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Translation of a single sign, really

Mario_Wens

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31 May 2016
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Maybe an odd question, but I'm puzzled by the tail markings of the single surviving Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden. This Navy fighterplane stood in a park in Los Angeles after the war, as far as I know with the original markings on it. On the tail it had the code タイ-101 at that time. It was saved from further decay and transported to the Planes of Fame Museum, then in Claremont, now in Chino, California. At some point it was repainted and got new markings, something like D-1158. I say 'like', because I find it odd that a Japanese plane would carry the Western alphabet letter 'D'. Am I missing something, and is what I take to be a 'D' in fact some stylized katakana? There are plenty of photographs dating back to the Second World War showing similar codes, so it is not a painting mistake by the Museum.

See here what I'm talking about: MItsubishi J2M Raiden (Jack) Right Side Planes of Fame Chino, California - a photo on Flickriver
 
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