Japanese Naval Aircraft MAD Gear Markings

[Don Boose]

There are currently two interesting discussions taking place in the J-Aircraft Forum about the special markings (rudder stripes and fuselage markings) applied to IJN aircraft equipped with anti-submarine magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) gear.

Discussion of MAD markings: MAD Equipment On Floatplanes: What Did It Look Like?

An on-going historical detective story based on photos of one or two [that's part of the puzzle] low-level attack(s) against Aichi E13A (Jake) and [possibly] an Aichi E16A (Paul) someplace in the Philippines. The aircraft under attack appear to have the MAD stripes referred to in the first thread. http://www.j-aircraft.org/smf/index.php?topic=8243.0

This is potentially useful information for repaints. It would also be very nice to have Marek, Kampfflieger, Krzychu74, or similar models (1/48 or 1/50 would be my preference) of the beautiful Aichi E13A and E16A floatplanes.

Don

[Wyvern]

Don,

do any of your resources have info on the MAD gear (mainly the external housing) fitted to MADCAT-equipped PBY's?

thanks,

Wyvern

[Don Boose]

Hi Wyvern -

One good source is the Osprey publication on Catalina units. Osprey Publishing - US Navy PBY Catalina Units of the Pacific War It's currently out of stock, but probably available via Amazon, Alibris, or the local library.

If you want to take an advanced peek, the pub can be viewed on Google Books: US Navy PBY Catalina Units of the ... - Google Books

The tail cone containing the MAD antenna can just be seen in the photo on page 67.

And if you can dig up a January 1947 issue of Flying magazine, there is an article on U.S. Navy MAD Cat PBY operations from Gibraltar during the war.

This article discusses the MAD Cats, but there are no photos: uboat.net - Fighting the U-boats - Aircraft - Consolidated PBY Catalina

I am sure others will have more azuthoritative info (Shrike? Charlie C? Come in, Rangoon!).

Don

[Wyvern]

Thanks Don.

I need to scratch one for an Airfix PBY I'm doing, to be painted as one of the "Boys from Brazzaville" when they were base out of Gribralter. Some retrobombs, too.

thanks again,

Wyvern