This Japanese Plane Was Designed To Invade America In WW2

Japan’s Ambitious Plan to Bomb the U.S.

During WWII, the Axis powers faced a critical challenge: they lacked the capability to strike mainland America. For Japan, leveling U.S. industrial production was key to shifting the war in their favor. Their solution? The Nakajima G10N Fugaku—a massive bomber designed to strike the U.S., cripple its war effort, and return home in a single mission.

Origins of the Fugaku

Following their defeat at Midway in 1942, Japan sought a new edge. They identified North American industrial targets accessible via the west-to-east jet stream. The plan envisioned the Fugaku bombing the U.S., flying across the Atlantic to refuel in occupied Europe, then returning to Japan via Soviet airspace while dropping bombs along the way. This ambitious mission required an aircraft with unparalleled range, payload, and endurance.

Development Begins

In January 1943, Nakajima Aircraft Company, uniting concepts from both the Army and Navy, began work on a super bomber. Construction of a dedicated facility outside Tokyo was underway, with plans to have the prototype ready by May 1945. However, the project soon encountered significant hurdles.

Major Challenges

1. Engine Troubles:
   The Fugaku was designed to use a massive 36-cylinder radial engine (essentially two 18-cylinder engines combined) to reach a top speed of 422 mph. However, these engines overheated frequently, even at high altitudes. Efforts to develop a cooling solution failed, forcing engineers to downgrade to an experimental engine with half the required horsepower.
2. Resource Shortages:
   Wartime scarcity made building a plane of this magnitude nearly impossible. Japan lacked the materials, advanced engineering, and technologies to develop a reliable engine or construct the bomber at scale.

Too Little, Too Late

By 1944, Japan’s war effort was crumbling. The loss of Saipan dealt a devastating blow to their plans, and resources were redirected to more immediate needs. By February 1945, the first prototype was 60% complete when an Allied air raid destroyed the facility, effectively ending the program.