Del Prado · Second World War · 1942
The light uniform and restrained standing pose make this Del Prado aviation lieutenant a quieter subject than an armored pilot ready to climb into an aircraft. The figure is best identified through the full title, clothing and base record together.
- Maker
- Del Prado
- Subject
- Japanese Aviation Lieutenant 1942
- Historical setting
- Second World War · 1942
Avoid importing a modern service name
Wartime Japanese military aviation was divided between army and navy organizations; there was no independent air force in the modern sense. The retailer’s broad “Japanese Air Force” wording should therefore be treated as a loose catalog description. The checked material identifies an aviation lieutenant, but does not justify inventing a squadron or aircraft assignment.
A useful contrast with the 1944 army officer
The catalog’s Japanese Army officer carries a different military role. Displaying the two figures together can explain why nationality alone is a poor filing system. Aviation personnel and ground officers may share some clothing features while requiring different historical labels and companion equipment.
Record uncertainty rather than filling it with a guess
Save the base inscription and any surviving booklet information, especially if it supplies a service branch. In a sale listing, check fine equipment, fingers and the edges of the cap. Search the lieutenant-and-1942 subject description, but do not attach a famous pilot’s name simply because the face or uniform resembles an illustration online.
Figure reference
Del Prado Japanese Aviation Lieutenant 1942 — Planète Légendaire catalog record. The collecting observations above refer to the pictured model; condition varies between individual examples.