Nakajima J1N Gekko "Irving"

Nakajima · Japan · first flew 1941 · fighter

The Nakajima J1N Gekko (Moonlight) was a Japanese twin-engine aircraft originally designed as a long-range fighter that found its most important role as a night fighter equipped with oblique-firing cannon.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	Long, slender fuselage with mid-set wing
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Twin-engine Japanese navy night fighter with oblique cannon
Long, slender fuselage with mid-set wing
Schräge Musik-style upward and downward firing cannon installed

A sleek, mid-wing twin with a long, narrow fuselage and conventional tail; the oblique gun barbettes fitted above and below the fuselage mid-section are distinctive on the night fighter variants.

Specifications

The Nakajima J1N Gekko has a length of 12.18 m (40 ft).
It has a wingspan of 16.98 m (56 ft).
Its maximum speed is 507 km/h (315 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Designed for long-range escort duties, the J1N was repurposed as a night fighter by commanders in the Solomons, who fitted oblique upward and downward-firing cannon to intercept Allied bombers. This improvised modification proved effective and was standardised, making the Gekko Japan's primary night interceptor from 1943.

Variants

The J1N1-C was the initial reconnaissance version; the J1N1-S was the dedicated night fighter with oblique cannon; the J1N1-Sa had revised armament.

Where you'll see it

Served with the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in the Pacific from 1942 until the end of the war; saw most action in night interception over Rabaul and the home islands.

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