Newsgroups: rec.aviation.military From: jfb200@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (joseph.f.baugher) Subject: Allied Code Names for Japanese World War II Aircraft Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories - Naperville, Illinois Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1992 02:34:32 GMT Message-ID: <1992Dec10.023432.4863@cbnewsd.cb.att.com> Keywords: Betty, Peggy, Zeke, and Frank Lines: 335 Someone requested that a list of Allied code names for Japanese aircraft used during the Second World War be posted. Ask and ye shall receive! Enjoy! The code name system for Japanese aircraft originated in the Southwest Pacific theatre in the second half of 1942. Before Pearl Harbor, very little was known about Japanese military aircraft of any type, and it was widely assumed that most Japanese military aircraft were second-rate copies of obsolescent Western designs. It goes without saying that the first six months of the Pacific War showed just how wrong that view was! The Allies were thus faced with a desperate need for accurate, up-to-date intelligence on the Japanese aircraft which were at that time riding roughshod over the entire Pacific theatre of operations. In June, 1942 Captain Frank T. McCoy of Nashville, Tennessee became head of the Material Section of the Directorate of Intelligence of the allied air forces in the entire Southwest Pacific area. His team was assigned the task of identifying and classifying Japanese aircraft. Since Captain McCoy was from Tennessee, he initially assigned hillbilly names such as ZEKE, RUFE, NATE, and JAKE to Japanese aircraft--chosen so that they were short, simple, unusual, and easy to remember. 75 code names were assigned the first month. By September 1942, these names were in wide use throughout the entire Southwest Pacific. Shortly thereafter, they went into use throughout the entire Pacific. These odd-sounding code names soon attracted attention from high-ranking military brass. Captain McCoy assigned to what later turned out to be a modified Zero the code name HAP, the nickname of General Henry H. ("Hap") Arnold, USAAF Chief of Staff. The General was NOT amused, and had Capt McCoy summoned before General MacArthur's chief of operations to explain what he was up to. Captain McCoy seems to have gotten himself out of this particular jam, but the name HAP was quietly changed to HAMP. In the summer of 1944, a joint Army-Navy Air Technical Center in Washington took over responsibility for assigning the names. The code names were alloted according to the following system: Male first names: Fighters and reconnaissance seaplanes Female first names: Bombers, attack bombers, dive bombers Reconnaissance aircraft Flying boats Transports (names beginning with letter T). Tree names: Trainers Bird names: Gliders However, there were some exceptions to the rule. The Ki-44 Shoki single- seat fighter was assigned the name TOJO. Here is a list of code names. Supposedly it is complete, but I would appreciate being informed of any omissions. ALLIED CODE NAMES FOR JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CODE NAME JAPANESE DESIGNATION DESCRIPTION __________ ____________________________ ________________________ ABDUL Nakajima Ki-27 Army single-seat fighter serving in CBI theatre. Duplicate of NATE in Southwest Pacific. After 1943, code name NATE was used exclusively. ADAM "Nakajima STK-97" Nonexistent fighter seaplane ALF Kawanishi E7K Navy single-engined reconnaissance biplane seaplane ANN Mitsubishi Ki-30 Army single-engined light bomber BABS Mitsubishi Ki-15/C5M Army/Navy single-engined reconnaissance aircraft BAKA Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka Navy rocket-powered suicide (Cherry Blossom) attacker. BELLE Kawanishi H3K1 Navy biplane flying boat BEN "Nagoya-Sento KI-001" Did not exist. BEN Mitsubishi A6M Reisen Name briefly assigned to Zero (Zero Fighter) in CBI theatre. BESS Heinkel He 111 Erroneously believed to being built under license in Japan BETTY Mitsubishi G4M Navy twin-engined land-based attack bomber BOB Aichi Type 97 Navy recon seaplane - did not exist BOB Kawasaki Ki-28 Erroneously believed to be in production as fighter BUZZARD Kokusai Ku-7 Manazuru Army transport glider (Crane) CEDAR Tachikawa Ki-17 Army single-engined two-seat biplane primary trainer CHERRY Yokosuka H5Y Navy flying boat CLARA Tachikawa Ki-70 Army command reconnaissance aircraft CLAUDE Mitsubishi A5M