Japanese Nakajima A9He1 Herman (Heinkel He 100)

The IJNAF pilots gained experience with the Mitsubishi A6M Zero in combat over China and through continued testing, complains and recommendations began to come in to the Kōku Hombu.  The most vocal complaint concerned the fighter’s poor lateral control at high speeds.  As air speed increased above 180 mph, aileron response deteriorated rapidly, and above 230 mph, the Zero-sen became more difficult to roll.  Additionally, pilots wanted better performance at altitude.

In response, the IJNAF began delivering initial production A9He1s to combat units following successful flight trials in late 1941.  As a result of delays at Hitachi, Nakajima soon caught up in to combat units following successful flight trials in late 1941.  As a result of delays at Hitachi, Nakajima soon caught up in production of the A9He1 and the first units operated a mix of aircraft from both manufacturers.

The first unit to receive the new fighter was the 2^nd Kōkūtai during the spring of 1942.  Operating in the New Guinea area, the A9He1’s short range prevented the 2^nd Kōkūtai from reaching the battle over Guadalcanal during its early stages.  Other units received the A9He1, mainly in the Solomons area, but the new fighter was initially not well received by front line units due to its shorter range, complex inline engine, and worse maneuverability when compared to the A6M2 Zero.  This profile depicts Q-122, an A9He1 of the 2^nd Kōkūtai during the summer of 1942 at Rabaul.  It has a blue fuselage band denoting a section leader and is missing its radio mast.