Warplanes of Japan: Mitsubishi Ki-109

Mitsubishi Ki-109 (USAAF Photo) Mitsubishi Ki-109 fighter prototype in the USA.  This twin engine bomber is possibly one of five aircraft listed as a Ki-67 shipped to the USA, designated USAAF FE-2200 scrapped at Middletown, FE-2201 scrapped at Newark, FE-2202 scrapped at Middletown, FE-2203 scrapped at Newark, and FE-2204 also scrapped scrapped at Newark. The … Read more

Warplanes of Japan: Kawasaki Ki-108

Kawasaki Ki-108  (IJAAF Photo) Kawasaki Ki-108 Experimental High Altitude fighter, codenamed Randy. The Ki-108 Kai was a Japanese twin-engine heavy fighter/interceptor prototype developed from the Ki-96 and Ki-102 models. It was designed to counter the high-altitude American bombers such as the B-29 Superfortress. It had a pressurized cockpit, a 37 mm nose cannon and two … Read more

Warplanes of Japan: Kawasaki Ki-100

Kawasaki Ki-100 (IJAAF Photo) Kawasaki Ki-100-I-Ko Army Fighter Type 5 Mark 1a of 59th Sentai 2nd Chutai in August 1945 in Japan. The Kawasaki Ki-100 (キ100) is a single-seat single-engine monoplane fighter aircraft usedby the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS) during World War II. TheJapanese Army designation was “Type 5 Fighter” (五式戦闘機, Go-shiki sentouki, or … Read more

Warplanes of Japan: Kokusai Ki-86A

Kokusai Ki-86A Kokusai Ki-86A (Allied code name “Cypress”) in 1945. This plane was a German Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann which was licence-produced in Japan.  Approximately 1,037 Ki-86s were built for the Imperial Japanese Air Force and 339 Kyushu K9W1 for the Imperial Japanese Navy.  (USN Photo) Kyushu K9W1 Navy Type 2 Primary Trainer Momiji, codenamed … Read more

Warplanes of Japan: Kawanishi N1K

Kawanishi N1K  (IJNAF Photo) Kawanishi N1K4-J Shiden Kai, IJNAF, prototype. Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden (Serial No. 5511), test flown by the TAIU-SWPA, TAIC (S) 7, in USAAF markings.  This aircraft crashed at Clark Airfield, Luzon, Philippines, 1945.  (USAAF Photo) Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden (Violet Lightning), (Serial No. 7102), code-named George, TAIC-SWPA, S9, at Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines, … Read more

Warplanes of Japan: Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu

Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu (IJAAF Photo) Kawasaki Ki-45 KAIc Toryu Army Type 2 Two-Seat Fighter (code name Nick) in IJAAF service with the 53rd Hiko Sentai. The Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu (屠龍, “Dragonslayer”) is a two-seat, twin-engine heavy fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. The army gave it the designation “Type 2 … Read more

Warplanes of Japan: Kawasaki Ki-48

Kawasaki Ki-48 (IJAAF Photo) The Kawasaki Ki-48 (Japanese: 九九式雙發輕爆擊機, romanized: kyuukyuu-shiki-souhatu-keibaku-gekki, shortened to ‘Soukei’, Army Type 99 Twin-engined Light Bomber), was a Japanese twin-engine light bomber that was used during World War II. Its Allied reporting name was “Lily”. (Wikipedia) IJAAF Photo) The development of the aircraft began at the end of 1937 at the request of … Read more

Warplanes of Japan: Kawasaki Ki-10

Kawasaki Ki-10 The Kawasaki Ki-10 (九五式戦闘機, Kyūgo-shiki sentōki, Army Type 95 Fighter) was the last biplane fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army, entering service in 1935. Built by Kawasaki Kōkūki Kōgyō K.K. for the Imperial Japanese Army, it saw combat service in Manchukuo and in North China during the early stages of the Second … Read more

Warplanes of Japan: Kawasaki Ki-102

Kawasaki Ki-102 (IJAAF Photo) The Kawasaki Ki-102 or Type 4 Attack Plane(四式襲撃機, Yonshiki shūgeki-ki) was a Japanese warplane of the Second World War. It was a twin-engine, two-seat, long-range heavy fighter developed toreplace the Ki-45 Toryu. Three versions were planned: the Ki-102 Kō day fighter, Ki-102 Otsu ground-attack and Ki-102 Hei night fighter. This aircraft’s Allied … Read more

Warplanes of Japan: Kawasaki Ki-78

Kawasaki Ki-78 (KEN III) (IJAAF Photo) KEN III (for Kensan III or Research III) incorporated numerous advanced features new to Japanese aircraft. Approval was given for the aircraft’s development and a full-scale wooden mockup was finished in May 1941. Because of the outbreak of the Second World War, the project was taken over by the Imperial Japanese … Read more