The N1K2-J was a land-based derivative of a floatplane design by Kawanishi, entering service in early 1944 and proving to be one of the best dogfighting aircraft produced by either side. This example was flown by the elite 343 Kōkūtai naval fighter unit and was shipped to the US in November 1945 and assigned evaluation identity FE-306, later T2-306. One of four surviving, it was placed in storage at NAS Norfolk in 1947, going on show at the New England Air Museum in 1974 and moving to Pensacola in 1992

The Shiden or 'George' was unusually developed from a floatplane fighter, the N1K Kyofu or 'Rex'. It was a formidable dogfighting aircraft, despite technical issues that were solved in the N1K2-J Shiden Kai with low-set wing. This is assumed to be c/n 5511, Imperial Japanese Navy tail code 201-53, which was captured in the Philippines in January 1945 and given identification number S7 by TAIU-SWPA at Clark Field. It only flew once as such as the undercarriage collapsed on landing. Note that US insignia are a bit off, with old-fashioned rudder striping serving as a warning to Allied pilots. Photo from: US Navy - National Naval Aviation Museum

This aircraft was on display in a San Diego, CA. playground for many years. In 1959 it was transferred to the USAF Museum. It underwent an in depth restoration from 2000 through 2008, and is now on display in the WW2 Gallery. This slide was taken in the outdoor aircraft display area at the original museum on Patterson AFB.

Japanese Navy 'George' fighter preserved in the Dulles Museum.

The N1K2-J Shiden Kai was a high performance land based interceptor version introduced in December 1944. This aircraft wears the code of the elite 343 Kokutai of the Japanese Navy.

About 1,500 of various George models were produced. In combat over Taiwan, the Philippines, Okinawa, and the Japanese home islands, Shiden pilots acquitted themselves well but this excellent fighter appeared too late and in too few numbers to have any effect on Japan's fortunes in the air war. This example on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center is one of only four still extant and wears the colours and markings of the 343rd Kokutai based at Omura in 1945.

This George is on display at the National Museum of the USAF and is one of only three extant restored examples. It is a fighter-bomber variant equipped with wing mounts to carry bombs and is painted as an aircraft in the Yokosuka Kokutai, an evaluation and test unit similar in function to the USAAF's Flight Test Unit at Wright Field.

Now on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum this combat veteran George (evidenced by a bullet hole in the starboard wing) was delivered in early 1945 and tasked with defending the areas around Hiroshima. It is the most complete and authentic example of the type extant of over 400 produced during WWII.