Most stories about Japanese aviation revolve revolve around their Naval Aviation arm. The zero at the time was magnificent but wildly overrated. Japanese Army aviation produced the beasts of the Japanese air defense. Nates, Oscars, Franks, the Japanese army fielded some of the finest fighters.
Japan's shortcoming was their belief that all pilots are expendable and therefore don't deserve protection. By the end of the war, they had no experience pilots.
I totally agree. The US sent their aces home to teach the next class. Japan flew their aces to the death. And they willingly did it. Emperor worship was a powerful thing. This made things extremely difficult in the US Marine island campaign. The jap soldier was an extremely vicious and tenacious soldier. I’ve been to Japan hundreds of times and I find it hard to believe that these sweet, polite, and friendly people can be capable of extreme violence. China better think twice about attacking Taiwan because if the Japanese are (and they will be) involved, they’ll make Nanking look like child’s play.
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