Can you translate Japanese?

I can’t read write or speak Japanese. But the ones with the EI tail code and single white fuselage stripe are from Shokaku prior to summer 1942. The one with the EII tail code and twin white fuselage stripe are from Zuikaku in the same time period. Those are the 5th Carrier Division markings. Not sure about the top or bottom ones. But I believe the red tail markings are from the one of the carriers off of China prior to Pearl Harbor. The bottom one is marked for 40th Naval Air Group, where ever they served.

Thanks stik. I was hoping for the markings to be for the carriers that fought at Midway, being the Akagi, Kaga, Soryu and Hiryu.

Not those for that time. Akagi has tail code AI and one red fuselage band. Kaga had tail code AII and two red fuselage bands. Now there is some recent debate regarding Hiryu and Soryu due to Hiryu becoming the Division flagship shortly before Midway. From Pearl Harbor thru the Indian Ocean raids Soryu tail codes were BI and one blue fuselage stripe while Hiryu wore BII tail codes and two blue fuselage bands. Soryu was the Division flagship up thru that time. Upon their return from the Indian Ocean sortie, and prior to their departure for Midway, Admiral Yamaguchi switched his flag to Hiryu.

In Shattered Sword it is mentioned that the markings were switched due to the two carriers swapping place within their division, but that is based off one survivors account. No photos that I am aware of have come to light to support that account.

Great info stik so thanks again. I just got this 1/48 Fujimi Val and wanted to enter it for the Battle of Midway GB so looks like I will have to partially paint the tail codes and bands. I could not find any Val markings from the Midway carriers.

They will be marked as I listed. The Val squadrons had 2 series three digit tail numbers after their division/ship letter codes. 

As far as their participation in the battle of Midway goes, Akagi and Kaga  Vals flew the morning strike on the island. Hiryu Vals flew the midday strike on Yorktown. Soryu Vals never left the ship and played no part in the battle aside from feeding the fires. They were slated to fly the midday strike against the US carrier(s) when Soryu was hit.

Been finding some in 1/72 and none in 1/48. I will keep looking and thanks again for the great info.

Aeromaster and Eagle Strike both made some Pearl Harbor decal sets in 1/48 that would work. They are likely long out of production, but can probably be found online somewhere. Either eBay or Ultracast are good places to check. 

Ultracast has them on their site. Not cheap because they are out of production, but...

and you would have to paint the upper surfaces green, as that had taken place on those ships by the time of Midway. The Vals were no longer in overall gray by the time of the Indian Ocean raids in April.

Thanks again. I'll keep looking then.

tempestjohnny

Ernie i may have something that you can work with. I'm still here in Florida but will be home on Wednesday

 

Thats great TJ! Thanks for your offer and no rush. I still have a few months before the GB ends. I have been searching for decals for a long while and have come up empty.

Where in Florida are you now?

If you have a smart phone (I still don't) there is a translate app that works pretty well.  I tried it with my wife's phone, and although the translation can be a little goofy it made sense overall.

Thanks 04, will look into it.

Edit: I did and no can do.

I wish my accident didn’t happen.  I used to be able to read and write Japanese fluently.  Now I can’t read Kanji, Chinese derivative writing, the characters depicted.  I can only read hiragana and katakana, a lower case writing syntax.  I wish I could help.  I’m so sorry.

Toshi

Wow! Talk about ESP. I was about to PM you to see if you could read some of it. I'm also very sorry you had such a horrible accident Toshi. I thank you for trying. 

Another option would be to contact your local University that has a Japanese department/professor that teaches at your local U. They are always more than happy to help out.  I’ve helped out with the Japanese department at Kent State prior to my accident.

Toshi

I did a little follow up on the bottom aircraft unit, 40th Air Group AKA 40th Kokutai. They were a garrison unit assigned to Singapore. In November 1942 they were redesignated the 936th Naval Air Group. Their primary mission was scouting the surrounding area. 

Final aircraft unit identified!!! Amazing this internet!

The top aircraft is from the Yokosuka Naval Air Group, the reverse facing E being the kanji character “yo”. That unit was the IJN’s oldest air unit and flew from Yokosuka Naval Air Base. It did not go see combat until the Marianas in 1944. The unit was more of a organizational research and training type for developing doctrine and tactics, until wartime requirements dictated its use in combat.

stikpusher

I did a little follow up on the bottom aircraft unit, 40th Air Group AKA 40th Kokutai. They were a garrison unit assigned to Singapore. In November 1942 they were redesignated the 936th Naval Air Group. Their primary mission was scouting the surrounding area. 

 

Included in my notes. Thanks.

plasticjunkie

 

 

stikpusher

I did a little follow up on the bottom aircraft unit, 40th Air Group AKA 40th Kokutai. They were a garrison unit assigned to Singapore. In November 1942 they were redesignated the 936th Naval Air Group. Their primary mission was scouting the surrounding area. 

 

 

 

 

Included in my notes. Thanks.

 

Right... I’m filing away the part about the Yokosuka NAG myself. I had always wondered about the reverse E character. 

Damn Stik!! ...So good to have a guy like you around the forum. It's probably a shorter list to name all the things you don't happen to know regarding military affairs. =] 

also...if you're not afraid of Google...the google translate app is actually pretty damn awesome and great at translating text of all kinds. There's even a camera option that translates while you film it. Some context may be needed when interpreting a specific group of words FYI. Should be free I believe. 

Lol! BV, Midway just so happens to be one of my strong points. That battle is one where I try to read everything that I can. I had an idea of which way to look for the rest. The PTO is a favorite subject area of mine as well. But there are plenty of areas where I have that blank stare... far more that I don’t know, than I do know.

Hi, plasticjunkie! Just saw this thread tonight. My daughter-in-law is Okinawan, so she can translate any of this, and my son (non-Okinawan!) can also read, write, and speak the different dialects of Japanese. So, if you still need help with this, or anything Japanese-related, now or in the future, just PM me, and I'll have her or him (probably her!) translate anything you need.

Gary

Gary

PM sent, thanks!

You're very much welcome, plasticjunkie!

Ernie,

Just FYI that isn't Japanese, it is Chinese Traditional. I looked at this thead many times, I knew something was off, recongnizing some characters and reading and speaking no Japanese.

I asked my wife to take a look at it but not being familiar with military stuff, she wasn't able to translate in a meaningful way.

No matter, it looks like Stik has it nailed anyway.

That is interesting Greg, Fujimi is made in Japan and is an older kit but the writing is in Chinese, LOL!

Hey no worries guys and thanks for your efforts. I couldn't find any decals on ebay on certain air groups that I need for the Midway GB so I was hoping to piece something together from the kit decals. Stik provided some great info on the markings.

Temspest Johnny was gracious in sending me his left over Japanese air group decals from the battle of Midway so I'm good now.

This is trully a great bunch of guys here who help each other out in this hobby. So again, thanks for your efforts.

橫須賀 Yokosuka 航空隊 Aviation team 所属機 use aircraft 全面銀 Full-silver

空母 aircraft carrier 瑞鶴 Zuikaku 搭載機 carry aircraft  全面 明 灰白色 Full-bright off-white

空母 aircraft carrier 翔鶴 shoukaku 搭載機 carry aircraft (昭和16年12月) 1941 December 全面 明 灰白色 Full-bright off-white

空母 aircraft carrier 瑞鶴 Zuikakku 搭載機 carry aircraft

第40航空隊 40th air group