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 Two-Seat Fighter" (二式複座戦闘機, Ni-shiki fukuza sentōki); the Allied reporting name was "Nick". Originally serving as a long-range escort-fighter, the design, as with most heavy fighters of the period, fell prey to smaller, lighter, more agile single-engine fighters. As such, the Ki-45 instead served as a day and nighttime interceptor and strike fighter. (Wikipedia)

(IJAAF Photo)

Kawasaki Ki-45 KAIc Toryu formation.

(IWM Photo, CF 701)

Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu fighter/ground attack aircraft, codenamed "Nick" by the Allies, of the 71st Dokuritsu Hiko Chutai being examined by an RAF Officer.  This was one of a number of aircraft abandoned at Kallang Airport, Singapore, Sep 1945.

(USAAF Photo)

Kawasaki Ki-45s stand abandoned on an airfield near Singapore, 1945.

(IJAAF Photo)

Kawasaki Ki-45 KAIc Toryu.

(IJAAF Photo)

Members of the 53rd Sentai's ramming unit are the subjects of this photograph, taken in late 1944. Left from second is; Sergeant Shigeo Iioka (KIA), Ensign Tetsuro Aoki, Sergeant Masami Sawamoto (KIA), Corporal Kenji Yamada (KIA) and Corporal Hisashi Tagami (KIA).

(IJAAF Photos)

Kawasaki Ki-45 KAIc Toryu Army Type 2 Two-Seat Fighter (code name Nick) in IJAAF service.

(USAAF Photo)

Kawasaki Ki-45 KAIc Toryu Army Type 2 Two-Seat Fighter (code name Nick) captured at Cape Glouster, New Britain in 1944.

(USAAF Photo)

Kawasaki Ki-45 KAIc Toryu Army Type 2 Two-Seat Fighter (code name Nick) captured by US forces being prepared for flight testing at Clark Field in the Philippines.  This aircraft is possibly (Serial No. 3303), TAIC-SWPA S14, designated USAAF FE-325 and later T2-325, which was scrapped at Freeman Field in 1946.

(USAAF Photo)

Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu at Clark Field in the Philillines, 1945.

(USAAF Photo)

Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu at Clark Field in the Philillines, 1945.

(USAAF Photo)

Ki-45 Kai Tei in Downtown Manila, 1945.

(RAAF Museum Photo)

Kawasaki Ki.45 Toryu Nick S-14 in American markings over Brisbane, QLD in about 1945.

Kawasaki Ki-45 KAIc Toryu Army Type 2 Two-Seat Fighter (Serial No. 3303), codenamed "Nick",TAIC-SWPA S14.  This aircraft was captured at Fujigaya and later shipped to the USA.  It was designated USAAF FE-325 and later T2-325.  This aircraft was test flown at Freeman Field, Ohio until it was scrapped in 1946.  (USAAF Photo)

(USAAF Photos)

Kawasaki Ki-45 KAIc Toryu Army Type 2 Two-Seat Fighter (Serial No. 3303), codenamed "Nick", USAAF FE-325 and later T2-325.  This aircraft was test flown at Freeman Field, Ohio until it was scrapped in 1946.

(USAAF Photo)

Ki-45 Kai Tei 2, 701.

(USAAF Photo)

Kawasaki Ki-45 Kai Tei 3 in the USA.

Kawasaki Ki-45 KAIc Toryu (Serial No. 4268), codenamed Nick, shipped to the USA and shown here at Middletown Air Depot in 1946.  Designated USAAF FE-701, the fuselage of this aircraft is now on display in the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centre, Chantilly, Virginia.  (USAAF Photo)

(Steven Duhig Photo)

(HawkeyeUK Photos)

Kawasaki Ki-45 KAIc Toryu (Serial No. 4268), USAAF FE-701, fuselage on display in the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centre, Chantilly, Virginia.  This is the only surviving Ki-45 KAIc.  It was one of about 145 Japanese aircraft brought to the United States aboard the carrier USS Barnes for evaluation after the end of the Second World War.  It underwent overhaul at Middletown Air Depot, Pennsylvania, and was test-flown at Wright Field, Ohio, and Naval Air Station Anacostia in Washington, D.C.  The United States Army Air Forces donated the Toryu to the Smithsonian Institution in June 1946.  Only the fuselage is currently on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, alongside the Nakajima J1N and Aichi M6A.

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