Ohka Rocket-Powered Kamikaze Aircraft

The Ohka (桜花, "Cherry Blossom," Allied codename "Baka" meaning "fool") was conceived by Special Service Ensign Shōichi Ōta (大田正一; given as "Mitsuo Ohta" in some English-language sources) and designed by engineers at the Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal led by Technical Lieutenant Commander Tadanao Miki. The Model 11 version measured 6.07 meters in length with a wingspan of 5.12 meters, empty weight of 440 kg, and loaded weight of 2,140 kg.

Propulsion was provided by three Type 4 Model 20 solid-fuel rockets generating approximately 800 kg of thrust each, enabling a terminal dive speed of over 800 km/h. The 1,200 kg armor-piercing warhead in the nose was far heavier than those of conventional aircraft-delivered bombs.

The Ohka was carried to within approximately 37 km of targets aboard a Mitsubishi G4M ("Betty") bomber, then released. The pilot would glide toward the target before igniting the rockets in the final attack run. The G4M carrier's slow speed and the heavy load made it highly vulnerable to interception; many missions were thwarted before release.

First combat use: March 21, 1945, by the 721st Naval Air Group (Jinrai Butai). Total production: approximately 755 Model 11 units, with additional experimental models. Some 55 Ohka pilots died in combat operations, along with 365 crewmen of the carrier aircraft. The Ohka achieved hits on USS Mannert L. Abele (April 12, 1945), the only ship sunk by an Ohka, and damaged several others.