Yokosuka MXY7 Model 11, 1049
History
The Ohka 11 Serial No. 1049 is one of the few surviving examples of the Ohka series and is a particularly rare artifact of the war. This specific aircraft was discovered in Japan after the war and was eventually acquired by the Planes of Fame Air Museum, one of the most well-known aviation museums in the United States. The Ohka 11 on display at the museum is considered one of the most complete examples of this kamikaze aircraft type.
The exact details of how Serial No. 1049 was preserved remain somewhat unclear, but it is known that the aircraft was recovered in the years following Japan's surrender. During the post-war occupation of Japan, the U.S. military and Allied forces recovered various pieces of technology and military hardware for analysis, and some of these items found their way into museums and private collections.
In the case of the Ohka 11 Serial No. 1049, it is believed that it was either found in a Japanese storage facility or possibly as part of a crash site following the war. The aircraft was eventually brought to the United States, where it was restored to its current condition and displayed at Planes of Fame Air Museum, which has a reputation for preserving rare World War II aircraft.