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 reporting name was "Randy".

The Ki-102 entered service in 1944, but saw limited action. The main type(Ki-102 Otsu) was kept in reserve to protect Japan, although it did see somelimited duty in the Okinawa campaign. It was kept out of front line service because it was hoped that it would be the carrier of the Ki-148 air-to-surface guided missile when the Allied invasion of Japan occurred.

Variants
Ki-102
prototypes, three built
Ki-102 Kō
Externally similar to the Ki-102 Otsu, but with turbosuperchargers that enabledthe engines to maintain their rating at higher altitudes. The 57 mm (2.24 in)cannon was swapped in favor of a 37 mm (1.46 in) cannon, and the 12.7 mm (.50in) rear gun was deleted, 26 built.
Ki-102 Otsu
Ground-attack variant similar to prototypes, except with revised tail wheel,207 built
Ki-102 Hei
Night fighter version with lengthened fuselage and span. Radar under aPlexiglas dome, oblique-firing 20 mm cannons, and the 20 mm cannons in thebelly replaced with 30 mm (1.18 in) cannons in Schräge Musik behind thecockpit, two built.
Ki-108
High-altitude fighter prototype with pressurised cabin, two conversions fromKi-102 Otsu aircraft using the structural improvements used on the Ki-102 Hei.
Ki-108 Kai
Improved version of the Ki-108 with longer fuselage and enlarged wings. Twobuilt. (Wikipedia)

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(USAAF Photos)

(USAAF Photo)

Kawasaki Ki-102b "Randy".  This aircraft has the number 106, which may refer to the loading number for the aircraft carrier that brought it, as one of three Ki-102b which were shipped to the USA.  Ki-102b USAAF FE-308 was scrapped at park Ridge ca. 1950; Ki-102B FE-309 was scrapped at Middletown in 1946, and Ki-102b FE-310 was scrapped at Newark in 1946.

(Kurt Kaiser Photos)

Kawasaki Ki-102 at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

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