Mitsubishi F1M2 “Pete”

Mitsubishi F1M2 “Pete” Imperial Japanese Navy 1943

The Mitsubishi F1M, Type Zero Observation Seaplane (Allied code name “Pete“) was the last biplane type of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Mitsubishi’s design team, led by Hattori Joji, completed a prototype in June 1936. The design was very clean and but had poor stability. This was corrected in the F1M2

A Nakajima Hitari MK1 radial engine, delivering 611 kW (820 hp), gave it a maximum speed of 368 km/h (230 mph) and an operating range of up to 1,072 km/670 miles. "Pete" was the only short-range observation float plane accepted for full production by the Japanese Navy, and it was standard on all carriers and battleships, and was in fact the reconnaissance plane most widely used by the Imperial Navy with 1,118 built between 1936 and 1944.