Shin-Maywa PS-1 & US-1

(1) PS-1; The first prototype of the PS-1(PX-S) ASW flying boat made its first flight on 29OCT67, and was delivered to the JMSDF on 31JUL68. The first few machines were allocated to the 51st Kokutai for operational testing, a detachment being activated at Iwakuni for this specific purpose. The only operational unit to fly the PS-1 was the 31st Kokutai (Air Squadron) at Iwakuni, activated on 01MAR73. The 51st Kokutai Det.Iwakuni was deactivated on 30MAR83, and their PS-1s were transferred to the 31st Kokutai at the same time. A total of 23 PS-1s were delivered to the JMSDF during 1968-1979 with the serials 5801-5823. The last surviving PS-1 was retired from service on 17MAR89. Unfortunately, a total of six PS-1s were lost by accidents during landing/taking-off.

(2) US-1; The US-1 was the search and rescue version of the PS-1, and the first one made its first flight on 18OCT74. A total of 20 machines were delivered to JMSDF with the serials 9071-9090 during 1975-2004. The first six machines(#9071-9076) were designated as "US-1", and the remainning 14 machines were designated as "US-1A", which were re-engined to more powerful T-64-IHI-10J(3,500hp). As of today(DEC.2015) only one or two machines are still in service, and all the remainning machines have been phased out already.

日本のマニアの皆様にとってはお馴染みのPS-1とUS-1ですので、日本語での解説文は割愛させていただきます。

PS-1 ASW flying boat

PS-1
5819
31st Kokutai
@ off Iwakuni
21JUL85

PS-1
5819
31st Kokutai
@ off Iwakuni
21JUL85
(above five photos)
I took these photos on an open day at Iwakuni in July 1985. They had a fantastic PS-1 demonstration of taking-off and landing on the water off the coast of Iwakuni, and they arranged a photo tour for photographers by using a small boat. It was a VERY rare opportunity to photograph the PS-1 on the water and I was very excited with this boat tour. The bottom photo shows the same PS-1 landing on the base (Iwakuni air station) after the demo-flight.
(上5枚）これらの写真は1985年の岩国での公開日（チビヤン）に撮影しました。正確な記憶は残っていませんが、確か小型のボートに乗って少し沖合に出て、写真を撮らせてもらったと思います。チビヤン参加者であれば誰でも乗れたと思います。小生にとって飛行艇が海に浮いている写真を撮れるのは非常に貴重な機会であり、天気はイマイチでしたがえらく喜びました。ボートはそれなりに揺れていたと思いますが、Kodachrome25（ASA25)で気になるブレも無く、それなりにうまく撮れたのはラッキーでした。ボートからは85ﾐﾘと135ﾐﾘレンズを使ったと記憶しています。最下段の写真はデモ機が基地に戻ってきた時の写真ですが、ボートに乗っていたハズの小生が何故陸地でこの写真を撮れているのか疑問なんですが、もう記憶が残っていません。
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PS-1
5814
31st Kokutai
@ Iwakuni
08NOV76

