MANY thanks to Mr Hopper who contacted us in response to last week’s story about the kamikaze plane at the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

Mr Hopper, who lives in Weymouth, has filled in a lot of gaps for us.

He says: “The ‘Ohka’ bomb was the brainchild of a Lieut Oto of the Yokahama Naval Academy in Japan. Ohka translates as ‘cherry blossom’, hence the Ohka had this emblem on the rocket bomb.

“The Americans called them ‘baka bombs’ because baka in Japanese means ‘fool’, the actual name of the missile – which was the first cruise missile, if you like.

“The missile was manned and known as MXY7 and the programme was known as the Maru Dai Project. It was progressed in total secrecy and the name Ohka, if spoken about at all, could be construed as referring to the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

“The piloted suicide rocket bomb was carried to its target slung underneath a conventional bomber.

“Once released, it glided down and ignited its rockets within a mile of the target.

“Those on the receiving end stood no chance to retaliate, as the Ohka arrived at 400mph.”

Thank you Mr Hopper.