J7W1 Final pre-flight inspection completed Fueling complete. Ammunition loading complete. Escort Zero to takeoff now. Hurry. What's taking it so long? J7W1, please follow the taxiway from the hangar to the runway. Watch out for parked aircraft on the way. Reached the runway Making final checks on J7W1. Oil temperature, engine temperature, no abnormalities. All systems clear. Flaps down Ready to leave the landing Tower, request permission to launch Good. J7W1,permission the launch. Good luck. The J7W1 was a prototype land-based interceptor developed in Japan at the end of the Pacific War. Research on the J7W1 began with the Imperial Japanese Navy's plan to create a revolutionary, high-speed fighter that would far exceed the performance limits of conventional aircraft. The original plan envisioned anti-fighter operations that would take advantage of its speed performance. However, in 1944, when U.S. bombers "B-29" began to fly over the Japanese mainland, "J7W Shinden" was officially launched as a prototype for targeting those bombers. Equipped with 30mm machine guns and a 2,000 horsepower engine, the J7W was expected to overwhelm the enemy with its high speed and massive firepower from its altitude advantage, which was the "essence of interceptor" that Japan dreamed of at the end of the war. I see you're my escort today. I'm honored to be your buddy. I will protect you and J7W1 at the cost of my life. That plane is a Zero... Are you dissatisfied? No, even with the old Zero fighter, the key is the pilot. In a dogfight, the aircraft is only the foundation of the pilot's abilities. Sorry. Never mind. I will now fly alone. You will patrol the perimeter. Roger. I'm counting on you. This is J7W1 to Mission Control. I will now begin test flight. Mission Control to J7W1, we have visual confirmation of you. Fly to your heart's content. Acceleration and ascent capabilities are sufficient. Good rollover performance. Each maneuverability is good at high speed flight. There are problems with turning performance, maneuverability during dogfights, and ease of stalling at low speeds. However, considering that it is an interceptor designed for anti-bomber use, this should not be a particular problem. But the question remains whether other pilots, rookies, will be able to take advantage of the characteristics of this aircraft. Sir, J7W1 reports, "Evaluation tests have been completed and the J7W1 will be useful against bombers." Thanks for your efforts. But even if we build such a plane now, will it really work? On the mainland, B-29s are bombing factories and cities every day. How is it possible to mass produce new planes when the number of planes that can be moved is decreasing every day? Excuse me, sir. Emergency call. What's wrong? B-29s incoming, requesting interceptor support. Interceptors have been sent against the B-29s and are currently engaged. If they are asking for backup, it means that they are either struggling or have already failed to intercept... What kind of aircraft were sortied? Zero fighter and ki45. Request reinforcements. We're already outnumbered. Repeat. We are already outgunned. Commander, we have confirmed the flight path of the B-29. This is the range that J7W1 is capable of handling. Do you want me to order him to intercept? Intercept? There's only two of him, including his escort. Are you insane? But, the J7W1 is equipped with ammunition in preparation for combat. If we don't fight now, when will we do it? Let's let the pilots in the field make the decision here... This is Mission Control to J7W1, please respond. This is j7W1. What's wrong? Currently, a formation of B-29s is underway. The first unit that went to intercept them failed in their mission. More detailed information will be given later. I want to hear your opinion first. I'll leave it to you to decide whether or not to intercept it. Of course, we will intercept them. Please provide details of the predicted location of the enemy's What does J7W1 say we do after this? He's going to intercept. What? ! You're risking the test machine... No, it didn't matter. Even with the superior performance of the Shinden, the two of them would not be able to handle it. You, turn the radio over to me. Turn back to the base! It would be pointless to resist any longer... Commander, I know that my decision is wrong as a soldier. But this war will soon be over. If that happens, most of the technology that Japan has developed will be lost. There is only a short time left for this J7W1 to reach its full potential. It is important to know what you can do with the little time you have left. This J7W1, which was said to be a strange aircraft, shows its power... Or rather, this may be the last chance for Japan to show its technology. Please forgive my selfishness. If you say so much, I won't say anything else. Fly away, J7W1. Intercept the enemy bombers. Roger, I promise I'll be back. Sir, I would like to accompany you. All right. The Zero fighter is not suited for high-altitude combat. Are you okay with that? No problem. If you are in danger, I will protect you with my life. Why don't you value life more... What is it? What the hell is going on? Engine's dead !? Turn back to the airfield. Damn it, how could this happen... In that state, it would be difficult to even continue flying, let alone fighting. I can still fight, sir! I know a bad condition when I see it ! You're go back to the base. Good luck, sir... I'll return to base Everyone, stay on anti-aircraft alert. We may have to engage the interceptors again. Fly to the destination and drop the bomb. The simple mission just got a harder. Hey, don't worry about it. We are undamaged. We got rid of the enemy planes To a B-29, Japs plane is like a baby. That's right. Shut the fuck up. Stop talking on the radio. How many times do I have to tell you? They don't know. That this is just a luck Hey, what is that? Hey, what's wrong? What are you talking about? What's going on. What the heck !? Jesus Christ! Number three has been shot down!! What the look out doing... Give me a status report! Bandit, it's passed underneath. What the hell is that thing? I don't know that plane. An armored B-29 was easily shot down... is that a new Japanese fighter? We're being attacked by just one enemy plane. Damn it. Shoot it down. Now! Yes. We did it ! He's taking damage. I see smoke. The enemy is retreating. But, to attack this formation with just one plane. So, the japanese have a rolled out such a powerful aircraft. I'm afraid so... I'll check on the downed aircraft. Every one, report back to me. If you saw, any crew members ejected... I been hit... Mission Control, this is J7W1, please respond. Mission Control, this is J7W1... The radio was broken... Oil temperature is unusually high. I guess they shot my oil tank. Took a bullet in the leg. I can't feel my left leg... Maybe I should just die with the plane... No, I'm the pilot entrusted with the j7W1 and the technology. I can't let you die. I promised to bring this plane back to base. I have a responsibility to complete my mission. J7W1 Shinden, return to base. J7W1 returned to the base with dying after the battle with the B-29. The plane landed safely at the airfield, but the pilot was already dead. The J7W1 prototype 01 was also later discarded when it was deemed too damaged to be repaired. Later, a mass production version was developed, but the war ended and the J7W1 never flew in the sky again. The report of J7W1 prototype 01 were disposal by Japanese navy personnel at the end of the war. A B-29 crew member who had fought with this aircraft submitted a record of the engagement with the J7W1, but it was treated as a misidentification by the crew member as it was not credible. Thus, J7W1 disappeared into the darkness of history. This aircraft was called a "strange aircraft" by some military personnel and engineers, but if it had been rolled out as a mass-produced aircraft, as the Japanese Navy had envisioned, it might have contributed to the battle against the B-29. But, Japan no longer had the power to do so, and considering that the US had already secured a mass production system for the P51H, which had better performance than this plane, it did not seem to be a factor that would improve the war situation. But there is one thing I can tell you. We took on the challenge of developing an Ente-type airplane, which is rare in the world, and showed the world Japan's technology in the form of the J7W1. It is an undeniable historical fact.
