Japan's Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka (cherry blossom) suicide attack plane
Allied code name: Baka

Design

The Ohka was developed by an Imperial Japanese Navy officer starting in the summer of 1944.^1,2

The Ohka was to be attached to a large aircraft, usually a G4M2e, would then carry it to near it's target and then release it.^1,2

Wood was the primary construction material of the Ohka.¹

Prototype

The first unpowered flight was in October 1944.¹ In November 1944 powered flights were conducted.¹

Production

• Yokosuka Model 11: 755^1,2
  • Production: September 1944 - March 1945¹
• Yokosuka Model 22: 50¹
• Yokosuka Model K-1: 45¹
• Yokosuka Model 43 K-1 KAI: 2¹
• Total: 852^1,2
  • Manufacturer: Dai-Ichi Kaigun Koku Gijitsusho²

Variants

• Yokosuka Model 11:
• Yokosuka Model 22: Turbojet powered.¹
• Yokosuka Model K-1: Trainer.¹ Had water ballast in the nose.¹
• Yokosuka Model 43 K-1 KAI: Two seat trainers.¹

Usage

On March 21, 1945, the first Ohka mission was flown.¹ Mitsubishi G4M bombers carried 16 Ohkas and were intercepted by United States Navy Hellcats.¹ All the G4Ms were shot down and all the Ohkas crashed into the sea.¹

On April 1, 1945, the USS West Virginia and three transports were damaged by Ohkas.^1,2 The USS Mannert L Abele was sunk on April 12, 1945, off of Okinawa, which became the first Allied ship sunk.^1,2