Image of Japanese paratroopers

[A. F Medic]

http://www.milsurps.com/images/imported/2010/02/JapParatroopers-1.jpg

[Arisaka Hunter]

Thanks for posting the photo.
There is a Japanese Airborne Forces training film I found on "Youtube" the other day.

Here is the link, if some members have not seen it yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etq9yZ0keYg

[campperrykid]

The flowers falling from the trees at the end are an interesting touch.

[rb43]

The flowers falling from the trees at the end are an interesting touch.

Falling leaves for the soon to be dead. Survival rate of those airborne soldiers was probably about zero if they were deployed outside Japan.

rb43

[A. F Medic]

Did anybody see any weapons on the soldiers? Just wondering!

I enjoyed hearing the "wood pecker" sound of the machine gun that many GIs revferred to. Of course, it was not pointed at me.

[Arisaka Hunter]

I noticed only pistols until they got to their weapons containers. I thought one officer was however, carrying a sword. I don't think I seen a Paratrooper type 99 at all. I'll have to watch it again.

[campperrykid]

I noticed the flamethrower. Not really a surprise , the employment of flamethrowers by Imperial forces in the Phillipines and China is well documented , albeit not widely recognized or remembered. .

[A. F Medic]

I meant, did anybody see any weapons on the soldiers before they jumped? I could have missed them....

[ar-15john]

nope thay got them from the airdrop box,,look like type 99 but i thought i saw a 38 with bayonet

[campperrykid]

Falling leaves for the soon to be dead. Survival rate of those airborne soldiers was probably about zero if they were deployed outside Japan.

rb43
+1
There's the cherry blossom symbolism as well. IIRC , there was a pun invented by the US " native speaking " ( as in learned from family ) 'terps . The Imperial forces used a small aircraft that was basically a manned cruise missle . The Japanese named it the Cherry Blossom , the 'terps called it the idiot or something close to that.

I might have some pictures of Imperial troops who were persuaded to surrender on Okinowa . I'll look around.

[A. F Medic]

It was called a BAKA Bomber. Baka means stupid in Japanese. It did look like a cruise missile. Mostly found on Okinawa by the GIs.

[campperrykid]

I have not yet found the cookie tin that had the pic's from the Aleutians and Okinawa . I will keep looking.
Meanwhile , Stanley Frankel of Dayton , Ohio on the topic of Japanese prisoners:
Frankel-y Speaking - Chapter 7 - Japanese Prisoners, Docile Cooperative (http://www.frankel-y.com/tape007.htm)