Nakajima Kikka (Orange Blossom)

Nakajima Kikka (Orange Blossom)

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08/31/2007. Designed by Kazuo Ohno and Kenichi Matsumura to specifications issued by the Japanese Naval Staff in September 1944, the aircraft resembled roughly the Messerschmitt Me 262 in layout, but was a complete new design. This type was the only Japanese jet-powered aircraft of WW II capable of taking off under its own power, and made its only flight from Kisaruza Naval Air Base on August 7, 1945, piloted by Lieutenant Commander Susumu Takaoka.

A second attempt on August 11 was aborted on take-off and it crashed into Tokyo Bay, tearing off the landing gear. The pictured aircraft is one of the nineteen additional prototypes and pre-production aircraft that were in various stages of assembly when all work on the type was terminated on August 15.


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08/31/2007. Designed by Kazuo Ohno and Kenichi Matsumura to specifications issued by the Japanese Naval Staff in September 1944, the aircraft resembled roughly the Messerschmitt Me 262 in layout, but was a complete new design. This type was the only Japanese jet-powered aircraft of WW II capable of taking off under its own power, and made its only flight from Kisaruza Naval Air Base on August 7, 1945, piloted by Lieutenant Commander Susumu Takaoka. A second attempt on August 11 was aborted on take-off and it crashed into Tokyo Bay, tearing off the landing gear. The pictured aircraft is one of the nineteen additional prototypes and pre-production aircraft that were in various stages of assembly when all work on the type was terminated on August 15.