Model Forum / General / Models / February 2005

Japanese aircraft at Midway:

A6M Zero
B5N Kate
D3A Val
D4Y1-C Judy [as recon, two only, on Soryu)
E8N Dave
F1M Pete
possibly E13A Jake
possibly H8K Emily

American aircraft at Midway:

F4F Wildcat
F2A Buffalo
SBD Dauntless
SB2U Vindicator
TBD Devastator
TBF Avenger (six at Midway)
JF Duck (one only, at Midway)
B-17
B-26 (four at Midway)
PBY Catalina
SOC Seagull
OS2U Kingfisher

The ships are trickier, since the Japanese had at least four subgroups,
not counting submarines or the Aleutians diversion force, and the
American forces are also subdivided, though not to the same extent. So,
the question becomes whether you want to focus on units involved in
combat, or more broadly. Apart from the carrier groups on each side, I
think the only naval units to be involved in combat were the Mogami and
Mikuma heavy cruisers, and one oiler torpedoed by a PBY, and one
submarine (Nautilus?) that fired a torpedo at a Japanese carrier.

Mark Schynert

If we limit the ships to the carriers, we have seven:
Americans--Enterprise, Hornet and Yorktown
Japanese--Akagi, Kaga, Soryu and Hiryu

Remember that the Japanese had at least three separate flotillas to their task
force...the carriers and their escorts, the main force, and an amphibious
assault force escorted by the cruisers Kumano, Suzuya, Mogami and Mikuma.  The
Americans had escort ships for their carriers as well.
http://www.battle-fleet.com/pw/his/midway.htm (This site has a full Order of
Battle)

Most of the prominent ships of the Pacific War were produced in 1/700 scale by
the companies Tamiya, Fujumi and Hasegawa.  There is on the market now a diecast
model of the Hornet in 1/700 as she appeared for the launch of the Doolittle
Raid only two months before Midway.  Remove the B-25 bombers and it would be in
about the right configuration.

Plane types used:
Americans--
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Grumman F4F Wildcat
Douglas SBD Dauntless
Douglas TBD Devastator
Grumman TBF Avenger (combat debut, operated from the island itself)
Vought SB2U Vindicator
Brewster F2A Buffalo
Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress
Martin B-26 Marauder

Japanese--
Aichi D3A "Val"
Mitsubishi A6M "Zeke"/"Zero"
Nakijima B5N "Kate"
Kawanishi H8K "Emily"
"scout seaplanes", probably Mitsubishi F1M "Pete" or Aichi E10 "Jake"

Most of the airplane models are available in 1/72nd scale, often from more than
one manufacturer.

Stephen "FPilot" Bierce/IPMS #35922
Pilot's Log: http://www.livejournal.com/users/frustratedpilot