Somerset, UK — A rare surviving Kamikaze aircraft seized by the British at the end of World War II is to go on display for the first time.
The aircraft, which would have been flown by a Japanese pilot on a suicide mission, was one of just four brought back to Britain from the Far East to display in museums.
It is not known what ever happened to the other three, but this Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka 11 has been kept in storage for the last 30 years at the Fleet Air Arm Museum near Yeovil, Somerset.
Staff have now wheeled it out in preparation for a lengthy refurbishment before they plan to exhibit it as part of an exhibition on the Pacific War in two years time.
Part of the renovation process will involve stripping back the paint applied to it after the war layer by layer to reveal its original design.
The Kamikaze planes were an effective way of bombing US aircraft carriers and ships during the conflict as the pilots could direct them straight at their targets.
They were attached to the underside of Japanese bombers and dropped from a height of 12,000ft, with 1,200kg of explosives crammed into their front end.
Three solid fuel rockets launched the crafts at speeds of 475mph while the pilot aimed it downwards towards enemy ships until impact.
Judging by the surviving example, the cockpits were very basic inside and were not built for the comfort of the suicidal pilot.
 
Kamikaze aircraft to go on display for first time