F6F Hellcats Were Making Life Hell For Japanese Airmen

(Part 1) Watch our video " F6F Hellcats Were Making Life Hell For Japanese Airmen" and delve into the intense history of the F6F Hellcat's impact on Japanese airmen through the personal memoirs of a Japanese Kamikaze pilot. Witness firsthand account of the challenges and chaos faced by Japanese aviators during World War II. Explore the remarkable stories that shed light on the relentless determination of both sides in this pivotal conflict. Join us for a unique perspective on history and subscribe for more compelling insights into the past.

[@WW2Tales]

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Part 1 of diary of a Japanese Kamikaze Pilot, Here is the link of the playlist kzbin.info/aero/PLGjbe3ikd0XHH9QjU_w0jlvtZaIPZgGGX These are the memoirs of a Japanese Kamikaze Pilot . In this episode he talks about getting blooded in Taiwan ,Gearing Up, Escorting Convoys ,B-24s ,Solo and Team Combat ,Sliding Maneuver, Landing Woes at different airfields, Cockpit Lunches and Formosa Air Battle. Please Subscribe to Our channel and Help Us Grow ,so that we may continue improving and upload more great content for World War 2 enthusiasts !

[@JohnEglick-oz6cd]

Was the " Hell,Cat " used in any way in the ETO ?

[@pat8988]

WWII Tales, please change the picture periodically so that my tv screen doesn’t get burned in by having the same picture all the time. Maybe twice a minute?

[@michaelmclaren7373]

@@JohnEglick-oz6cdyes, Brits used them, famously against the Tirpitz.

[@ronaldheider5664]

ZZZ 0qoq

[@johnulmer6715]

I knew a guy who flew a Hellcat during WW2. He said that by the time he got on his carrier, and i cant remember which one, anyway he said that we had so many planes that you rarely seen a Japanese plane one on one. He said that most aces were from earlier in the war because of this fact as the Japanese just didn't have enough planes or pilots to go around. He was a great and very humble guy and a joy to talk with. RIP Bill!

[@vandalcreed]

Almost 50 and I look back at when I was 18 and how I was a dumb kid playing video games, and yet these boys were playing such games in real life with no reset. My hats off to all those kids, on both sides, who fought and died for their countries.

[@billmalec]

Dude said it wasn't honorable to shoot at targets on the ground. I guess he wasn't around during Pearl Harbor...

[@mattbeckelhymer1669]

I think a lot of what's said here is all shite

[@Queequeg61]

If you know anything about the inhumane war crimes committed by the Japanese during the war, the idea of honor becomes laughable.

[@ppumpkin3282]

The only thing they honored was warriors as savage as them. @@Queequeg61

[@dickyhoey]

Typical Japanese mentality.

[@TangomanX2008]

It's this sort of thing that causes me to roll my eyes when I hear about the Honor of the Bushido code.

[@ThePrader]

As a preschool child I lived in a military compound complete with concrete walls, topped with broken glass, guard towers with machine guns, etc. My father was a US Army officer working with the Chinese Army to prepare the island for an invasion from mainland China. I lived in Hchinchu. We played in the mountain caves the Japanese had dug out of the mountains as defensive redoubts. Back then the caves were deep, and open. Wet too. We had a favorite we knew as "Monkey Disease Cave". Hell of a playground. I bet the caves are still there as they were deep. Probably all walled in by now. I had a weird childhood. So I joined the US Navy when I had the chance to get a commission.

[@johnwayne2103]

You should go back and try and rekindle some of the relationships with the people, you would be surprised that many of them are probably still there. That's if they haven't bulldozed the area.

[@cbearabc]

The main island of Taiwan, also known as Formosa?🤔

[@yu-mingchang2256]

Yes, it was called Formosa before the end of WW2. I'm Taiwanese. My father (and his father) lived next to a Japanese army airfield (Roko airfield in current ChangHua county) which was raided by carrier based F6Fs on the first day of Formosa air battle. The airfield was the base of TORYU (Kawasaki Ki-45) two seats fighters. I heard stories of the young pilots from my father, at the time they lived among villagers and had good relation with us. Unfortunately, most of them never made it. The airfield was abandoned after war. The old flak tower is left: maps.app.goo.gl/kf1DaduNXrVX26x58

[@JaySmithKiawah]

Yes. Used to be.

