The Nakajima J9Y Kikka represented the best efforts of Japan to innovate in jet-powered aircraft late in the war. The Kikka was Japan’s first jet aircraft, a twin-engine jet combat aircraft developed by Nakajima Aircraft Company, inspired by Germany’s Messerschmitt Me 262. Although this aircraft held great promise, it never saw combat due to the abrupt end of the war.
Development and Design
The Kikka development started in 1944 when the Imperial Japanese Navy assigned Nakajima the production of a jet-powered attack aircraft with features similar to those of the German Me 262. The design was under the leadership of Kazuo Ohno and Kenichi Matsumura, starting in September 1944. On the 7th of August 1945, the prototype took off from Kisarazu Naval Air Force Base. However, four days later, the prototype crashed, and further development was halted by Japan’s formal surrender on August 15, 1945. Only one prototype had flown, and about 25 units were in various stages of production when the project was abandoned.
Technical Specifications
The Kikka was powered by two Ne-20 axial-flow turbojets and was capable of a maximum speed of 433 mph and a range of 586 miles. It could go up to a ceiling of 39,370 feet and was designed to be operated by a single crew member. The aircraft dimensions were: length, 26 feet 8 inches; wingspan, 32 feet 9 inches; and height, 9 feet 8 inches. It was armed with two 30 mm cannons and could carry a bomb weighing up to 1,764 lbs.
Operational Challenges
The development of the Kikka was plagued by numerous problems, chiefly relating to its power. The first designs on the drawing board included the Tsu-11 motor jet, which was soon replaced by the Ne-10 and Ne-12 engines; however, these engines proved unsatisfactory. The project finally turned to the Ishikawajima Ne-20, an axial-flow turbojet, which was a copy of the German BMW 003. All this did little to make the Kikka operational for long; it remained plagued by innumerable problems throughout its operational history.
While the maiden flight of the prototype took place on August 7, 1945, it revealed several issues with the takeoff run. Fitted with rocket-assisted takeoff units for the second test flight, the angle of the rocket tubes proved too shallow, and the aircraft jolted back onto its tail before an aborted takeoff saw it crash. By the time that repairs had been made, Japan had surrendered, and the conflict was over.
Postwar Legacy
Several Kikka airframes were taken to the United States post-war for evaluation. Today, two examples remain in the collection of the National Air and Space Museum. One example is stored in the Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility in Silver Hill, MD. The second example is on display at the NASM Udvar-Hazy Center in the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar.
Conclusion
The Nakajima J9Y Kikka is the most meaningful but unrealized development of Japanese aviation during World War II. Though the Kikka never saw combat, its development had symbolic meaning for Japan’s efforts to innovate under pressure while losing a war. Its legacy continues to be the surviving airframes and the historical lessons they provide.