Wrong information about Kyushu J7W1 Shinden

By Kuratate0

When I started collecting information about Kyushu J7W1 Shinden on the Internet, I found some common mistakes, even the information available from National Air and Space Museum. I listed those as much as I find. (Believe me, I'm 100% Japanese and I can read all Japanese Shinden-related books and web pages!)

Table 1: Errors commonly found on the Web information related to Kyushu J7W1 Shinden.

Error Correct (and additional information)
Masaoki Tsuruno Masayoshi Tsuruno
Wooden Glider version MXY6, built by Chigasaki Seizo began flight trials
in the fall of 1943.		 Wind tunnel tests of MXY6 were conducted in August 1943.
Then threeTWO[5] MXY6 gliders were built at Chigasaki Seisakusyo.
The first MXY6 completed in November 1943, however it's flight test
was not conducted until January, 1944 (Showa 19).
First flight on Jan.6, 1944 at OPPAMA base, Yokosuka, Kanagawa Pref., controlled by
Tech.Lt. Tsuruno by himself, using the first MXY6 pulled by a car was failed.
Second flight on Jan.30, 1944, using the second MXY6 pulled by Type 97 Carrier borne
attack bomber (Allies code "Kate"), released from altitude 1,000m was successful.
(I could not find clear indication about who was flying this second flight: but
it is reasonable that it was done by Tech.Lt. Tsuruno too: seven MXY6 tests were
conducted at Oppama base and Kisarazu base (Chiba Pref.), but only one was controlled
by CDR (Chuu-sa) Sakinaga.
(Most information are referred from Ref.[1], p.283)
Remark: I finally got [5], and multiple artciles explain two MXY6 were build. (P.12 by Mr. Masayoshi Tsuruno, P.40 by Haruyuki Yamamoto
Shinden-kai J7W2 There was no official plan of jet version of Sinden, so there was no official blue prints
of "Shinden-kai" or "J7W2": only oral direction to adapt jet engine for the future possibilities.
Most reliable source is article by Mr. Kunitake Kiyohara (Kyushu Hikouki, design section)[2]
June 5, 1944, Either at "Experimental 'Shinden' plan requirements research meeting" or
after that, one of the member of Motor Dept. of Naval Aviation Technology Centre gave us an
oral direction about "proceed your designs considering use of gas turbine engine."
The gas turbine engine which Shinden will be equipped could be static thrust 900kg, almost 3,000HP,
so it will fly 420kt (780km/h).
It sounded like "Ne-130" jet engine, experimentally built at Ishikawajima Shibaura Turbine.
I though it will be the end of dogfight.
I thought it will not be so hard to replace with jet engine because the engine configuration
of Shinden. I remember that I was so excited to make it real as soon as possible.
As a result, it did not come true. Kyushu Hikouki experimentally built "Kikka", an airplane with
two jet engines designed by Nakashima Hikouki, but the war was over when we almost finish
building the first one.
Translating Japanese military ranks to other languages are always difficult: however, translation tables were released occasionally. We can refer one of these to determine reliable translations. Table 2 shows Mr. Masayoshi Tsuruno's ranks, confirmed in various literature.

Tech.Lt Masayoshi Tsuruno, age26 Mr. Masayoshi Tsuruno, TV interview

Table 2: Mr. Masayoshi Tsuruno's ranks when he was in Japanese Imperial Navy

Original Japanese Reading Translation
Zouhei Chuu-i Ordnance Sub-Lieutenant, 1st Class
Gijyutsu Tai-i Technical Lieutenant
Gijyutsu Syou-sa Technical Lieutenant Commander
English translation was referred from a translation table available from official English and French translation table of Imperial Japanese Navy ranks released Jan.12, 1934 http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/m_j2ef.htm . In November 1942, "Zousen-ka" (Constructors' Dept.) , "Zouki-ka" (Engineering Dept.), "Zouhei-ka" (Ordance Dept.) and "Suiro-ka" (Hydrograph Dept.) were combined and became "Gijutsu-ka" (Technical Dept.). http://www003.upp.so-net.ne.jp/kataritsugu/navy.htm

[1] Youji Watanabe, "Itan No Sora [Taiheiyo Sensou Nippon Gunyou-ki Hiroku] (Unorthodox Sky [Secret notes of Imperial Japanese Aircrafts during Pacific War])", Bunsyu Bunko, p.277-331, ISBN4-16-724909-X, 2000.

[2] Kunitake Kiyohara, from "Shirare zaru Gunyou-ki kaihatsu (Unknown developent of military aircrafts)", supervision: Mr. Tsuruo Torikai, "Jou-kan" ('Upper' Volume), p.51, ISBN 4-87357-049-2, Kantosha, 1999. (Original article was published in "Kouku Jouhou (Aviation Information)", Feb, 1955, Kantosha.)

[3] Enlish and French translation of Imperial Japanese Navy organizations, http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/m_j2ef.htm

[4] Ranks and departments of Imperial Japanese Navy, http://www003.upp.so-net.ne.jp/kataritsugu/navy.htm

[5] "Kyushu Hikouki Kaigun Shisaku Kyokuchi Sentouki SHINDEN (KYUSHU Navy Experimental Interceptor Fighter SHINDEN)" (in Japanese), Sekai no Kessaku-Ki (Famous Airplanes of the World), No.102, October, 1978, Bunrhin-do. (Japanese Magazine code "Zasshi Code" 5713-10)

Famous Airplane of the World No.102 Kyushu Shinden Front page Famous Airplane of the World No.102 Kyushu Shinden Back page