There is a great difference between "copying" a concept and copying an actual aircraft model. The first is so tenous that it is almost useless for propaganda purposes (and it can be easily used both ways), while the second stands in firmer ground. AFAIK nobody said that the Japanese copied the "Zero" concept (a one-seat monoplane fighter, with a radial engine, a radio, carrier landing equipment, folding wings, and retractable landing gear), but that the "Zero" was actually an improved copy (or a derivative) of a particular aircraft model.Tim Smith wrote:I'm just pointing out how the B5N could also have been a topic for American propaganda.
And perhaps an even more compelling reason not to use the B5N case for propaganda could be that the TBD was relatively well known, so the obvious differences of both aircraft were quite evident (at least for the military). On the other hand, the Vought V-143 was (and is) relatively unknown, so that any claim of the "Zero" being copied from it was easier to be believed.