Kaiser FK-1 Rapier

[comrade harps]

Kaiser FK-1 Rapier
110, VMF-213, USMC, USS Saidor
23 February, 1946


On 25 November, 1944, a kamikaze struck the USS Essex as she sailed off Okinawa. Among those killed were all 22 pilots assigned to the Marine's VMF-213. The unit was immediately disbanded, but re-established in April 1945 and re-equipped with the new KF-1 Rapier.




The KF-1 started life as a Grumman project, to produce an advanced P-50 Spitfire with a laminar flow wing. Under a USAAF contract, Grumman began work on the XP-74 Bobcat, but pressure of work on designs for the US Navy forced Grumman to subcontract manufacture, and increasingly design, to Kaiser. Under the contract, the P-74 was to be produced under the Grumman name, which allowed Kaiser to pitch carrier-based versions to the Navy as the XKF-1. Unable to use the Bobcat name for these proposals, the popular name Rapier was adopted (said to have been inspired by the design's sharp looks and swift speed).

The opportunity for a production order came when the US Navy became aware of Japan's development of jet and rocket powered interceptors and "special attack" (kamikaze) designs. To counter these, the Navy and Marine Corps would need the fastest possible fighters. While Lockheed's P-80 Shooting Star was purchased as the TO-1 land-based fighter for the USMC, the Navy's carriers would not be able to operate jets in combat in time for the planned invasion of Japen. An evaluation of the piston-engined options canvassed both the Bearcat and Corsair, plus other types including navalised Bobcat (Rapier), Mustang and Thunderbolt proposals. Although Kaiser had not produced carrier-capable aircraft before, the basic Bobcat/Rapier design came from Grumman and featured an airframe stressed to typical Grumman "Iron Works" standards. The option with the highest speed, best rate of climb and from a supplier with a proven track record (in ship building) at completing projects ahead of schedule and on budget, Kaiser's Rapier was selected for a 500 plane order.



VMF-213 was chosen to avenge its destruction at the hands of a kamikaze by being selected to perform a dedicated air defence role aboard a carrier during the invasion of Japan. Based on USS Saidor, they first went into action off the coast of Honshu on 10 February, 1946. This Rapier's first kill came on 15 February, 1946, whilst supporting the invasion of Oshima Island. With 2nd Lt Steven Milne at the controls, two pulse-jet powered Kawanishi Baika were killed during the course of two morning sorties. A further sortie in the afternoon by 2nd Lt Dayne Beams bagged another Baika. Two days later, on the 17th, Lt. Milne took 110's victory count to 4 with the destruction of a turbojet-powered Yokosuka Model 43B Otsu "Ohka" kamikaze plane. Another two Ohkas were shot down by 110 the next day during the course of sorties by 1st Lt John McCarthy and 2nd Lt. Wayne Carey. Lt Milne bagged another Baika in 110 on the 20th. On the 22nd, 1st Lt Andrew Lovett shot down a Baika and on the morning of the 23rd, Lt Carey shot down his second Ohka, bringing 110's total to 9 kills. No further kills were claimed by pilots flying this aircraft until the 1 March, 1946, invasion of Honshu, the plane's final tally amounting to 15 kills before it was destroyed in a landing accident.




VJ Day stopped KF-1 production at 487. Of these, 18 were converted to KF-1P photo-reconnaissance planes (8 of which saw service against Japan) and 36 were built as KF-1N night fighters (of which 27 saw service against Japan). During the last three weeks of the war, Rapiers also flew ground attack missions, armed with bombs, napalm and rockets.



Surplus Rapiers were highly sort-after racing planes. A Rapier placed second in Bendix Trophy in 1948 and another won the Thompson Trophy in 1949.

[perttime]

Wowww....
Excellent use for a Spiteful.
...ooops, Seafang, of course...

[kitbasher]

Yeah baby!

[NARSES2]

Gorgeous 

What's the base kit please ?

[comrade harps]

What's the base kit please ?

AZ Seafang F.Mk.32, 1:72nd scale.

Thanks for your kind words about this.I quite enjoyed making it and ahree that it looks somewhat cool. It's hard to go wrong with those late WW2 USN/USMC dark blue/white markings schemes. I use Tamiya XF-17 Sea Blue enamel for these.

Next up? How about that Boeing P-44C I promised at the start of this group build?

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice! The dark blue suits the Seafang well!

[sandiego89]

Well done. 

[NARSES2]

What's the base kit please ?

AZ Seafang F.Mk.32, 1:72nd scale.

Thanks

[Captain Canada]

Wow....very nice ! Looks aweome in those colours/ markings and would have really taken the pants off the Japanese !