[@blackpowder4016]

Formosa was the Portuguese name for the island of Taiwan.

[@larryschaum6280]

I haven’t had any problems with volume. I listen with Bluetooth headphones/ hearing aids. And I have to turn them down.

[@kk6aw]

Have no problem with loudness

[@WW2Tales]

@kk6aw Sir thank you so much for the feedback

[@deepgardening]

The robo-commentaries are a hoot, cracks me up. Then comes ads about problems with private parts...

[@ibuprofenPill]

The fact the Hellcats looked identical to the Wildcats lured many Japanese pilots to their deaths.

[@JohnEglick-oz6cd]

Hell Cat was a well armoured , Navy fighter bomber that had broke 400 mph ; it was fast . The Hell Cat ,vAnd P47 Were sold d built "flying tanks " that were very quick , especially during the invasion of North Africa , Sicily , Normandy , France , Salerno , Italy , Anzio , Italy , South France , along the Mediterranean , and those invasion s on those heavily defended Japanese Islands too .

[@dareisnogod5711]

To DUMAS, 👎👎👎 had BROKEN.

[@JohnEglick-oz6cd]

@@dareisnogod5711 Whatever your surreptitious code of "Dumas " is is now deciphered as someone whose been smoking mushrooms , or crack cocaine , or both crack cocaine , and mushrooms . That's right your surreptitious code is BROKEN ! DA DA Annnn !

[@patrickmccrann991]

Hellcat's top speed in level flight was 375mph for F6F3, 390mph for F6F5. F8F Bearcat was the first Grumman fighter capable of exceeding 400mph in level flight.

[@nethanelmasters5170]

F6F- 5 had a top speed of 390 mph first Grumman single engine plane to reach 400 mph was the F8F. Corsairs was the only WW2 navy plane that could hit 400 mph.

[@KeshHarp]

Don't know when this was made, but the narrator's voice sounds like Tom Courteney - he played Pasha Antipov / Strelnikov in Dr. Zhivago.

[@silverstar4289]

It is AI, mimicking Dr Mark Felton in my opinion

[@steveschlackman4503]

Cook-ed by the mother. The AI really has a major issue with ed at the end of words.

[@longrider42]

Not much talk about the Hellcat. Oh well.

[@DavidMoreno-bz3gd]

Thanks!

[@WW2Tales]

@DavidMoreno-bz3gd Dear Sir words cannot express how much your support and kind words mean to us, You have our deepest thanks, May you always stay blessed 💐

[@Ontos0353]

Very Sad

[@johnboxler8989]

Why does it say Taiwan when it was called Formosa in those days?

[@GH-oi2jf]

Nomenclature is complicated. You can find discussion of the history of the term online. Presumably, the narration is based on a translation from Japanese to English, so uses the term that the translator used at the time of translation. The description does not give any information on the translation.

[@sh0sh0n3]

You think they'll ever forget all the kids, women and elders vaporized? Karma exists kids

[@erichughes284]

Knocking over fishing boats😂

[@TheHeavensEagle]

If you are going to read these stories, at least learn to pronounce the words properly. There were a large amount of poorly pronounced words in this video.

[@stefanlaskowski6660]

It's being read by an AI, not a person. I really wish they'd go with a human reader, the mispronounced words really detract from the overall stories.

[@louisgiannobile979]

I love how people can criticize why don’t you make a Channel and then you could pronounce everything right what a douche

[@howardwilder6989]

It was Formosa back then.... just sayin'

[@AndrewBlacker-t1d]

Keep in mind that a huge segment of the population can't identify Formosa/Taiwan on a world map. More and more things are dumbed down for the dumbed down generations.

[@Theearthtraveler]

Not many accounts like this from the Japanese.

[@jamest6837]

been listening to all your videos on a 200.00 laptop and never had any volume issues, love all these first hand accounts and appreciate your channel very much!

