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.

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.

Wood was the primary construction material of the Ohka.

Prototype

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

Production

• Yokosuka Model 11: 755
  • Production: September 1944 - March 1945
• Yokosuka Model 22: 50
• Yokosuka Model K-1: 45
• Yokosuka Model 43 K-1 KAI: 2
• Total: 852
  • Manufacturer: Dai-Ichi Kaigun Koku Gijitsusho

Variants

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

Usage

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

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