F1M2), Battleship Musashi Aircraft [Senkan ‘Musashi’ Noseiki] [“Noseiki” literally means ‘embarked machine’], August 1944 [Showa 19].

Reikan is an abbreviation for Rei-shiki Suijokansokuki [Type Zero Observation Seaplane]in the same way that Reisen was an abbreviation for Rei-shiki Sentoki [Type Zero Fighter].

I assume that the tail number reflects that the battleship floatplane detachment assigned to the Musashi was the 212th Kokutai [literally “Air Unit” that I have been translating as “Air Group,” although you will sometimes find it translated as “Air Corps”]. However, I am not sure of this and have seen references in some IJN and WWII forums to floatplanes cfrom the Musashi with “213” tail number prefixes.

I do not yet have a complete IJN air order of battle and would be grateful for any information on IJN air order of battle info generally and IJN shipboard floatplane units specifically.

Don