[@WW2Tales]

@jamest6837 So nice of you Sir for your appreciation and encouragement 💐🙏

[@jeffreyjacobs390]

Having served in the military I DO UNDERSTAND the person in the uniform .... human first and duty to the nation you serve .... BUT, I HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THE MILITARY MINDED BRAIN-TRUST THAT HAD NO MERCY, NO DECENCY & NO CONCERN FOR HUMANS THEY USED, ABUSED TORTURED & STARVED ..... if not lopping off heads ! For that reason I cannot say anything about the pilots - experienced or their replacements. While they were proud & productive in early on engagements ... once the Grumond 1200 HP radial engine of the F4F Wildcat was scrapped for a 1200 HP Pratt-Witney engine, Missles added under each wing, THE ONCE VULNERABLE Wildcat was now a bad-ass F6F Hellcat dynamo ( ended war with a 19 to 1 Kill Ratio) .... and the first Japanese Pilots to encounter what they presumed an easy prey Wildcat ..... they found It had BETTER everything, more options to engage, power to OUT CLIMB even the Zero they thought so highly of. It was turkey shoot more times than not! ! The shameful elements of this warring culture and Godless society brought much carnage. There is NO mitigating factors. Sadly stories can be told. Honorable or not. GBjj

[@AndrewBlacker-t1d]

You got your undies in a bundle about a war that ended 78 years ago. You're hilarious or just like to be mad.

[@patrickmccrann991]

The Hellcat was a completely different aircraft. It had no relation to the Wildcat except made by the same company. Hellcat's P & W engine was 2000 hp not 1200 hp. Same engine in the P-47 Thunderbolt and F4U Corsair.

[@markprange2430]

2200 HP engine in the Hellcat.

[@AnakinSkywakka]

Its good to see the Pacific is getting some coverage. I enjoy listening to these while at work. Well done! By the way, volume is not an issue for me. And i listen with a single ear bud, in a kitchen.

[@JackF99]

He was promoted to Flyer First Class on August 15th 1945? That's the day after the Japanese surrender.

[@AndrewBlacker-t1d]

The actual date was Sept 2.

[@JackF99]

@@AndrewBlacker-t1d From what I understand Aug 15 was surrender announcement by Japanese, Sept 2 was formal signing ceremony.

[@AndrewBlacker-t1d]

@@JackF99 right, but it wasn't cut and dry. Between factions of the military wanting to keep fighting and parts of the military out of communication, it wasn't an immediate cessation of hostilities. It took Japan over 2 years to retrieve all the deployed forces.

[@JackF99]

@@AndrewBlacker-t1d yes I see your point

[@patrickmccrann991]

August 15th is the date the Emperor accepted the Allies unconditional surrender terms and broadcast to the Japanese people. The war was not officially over until September 2nd, 1945.

[@jmrodas9]

Tje Grumman F6F Hellcat was specially designed to outperform the Japanese Zero, it could turn with the Zero, but it could climb faster, dive faster and it rolled better too, and was faster in level flight. Besides Japan had lost most of its greatest fighter pilots by the time the Hellcat appeared in combat, so the results were to be expected.

[@liordagan9342]

Not turn as well in low speed.

[@oldcremona]

It would be interesting to know who authored this.

[@WW2Tales]

@oldcremona Sir please check the memoirs of Kazou Odachi , regards

[@oldcremona]

@@WW2Tales cool thanks

[@oldcremona]

@@WW2Tales I just googled him, he is still alive!! Amazing 👏

[@WW2Tales]

@@oldcremona Sir you are welcome and thanks for the information that he is still alive ,we thought he passed away few years ago

[@michaelmclaren7373]

⁠@@WW2TalesThank you, thought this sounded familiar. Saburō Sakai’s memoirs are equally intriguing reads for opposing context.

[@dickyhoey]

I think of the poor American aviator tied up. The Japanese were brutal and had no regard for prisoners or other peoples lives.

[@chrisstrand500]

Great perspective.

[@WW2Tales]

Glad you think so!

[@WW2Tales]

Important Note . A number of viewers were complaining about the low audio volumes in all the videos, we tried hard to fix it but complaints did not stop , we have again tried to fix the issue once for all ,please do leave a comment in this comment section and provide your feedback that whether the issue is resolved or not .Regards (WW2 Tales )

[@IncogNito-gg6uh]

Volume fine on my old Tab A. It must sound like Dolby Surround on newer tablets!

[@Kitty-CatDaddy]

I'm half deaf and I hear everything just fine. Good Video, Well Done.

[@Bammrie]

I have no audio issue. Sounds like you have a complainers issue.

[@pat8988]

Audio sounds good now. I only wish all channels sounded as good.

