#1 - Hurricanes were catapulted off merchant ships - the so-called "Hurricats".  This was a risky affair since if the plane was catapulted to hunt an intruder (FW-200 or so) and wasn't within flying distance of land, he'd have to make a water landing.

#1(a) - on of the "Hurricat" studies also envisioned a jettisonable set of wings, effectively making the Hurricane a biplane.

#2 - "12,000" Japanese planes. ... I don't know if the number was that high, but there were many airplanes being stockpiled for the last gasp - suicide flights if the Allied navies decided to invade Japan.  Many of these planes, however, were cheap, purpose built aircraft with just enough "flyability" and fuel capacity for a one-way trip.  In essence, they were an engine (any available one would do), attached to a fuselage/ wings/ tail to carry one bomb.  Obsolete aircraft, including trainers, liason aircraft, were also prepped.