Camouflage net
A photo from a vintage publication dated October 8th, 1943, of a Nakajima Ki-43-II Ko.
Another photo taken a few seconds before this one is featured in Model Art #395, p. 79.
According to the caption the plane belonged to the 1st Chutai of the 25th Sentai and the boarding pilot is 1st Lt. Okumura Masao. On August 23, 1943, the 25th took off from their base in Hankou (Hubei province), made a stop in Yichang (Hubei province) and then proceeded to attack the then capital of Nationalist China, Chongqing.
The photo is retouched by the war-time censor and the air intake at the top of the cowling, as well as the machine gun muzzle ports are missing. Nevertheless, this angle still provides interesting information regarding the color of the wheel wells (not aotake), the camouflage pattern and the net that gives plenty of diorama ideas.
A photo from a vintage November 1943 magazine.
A Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" (Oscar) stationed in the Central China front getting some final maintenance touches before taking off for the next mission.
A photo from the November 1943 issue of the magazine "Koku Asahi" of a Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Aircraft Model 2 or Mitsubishi Ki-46-II "Dinah" taken at the front by reporter Hasegawa. Note the same kind of camouflage net seen in the previous photos and a few coconut tree branches.
The ad in the insert says:
"A1
High-quality superglue
Available everywhere in Japan from aviation-related shops, modelling stores, stationary and pharmacies.
Resin white, 21gr 50sen*
Cellulose red, 14gr 30sen
Distributed by Fujiyama Shoten - Tokyo"
*Sen was the old one-hundredth subdivision of the Yen (1Yen=100Sen).
An NHK video, dated December 18, 1942, featuring a Kawasaki Ki-48 from the 8th Sentai, in Burma. Of course, note the camo net getting removed before the aircraft gets prepped for takeoff.
A Mitsubishi Ki-51 "Sonia", unit unknown, found in Okinawa in 1945 partially covered by a camouflage net. In all probability, it was a decoy placed out in the open to attract the attention of US aircraft. Note that it lacks many essential parts including the landing gear and the engine.
A December 28, 1944 video from the NHK collection excellently presenting a Yokosuka P1Y1 Model 11 "Ginga" (Frances).
The location is most probably the Clark Airfield in the Philippines and the unit could be one of the attack units of the 762 Kokutai. Note the 600-litre drop tanks under each wing and the camo nets covering the whole aircraft.
Mitsubishi A6M Zeros found at Aslito Airfield, Saipan. Note the same camo net covering two of them and the tarp we discussed in a previous post.
Another Zero found in Aslito Airfield, Saipan, parked at an open-top "entaigo" (bomb shelter). Note that the camo net is held into place by rocks on the ground.
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