[@danielcurtis1434]

I’ve watched videos with audio issues. This isn’t one of em. It’s typical volume clear and just fine on my iPhone. I can’t speak for whatever was previous, but you did fine on this one at least.

[@WardenWolf]

Imagine their thoughts when 12 aircraft carriers, two more than Japan had at the start of the war, showed up to go after Taiwan. If anyone there knew that, they would have immediately known Japan was doomed.

[@karlgentry7747]

Wonderfully done keeps me away from real life.

[@RalphTempleton-vr6xs]

Love this series, but would like to see better way of chronologizing! And the island was known as Formosa during the war, didn't become Taiwan until the CCP took control of the mainland. This memoir must've been penned after that

[@barrysharp9792]

No volume problems but there are at times interesting pronunciations in groups. Then it goback to normal. It sounds like an old comedy routine.

[@Steven-e2g]

The story is great, but even with a Brit accent, AI voices suck and always reveal themselves.

[@Robb-n6b]

Volume seemed fine on my phone.

[@WW2Tales]

@user-rn9sb8wu4h sir thank you so much for the feedback , just wanted to make sure that the issue is not there any more as we are still getting complaints on older videos

[@galenhaugh3158]

War criminal, huh??

[@williamolivadoti3867]

One would assume, that by logical thinking, fighter planes would be able to fire back at their attackers, just like a B-17 has a tail gunner. If an enemy got on your tail, why not just fire from the tail, a shotgun loaded with solid or explosive shot, like a Revolutionary War cannon, into the head-on flight path of the pursuing enemy fighter? Just put an extra small fuel tank in the wing to compensate the tail weight. The rear-view mirror could have been with a reticle to center the enemy plane. it would at the least, ruin his propeller or wings. It doesn`t make any sense just to try to outmanuver without being able to fire back at the enemy at the same time. The offensive fighter plane weapon now becomes defenseless and useless. It was absurd designing of WW2 fighter aircraft. Even cowboys and Indians in the movies, could turn in the saddle or bareback, resp., and fire back at their pursuers. cf. WW1 LFG Roland C.11 - If you couldn`t outrun `em you could at least shooot back. Counter?

[@crankyoldguy2]

A shotgun's range is approximately 100 feet before scatter. The pellets would fall off line in less than a tenth of a second. If you're travelling at 40mph, you're traveling 100 feet in tenths of a second. The aircraft would have to be less than 00 yards from each other in order for a shotgun to have even a chance to hit the plane in back.Ain't gonna work.

[@4catsnow]

Grumman was a revelation to a lot of japanese pilots back then...Hirohito's guys had never seen a really big birth control with wings and guns....

[@ronferrari8103]

😄

[@ppumpkin3282]

B-29's flying from their base in China? Not sure they came from there. They did have incredible range.

[@luvr381]

B-29s were initially based in China to attack Japan, though flying fuel and bombs across The Hump severely limited operations. In this story he's based in Formosa (modern Taiwan), so not far from China.

[@jackdaniel7465]

Fun fact, B29's did fly from bases in China, some of the first 29 Raids on Japan initially came from China bases.

[@denniscashell2407]

Taiwan, really?

[@daviddalton9214]

Very sanitized.

[@sundancemyers5413]

AI. It's impressive. 13:45 in. No Brit reads like that. " one of the four american fighters waiting at altitudatargeted, this instaant, and unleash a a spray of leed just as the zerro was about to plungee into a divay" nobody reads like that.

[@AnakinSkywakka]

Perhaps it was a mistranslation? I assume that the memoir was originally written in Japanese.

[@sundancemyers5413]

@AnakinSkywakka you obviously didn't listen to it

[@AnakinSkywakka]

@@sundancemyers5413 I did though?

[@sundancemyers5413]

@@AnakinSkywakka so it's not a "mis translation" it's quite clearly robotic. There are many other ones that have phonetic mistakes that humans just don't make as well

[@AnakinSkywakka]

@sundancemyers5413 Oh, my mistake. I assumed you meant the way the sentence was phrased, not how the ai spoke it.

[@rocketeerPM2500]

Message to producer of this video: your text-to-speech software is crap. The commentary is riddled with absurd mispronounciations, at times so bad that it was hard to follow the script. I quit viewing after a few minutes. If you want to attract more subscribers, smarten up your act.