Navy carrier-based single-seat fighter CYPRESS Kyushu K9W Navy primary trainer Kokusai Ki-86 Army primary trainer DAVE Nakajima E8N Navy two-seat reconnaissance seaplane biplane. DICK Seversky A8V1 Seversky 2PA-B3 purchased from USA and operated as two-seat Navy land-based fighters. DINAH Mitsubishi Ki-46 Army twin-engined reconnaissance and interceptor aircraft. DOC Messerschmitt Bf 110 German twin-engined fighter erroneously believed to be in service in Japan. DORIS Mitsubishi B-97 Medium bomber- did not exist DOT Yokosuka D4Y Carrier-based dive bomber - duplicate of JUDY EDNA Mansyu Ki-71 Army experimental single-engined two-seat tactical reconnaissance aircraft. Development of Mitsubishi Ki-51. EMILY Kawanishi H8K Navy four-engined long-range reconnaissance flying boat EVA(EVE) Mitsubishi Ohtori Erroneously believed to be a bomber FRANCES Yokosuka P1Y Ginga Navy land-based twin-engined (Milky Way) light bomber/night fighter FRANK "Mitsubishi TK-4" Fictional twin-engined fighter. Name later applied to Nakajima Ki-84 FRANK Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (Gale) Single-seat Army fighter. FRED Focke-Wulf FW 190A-5 Erroneously believed to be in service in Japan GANDER Kokusai Ku-8 Army transport glider Formerly named GOOSE GEORGE Kawanishi N1K Shiden Navy single-seat land-based (Violet Lightning) interceptor-fighter GLEN Yokosuka E14Y Navy single-engined reconnaissance seaplane GOOSE Kokusai Ku-8 Army transport glider Named changed to GANDER GRACE Aichi B7A Ryusei Navy single-engined carrier- (Shooting Star) based attack bomber. GUS "Nakajima AT-27" Fictional twin-engined fighter. GWEN Mitsubishi Ki-21-IIb Army heavy bomber - name later changed to SALLY III. HAMP Mitsubishi A6M3 Navy carrier-based fighter. First named HAP, then HAMP, then finally ZERO 32. HANK Aichi E10A Navy reconnaissance seaplane HELEN Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu Army twin-engined heavy bomber (Storm Dragon) HICKORY Tachikawa Ki-54 Army twin-engined advanced crew trainer and light transport. IDA Tachikawa Ki-55 and Ki-36 Army single engined two-seat monoplane trainer and army cooperation aircraft IONE "Aichi AI-104" Nonexistent reconnaissance seaplane. IRENE Junkers Ju 87A German single-engine dive bomber erroneously believed to be in service with Japanese army. IRVING Nakajima J1N Gekko (Moonlight) Navy twin-engined land-based night fighter and reconnaissance aircraft. JACK Mitsubishi J2M Raiden Navy single-seat land-based (Thunderbolt) interceptor. JAKE Aichi E13A Navy single-engined reconnaissance seaplane. JANE Mitsubishi Ki-21 Army heavy bomber - Name later changed to SALLY JANICE Junkdrs Ju 88A-5 German light bomber erroneously believed to be in service in Japan. JEAN Yokosuka B4Y Navy carrier-based single- engined attack bomber biplane. JERRY Heinkel A7He1 Heinkel He 112B-0 in service in Japan as Navy land-based fighter. JILL Nakajima B6N Tenzan Navy single-engined carrier- (Heavenly Mountain) based attack bomber. JIM Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa Army single-seat fighter - name later changed to OSCAR JOE "TK-19" Fictional single-seat fighter JOYCE Misidentified HICKORY Believed to be a light bomber version of Tachikawa Ki-54 JUDY Yokosuka D4Y Suisei Navy carrier-based single- (Comet) engined dive bomber. JULIA Misidentified LILY Believed to be a heavy bomber JUNE Misidentified JAKE Believed to be a floatplane version of VAL KATE Nakajima B5N Navy single-engined carrier-based attack bomber LAURA Aichi E11A Navy reconnaissance seaplane LILY Kawasaki Ki-48 Army twin-engined light bomber LIZ Nakajima G5N Shinzan Navy four-engined attack bomber (Mountain Recess) operated as freight transport. LORNA Kyushu Q1W Tokai Navy twin-engined land-based (Eastern Sea) patrol aircraft. LOUISE Mitsubishi Ki-2 Army twin-engined light bomber LUKE Mitsubishi J4M Senden Navy interceptor MABEL Mitsubishi B5M Carrier-based attack bomber. Name later changed to KATE 61 MARY Kawasaki Ki-32 Army single-engined, two-seat light bomber MAVIS Kawanishi H6K Navy four-engined maritime reconnaissance flying boat MIKE Messerschmitt Bf 109E German fighter erroneously believed to be in service in Japan. MILLIE Vultee V-11GB Erroneously believed to be in production by Showa in Japan MYRT Nakajima C6N Saiun Navy single-engined carrier- (Painted Cloud) based reconnaissance aircraft NATE Nakamima Ki-27 Army single-seat fighter Name initially used only in Southwest Pacific