Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily" #9 - 34 Sentai #3

One last 34 Sentai "Lily" photo. Note the many fuselage bands. I would say two red after the tail, one white and three yellow. White tail marking and spinner(?). So probably 1st Chutai commander's plane.

Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily" #8 - 34 Sentai #2

Another photo from a different vintage publication this time, also dated September 1944, featuring "Lilys" from the 34 Sentai. Note the white spinner, same colour as the tail marking, indicating that this aircraft in the foreground belonged to the 1st Chutai.

It seems that after the unit was annihilated in New Guinea, Japanese media put up stock photos of the unit as if it was still very active.

Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily" #7 - 34 Sentai #1

Two photos today from the same vintage publication of the previous post, featuring Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily" bombers of the 34 Sentai.

In February 1944, the unit relocated from Chiang Mai to Hollandia in New Guinea (present-day Jayapurta). On April 22, US forces landed in Hollandia and all the air units based there were annihilated (Battle of Hollandia). The air crew members tried to reach Sarmi on foot (a distance of more than 230km) and most of them perished due to disease and lack of food. 34 Sentai commander, Lt Col Tanaka, got sick during that time and in the end commited suicide.

Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily" #6

A photo today from a vintage publication, dated September 13, 1944, featuring a "Lily" droping supplies to ground troops in the Burma front.

 

Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily" #5

A photo of the "Lily's" nose gunner station today. Although the machine gun is barely visible, the double spare drum magazine stored on the starboard side, clearly indicates that it's a Type 98, 7.9mm flexible, a copy of the MG 15.

Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily" #4

A photo from the Arawasi collection today featuring a "Lily" undergoing maintenance by Shonen Hikohei (Youth Aviation Cadets) at the Tokorozawa Maintenance School.  

The lettering on the wheel leg covers says "オスナ" (osuna - don't push).

Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily" #3

Another photo today from a vintage magazine dated February 16, 1944, taken purportedly in Papua/New Guinea.

Unfortunately, it seems the wartime censor has removed the tail marking, if there ever was one, and so it's rather difficult to tell which unit it belonged to.

Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily" #2

Two more photos today from the same vintage magazine, dated April 1, 1942, featuring "Lilys" over Burma. Of interest is the very rare view of the Type 89 (special) twin machine gun operated by the dorsal gunner.

Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily" #1

Until we receive the new EE#3 from the printer's, here a small photo special on the Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily". Starting with a photo dated late 1941, early 1942, taken during the campaign against Burma and more specifically the bombing of Rangoon.

Unfortunately the tail marking is not visible, but the overall blotches camouflage is rather interesting.

EE#3 - Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally" & Fiat BR.20 in hinomaru - OUT NOW!

After a very long wait, our latest publication in the Eagle Eye series, dedicated to two IJAAF bombers and titled "Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally" & Fiat BR.20 "Cicogna" in hinomaru", is NOW OUT!

192 pages, 

2 foldouts including extremely detailed multi-view illustrations in 1/72,

345 (!) photos of which 30 in colour,

70 colour illustrations,

97 drawings and other illustrations including "Sally's" manual,

17 maps.

Extensive coverage of all the campaigns the two bombers were involved in. Special and extensive focus on the Giretsu and other paratroop and glider operations. Special chapters on the Civilian and Green Cross "Sallys" and a lot more with many surprises and material that appear first time in-print!

You can order this monumental work now!

Price is 45+15(postage by air mail for all countries except Japan) = $US60

You can send payment directly to our PayPal address: contact@arawasi.jp 

Please don't forget to include your name and current postal address.

If you're interested to order our other publications in the Eagle Eye series (here & here) or other items from our on-line store, HERE, email us at our new address: arawasiorder@gmail.com with your name, address and a list of the items you're interested in and we'll reply within 24hours with availability and total pricing.

We have already started shipping all pre-orders.