I believe that after Midway they were removed not because the Japanese believed their pilots would be able to distinguish the difference, but because rumor from survivors said that the large red spots were used by American dive bombers as convenient target markings.
In addition to the Hiryu, Soryu, Kaga, and Akagi it seems that possibly 4 or 5 other IJN carriers may have had the Hinomaru painted on their flight deck. 3 or 4 of the carriers were also part of Operation MI (Midway Invasion). The model references I have show the Hosho, Zuiho, Ryujo, and maybe the Junyo might have had the Hinomaru painted on the flight deck. I only implicate the Junyo because I have a model reference showing Junyo's sister ship Hiyo wearing one on her flight deck in July, 1942. Hiyo was comissioned too late for the Midway Operation. Attached are some of the pics and drawings I have found.
IJN Hosho
IJN Zuiho
IJN Hiyo
IJN Ryujo
Does anyone else have any better pics or references that would verify the existence of the Hinomaru on these or other IJN aircraft carriers?
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