theatre, whereas the same plane was called ABDUL in CBI theatre. From 1943 onward used name NATE exclusively. NELL Mitsubishi G3M Navy land-based twin-engined attack bomber NICK Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu Army two-seat, twin-engined (Dragon Killer) fighter NORM Kawanishi E15K Shiun Navy single-engined high-speed (Violet Cloud) reconnaissance seaplane NORMA Misidentified BABS Believed to be a light bomber OAK Kyushu K10W Navy intermediate trainer License-built North American NA-16 OMAR "Suzukaze 20" Fictional twin-engined fighter OSCAR Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa Army single-seat fighter - known (Peregrine Falcon) for a time in CBI theatre as JIM PAT Tachikawa Ki-74 Erroneously believed to be a long-range fighter. Name changed to PATSY when true role of bomber became known. PATSY Tachikawa Ki-74 Army experimental long-range, high-altitude reconnaissance bomber. PAUL Aichi E16A Zuiun Navy single-engined (Auspicious Cloud) reconnaissance seaplane PEGGY Mitsubishi Ki-67 Hiryu Army twin-engined heavy bomber (Flying Dragon) PERRY Kawasaki Ki-10 Army single-seat biplane fighter Relegated to training roles by beginning of Pacific War PETE Mitsubishi F1M Navy single-engined observation biplane seaplane. PINE Mitsubishi K3M Navy single-engined crew trainer RANDY Kawasaki Ki-102b Army twin-engined assault plane RAY Mitsubishi A6M Reisen Name briefly assigned to Zero (Zero Fighter) in CBI theatre. REX Kawanishi N1K Kyofu Navy single-engined seaplane (Mighty Wind) fighter. RITA Nakajima G8N Renzan Navy land-based four-engined (Mountain Range) attack bomber ROB Kawasaki Ki-64 Experimental Army single-seat fighter RUFE Nakajima A6M2-N Seaplane fighter version of Mitsubishi A6M2 Reisen. RUTH Fiat BR-20 Italian-built heavy bomber in Japanese service SALLY Mitsubishi Ki-21 Army twin-engined heavy bomber. Formerly named JANE. SAM Mitsubishi A7M Reppu Navy single-seat carrier-based (Hurricane) fighter SANDY Mitsubishi A5M Navy carrier-based fighter. Name given to a non-existent inverted-gull wing version of CLAUDE. SLIM Watanabe E9W Navy Reconnaissance Seaplane SONIA Mitsubishi Ki-51 Army two-seat, single-engined assault aircraft SPRUCE Tachikawa Ki-9 Army medium-grade two-seat single-engined biplane trainer STELLA Kokusai Ki-76 Army single-engined command liaison aircraft. Generally similar to Fieseler Fi 156 Storch but not a copy. STEVE Mitsubishi Ki-72 Army experimental twin-engined fighter SUSIE Aichi D1A Navy single-engined carrier- based biplane dive bomber TABBY Showa/Nakajima L2D Navy land-based twin-engined transport. License-built version of Douglas DC-3. TESS Douglas DC-2 License-built DC-2s erroneously believed to be in widespread use by Japanese Navy. THALIA Kawasaki Ki-56 Army twin-engined transport. Japanese-built adaptation of Lockheed Model 14-WG3. THELMA Tachikawa/Kawasaki Type LO Twin-engined Army transport. License built version of Lockheed Model 14. THERESA Kokusai Ki-59 Army twin-engined light personnel transport THORA Nakajima Ki-34/L1N Army/Navy twin-engined transport TINA Mitsubishi Ki-33 Army transport - misidentified Yokosuka L3Y transport version of G3M attack bomber. TILLIE Yokosuka H7Y Navy experimental flying boat TOBY Lockheed 14 Commercial Lockheed 14s used by Japan during Pacific War. TOJO Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki Army single-seat fighter (Devil-Queller) TONY Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien (Swallow) Army single-seat fighter TOPSY Mitsubishi Ki-57/L4M Army/Navy twin-engine transport TRIXIE Junkers Ju 52/3m German trimotor transport erroneously believed to be in service in Japan TRUDY Focke-Wulf Fw 200 German four-engined maritime reconnaissance aircraft erroneously believed to be in service in Japan VAL Aichi D3A Navy single-engined two-seat carrier-based dive bomber WILLOW Yokosuka K5Y Navy intermediate trainer biplane. ZEKE Mitsubishi A6M Reisen Navy single-engined carrier- (Zero Fighter) based fighter. Source: Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War, Rene J. Francillon, Naval Institute Press, 1979 Joe Baugher ************************************** AT&T Bell Laboratories * "You see, something's going to * 2000 North Naperville Road * happen. Something wonderful!" * P. O. Box 3033 ************************************** Naperville, Illinois 60566-7033 (708) 713 4548 ihlpl!jfb Who, me? Speak for AT&T? Surely you jest! jfb200@cbnewsd.att.com