Japanese Airfields, Equipment & more #3 - revised

IJAAF ladders and more.

Unlike the IJNAF with its tier working platforms, IJAAF ground crews more commonly used 3-step wooden ladders to reach the engines of the single-seat fighters and shorter aircraft but needed taller ladders for aircraft like the Mitsubishi Ki-15 "Babs" or bombers like the Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally".

Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily" bomber crews used a small three-step ladder most commonly made of metal but occasionally made of wood for the bombardier to enter the plane from the front hatch.

I was able to find only 2-3 photos of IJAAF ground crews using platforms similar to the IJNAF, like in this one which looks more like a table. Such equipment can be seen with Kawasaki Ki-45 "Toryu" (Nick) fighters.

Or in the background, on an airfield where a Nakajima Ki-44 "Shoki" unit operated from.

A more complex ladder/platform can be seen in this photo of a Mitsubishi Ki-46 III-Kai "Dinah" getting its nose armament calibrated and test-fired. It was not common, and I was only able to find photos featuring this "Dinah" with this kind of ladder.

In this movie still, Kawasaki Ki-45 "Toryu" (Nick) ground crew members are servicing the port engine. The work platform they use is unusual, made of metal.

A ladder with a flat top is used in this photo to service the engine of a Nakajima Ki-27 "Nate".

Finally, benches or shorter stools were not uncommon. In this case its the Army Aircraft Maintenance School in Tokorozawa.