Monday, 29 June 2015

Nakajima Ki-44 "Shoki" - Akeno Hiko Gakko

A line-up of Type 2 Single-Seat Fighters or Nakajima Ki-44 "Shoki" belonging to the Akeno Army Fighter School are getting maintained by ground crew members in this photo from a vintage, September 1944, publication. Note the very heavily camouflaged by airbrush "Shoki" and the "Hayabusa" just taking off.
Of interest is the big aircraft in the background, most probably a bomber. It looks like it is sitting on a nose wheel and since there are no IJAAF bombers with tricycle landing gear, what type of aircraft could this be?  
 

4 comments:

  1. George Bryant30 June 2015 at 04:04

    Possibly a captured B-24?

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  2. Anonymous2 July 2015 at 04:22

    How about Kawanishi H8K (I know it's not a JAAF plane but that's what it looks like).

    Wind-Swords

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  3. Anonymous9 July 2015 at 12:14

    It is probably the Douglas DC-4E prototype purchased by Imperial Japanese Airways but secretly examined by Nakajima who based their G5N Shinzan 4 engined bomber on the design.

    Darryl

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  4. Anonymous20 July 2015 at 09:29

    I could see how a captured Allied aircraft could be put to good use at a flying school for fighter pilots.
    If not a B-24, possibly a Douglas A-20?

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