Japanese Ohka Cherry Blossom flying bomb at US Base?

[snake36bravo]

I picked up this 35mm Red Border slide for my collection. Shows a WW2 Japanese Ohka flying bomb at what looks like a US base. Does anyone recognize the barracks or this location? I wonder if its the one that ended up in the Smithsonian. 

 

 

 

 

[ottodog8]

It's in my mind that this has something to do with noted Air Force pilot and aviation author Robert Mikesh. He was stationed in Japan, and when he was transferred the Ohka (which was a gate guard at the base) was specially painted in his honor.

[snake36bravo]

I recently missed out on another Ohka slide however I did find out some more about mine and where it was located as well as some great history:

 

"Circa 1953 -1954, my father was assigned as an F-80 and F-86 pilot with the 40th FIS at Johnson Air Station, Japan.

 

Out front of the Base Headquarters building was a captured Baka Bomb on a plinth. It was usually painted silver. A contest between the fighter squadrons developed where, usually after a squadron party of some description that undoubtedly featured large quantities of adult beverages, pilots would try to paint the Baka bomb in the their squadron's colors without getting caught. The 35th Fighter Wing commander weighed in and decreed that the punishment for being apprehended while painting the Baka Bomb would result in the miscreants being ordered to repaint the Baka Bomb back to silver the next Monday morning at rush hour where, of course, everybody could see them. The Security Police were incentivized with a weekend pass for catching painters. It became an event every Monday morning to see who got caught painting Baka Bomb, or if any new colors were on it that signaled a successful "mission". So pretty much a good time was had by all no matter what.

 

My Mom recalled that on one particular Monday morning, who was there repainting the Baka Bomb, but none other than the full-colonel Wing Commander himself. He had been caught by SPs painting the bomb with 3 different colors of paint - one for each of his 3 squadrons. Needless to say, the morale of the 35th Fighter wing was sky high in those days. As I understand it, after many years of exposure on the plinth, the Baka Bomb was restored and is now safely in a Japanese museum. No doubt the many layers of paint having assisted in its preservation from the elements"

 

 

[Joep]

Snake36bravo,

Hi, I’m writing my next book on the Ohka. Would it be ok to use your story in the section that details the history of the Atsugi Air Base/Johnson Air Base Ohka?

Interestingly the aircraft was used as a notice board to welcome arriving and departing families and units. 
And yes it still survives today at Iruma Air Base. 
Thanks,

Joe