Washing Machine Charlie

Washing Machine Charlie or Bedcheck Charlie was a name given by Allies (primarily US) to Imperial Japanese aircraft that performed usually solitary, nocturnal operations over Henderson Field, Guadalcanal during the Guadalcanal Campaign. The name comes from the distinctive sound of the aircraft engines.

During the campaign, the Japanese sent solitary aircraft on nighttime missions over Guadalcanal for various reasons. The reasons included scouting, dropping flares over Allied positions to assist Japanese naval or ground forces operating on or near the island, to bomb the airfield or Allied installations, and/or to harass the Allied troops and disrupt their sleep.

Various aircraft were used in the role by Japanese forces, including ship or shore-based single-engine seaplanes, and, on occasion a two engine airplane, probably a Betty Bomber, whose pilot had made sure his engines were out of synchronization. The vibration was bad enough to wake most people, and then the waiting for the bomb, (most of which missed) kept the men awake for the rest of the night.