Jap. LSOs

[Spinning Jenny]

This may be a silly question, but did the Japanese carriers have LSOs ( landing siginal officers )? What little actual footage that keeps reappearing on the History channel never shows recovery of aircraft. Also is anyone aware of any first person accounts of Jap. carrier ops? SP

[Kirk R. Lowry]

Bonjour Spinning Jenny

No, Japanese aircraft carriers did not have a landing signals officer. One member of the crew, who was under the direction of the air operations officer serving on the bridge, was stationed aft to pass signals to aircraft if necessary. The air operations officer was responsible for both the take off and the landing signals, most of which were indicated by means of flags, given to aircrew.

The book Sunburst, The Rise of Japanese Naval Air Power, 1909-1941 by Peattie is an excellent overview of the creation of the Japanese aircraft carrier force and flight deck operations are described in some detail.

Salut!
Kirk

[Spinning Jenny]

Thank you for the info, I've been wondering about that for some time. Thanks in particular for the book info. SP

[Kirk R. Lowry]

You are welcome.

If fascinated by Japanese naval aviation you may wish to acquire a copy of Shattered Sword by Parshall and Tully which is an analysis of the Battle of Midway, essentially, from the Japanese perspective. I am just reading the book and have been amazed by the wealth of information gleaned from Japanese sources that was either not known or has been ignored by English language authors. You will be amazed by the detail collected in the volume.

Salut!
Kirk

[Spinning Jenny]

Thank you again for the additional book info. If you haven't yet read Midway by Mitsuo Fuchida/Masatake Okumiya (Ballantine Books) I think you will find it an interesting read. It was written in 1955 by two of the principle figures. Always interesting to get the other side's point of view. SP