PS-1
5815
31st Kokutai
@ Iwakuni
08NOV76

PS-1
5807
31st Kokutai
@ Iwakuni
07AUG83

PS-1
5815
31st Kokutai
@ Iwakuni
07AUG83
(above four photos)
Top two photos were taken at Iwakuni in November 1976 (almost 40 years ago). Bottom two photos were also taken at Iwakuni on the open day in August 1983. All four photos show PS-1s of the 31st Kokutai based at Iwakuni. Please note that the shape(design) of the rear end of the wave-dissipating plate (near the red proprller line) is different from the 1976 photos(top two) to 1983 photos(bottom two). I mean, the design(shape) was changed to improve the wave-dissipating capability, and the new design was implemented on the existing machines. Bomb bays(pods) are seen under the both wings. PS-1 was not able to land on the paved runway, and the landing gears could only be used for taxing down (or up) on the seaplane ramp.
(上4枚）最上段と２枚目の写真は1976年11月に岩国で撮影しました。下段の２枚は1983年のチビヤンで同じく岩国で撮影しました。この７年間の間に、波消し装置の形状が少し変化（改良）されていました。赤いプロペラ線の下端付近に、波消し装置の後端が見えますが、そこの形状が設計変更されています。同じ5815号機どうしで比べても（２枚目と最下段写真）その差がわかります。
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PS-1
5801
51st Kokutai-
Det.Iwakuni
@ Iwakuni
08NOV76
(above photo)
Above photo shows the first PS-1 machine (serial #5801) operated by the 51st Kokutai Det.Iwakuni, which was pictured at Iwakuni in November 1976. The 51st Kokutai Det.Iwakuni undertook operational testing and evaluation for the newly introduced PS-1 during 1968-1983. The wave-dissipating plate on the forward lower fuselage of this aircraft is quite unique in shape with eight additional rectangular holes placed horizontally in the middle of the wave-dissipating plate. I presume that this a/c was under operational testing of this new design applied on the wave-dissipating plate at that time. Please note also.....(1) some cross-shaped marks in black for measurement purpose, (2) unit marking for the 51st Kokutai appeared on the vertical fin, and (3) No bomb bays(pods) under the wing, which is only seen on the test aircraft. Unfortunately, this aircraft(#5801) crashed at Iwakuni Air Station on 26APR83 and killed 11 crews.
(上写真）これは1976年11月に岩国で撮影した第51航空隊、岩国分遣隊のPS-1です。同隊は26JUN68に岩国で編成され、新規に導入したPS-1の運用試験などを任務としていましたが、31MAR83にその任務を終えて解隊されました。 PS-1としては唯一部隊マークを尾翼に描いていました。波消し装置に何やら見慣れぬ長方形の穴が横一列に８個空けられていますが、この当時波消し装置の改良を色々試していたのでしょうか。また、計測用の黒い十字マークが胴体と垂直尾翼に描かれていますが、これは飛沫高さの計測に使われたようです。本機は実働部隊の機体ではないので魚雷ポッドが付いていません。PS-1としては比較的珍しい形態です。残念ながら、本機は26APR83に岩国基地の北端に墜落炎上して失われました。墜落当時の所属は第31航空隊で、11名の隊員が殉職されました。
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US-1 SAR flying boat

US-1
9077
71st Kokutai
@ off Iwakuni
07AUG83

US-1
9077
71st Kokutai
@ off Iwakuni
07AUG83
(above two photos)
I took these photos on an open day at Iwakuni in August 1983. They arranged a boat tour for photographers and we were able to take pictures of the US-1's rescue demonstration off the coast of Iwakuni Air Station. The bottom photo was taken during the boat tour by using a standard(50mm) lens, and please note the rear door in open position and the rescue crew is seen near the door. The white bubbles on the water in the foreground(at right) are raised from the tour boat we were on board.
(上2枚）これらの写真は1985年の岩国での公開日（チビヤン）に撮影しました。この時も確か小型のボートに乗って少し沖合に出て、US-1の救難訓練の様子を見せてもらいました。上段の写真は85mmもしくは100mmレンズで下段の写真は標準レンズで撮ったと記憶しています。下段写真の手前右側の海面に見える白い泡は、我々が乗っているボートのスクリューから出た水泡です。胴体後部のドアが開いていて、ロープが張られている様子なども見え、救難訓練のデモの最中であることがわかります。
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US-1A
9077
71st Kokutai
@ Yokota
06SEP87

US-1A
9080
71st Kokutai
@ Shimofusa
14MAY89

US-1A
9078
71st Kokutai
@ Iwakuni
07AUG83

US-1
9073
71st Kokutai
@ Shimofusa
29MAY77
(above four photos)
I took these photos on open days at various airbases as shown on the top right corner of each photo during 1977-1989. Unlike the PS-1 flying boat, the US-1(A) is able to land on paved runways, and so the US-1 used to be a regular participant on various airshows all around Japan. Sadly, the #9080 shown on the second photo crashed into the water off the coast of Tosa on 21FEB95, killing 11 crew members.
(上4枚） 1970年代後半から80年代にかけては、各地の航空祭にUS-1（US－１A含む）が良く参加していて、地上展示の列線で良く見かけました。上４枚の写真もそれらの公開日で撮影したUS-1/US-1Aです。撮影場所と年月日は各写真の右上に記載しています。残念ながら、2枚目の写真の9080号機は、21FEB95に土佐沖で訓練中に水没し失われ、11名が殉職されました。
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US-1
9072
51st Kokutai
@ Shimofusa
JUN76
(above photo)
This is the second machine of the US-1(serial; 9072) delivered to the JMSDF in 1976, and I took this photo at Shimofusa airshow in June 1976. This was my first US-1 photo. Please note that the wave-dissipating plate was in the early style, and also the slit above the plate was much shorter than the latter style. Please note also the 51st Kokutai's unit marking on the vertical fin.
(上写真） 1976年の下総航空祭で撮影したUS-1の２号機です。この機体は小生が初めて撮影できたUS-1で、US-1の最初の一般公開だったのかもしれません。この機体の波消し装置の排出口が初期の形状をしており、更には横方向のスリットがその後の大半の機体に比べて半分程度の長さしかありません。尾翼には第51航空隊の部隊マーク（VX）が描かれています。
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