Kawasaki Ki-45 "Toryu" (Nick)

A Kawasaki Ki-45 Kai-Hei brought to the US after the War for evaluation purposes. It retains the original paint, something quite unusual for captured and evaluated aircraft. The number "16" on the tail is from the serial number 3116 written on the plane in smaller digits signifying that it's the 16th Kai-Hei produced. (FAOW#21, p.43)

The Ki-45 Kai-Hei had a 37mm Ho-203 canon on the nose and one 20mm on the belly. The modifications and the testing was done in the First Arsenal of IJAAF. Design started in March 1943 and by May the first prototype was completed followed by 65 more by October of the same year. From that month onward the type was also produced by Kawasaki and was used for the defence of the mainland.

Question for aircraft and owner identification

Mirek Kárník of Rising Decals from Czech Republic sent us the following photos and questions:

I would like to ask for help with identification of the two aircraft.

"J-APAE" is DH-82A, but who was its owner? I read, that it was Police in Dalian, Manchuria (China). Also, any ideas about the marking on the fuselage side?

The aircraft above looks like Ishikawajima R-5 "J-BAAG". Is it correct?

Answer:

1. According to THIS site the "J-APAE" is a DH-82A Tiger Moth and I can confirm that it belonged to the Kwantung Provincial police.

A more clear photo below from the Arawasi collection showing their two aircraft during the ceremony where they were delivered to the Kwantung Police. The DH-82A J-APAE is on the right possibly nicknamed "Hayabusa". The other aircraft is a DeHavilland DH83 Fox Moth possibly nicknamed "Shirataka" (white hawk); the vintage caption is not clear which nickname corresponded to each aircraft). I'm afraid I can't confirm the crash date.

 A close up (insert) of the marking on the fuselage side reveals that it's a more round version of the marking of the Japanese police (below).

This marking called "Nisho" (rising sun) or "Asahikage" (the shadow of the morning sun) was officially adopted in 1882 and was based ofcourse on the rising sun. There were variations but the Kempei (military police) also had the same marking but with six main rays. As you can see it's yellow (golden).

In your photo there seems to be some more small markings on the tail. I'm not sure what these could be.

Below, although not aircraft related, a couple more photos, from the Arawasi collection, of the Kwantung Police showing their uniforms. 

  

2. Yes, it's a very rare photo of Ishikawajima's R-5 J-BAAG. After the Sino-Japanese War erupted it became obligatory all Japanese aircraft to have hinomaru on all six positions (wings up/underneath and fuselage sides). As a result some civilian aircraft instead of undergoing a careful and time consuming overpaint, they had the hinomaru on the fuselage side painted over the civilian registration removing some of the letters. When the ground crews had more time in their hands painted the hinomaru on the fuselage sides but kept the civilian registration letters. Most newspaper aircraft chose to have the hinomaru either applied wherever there was space or had the civilian registration repainted. 

In the case J-BAAG the hinomaru hid the registration.

Below is a photo of the second R-5 prototype J-BISB.

Thank you Mirek for sharing these very interesting photos with our blog.

Extensive detailed coverage on Tiger Moths and Fox Moths in various Air Britain Archive Historical Quarterly magazines confirms the Tiger Moth as J-APAE Hayabusa, written off after a crash in June 1935, and the Fox Moth as J-APBE Shirato. The Fox Moth was photographed in May 1933 with a canopy fitted over the pilot’s cockpit and changes to the cabin door; from February 1937 to May 1939 it was transferred to the Financial Section of the Administration Department, but its eventual fate is unknown.

Peter Starkings

BREAKING NEWS - Unexploded WWII bomb closes Sendai airport

From BBC:

"A major airport in northern Japan was closed after an unexploded bomb believed to be from WWII was found near a runway during construction work.

Flights in and out of Sendai airport were cancelled and a military bomb disposal unit called in.

The 250kg (550lb) bomb has been identified as one made in the US.

The airport was a Japanese military flight school during the war. It was closed for months due to damage from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

The city of Sendai, with a population of more than a million, was very close to the epicentre of the devastating quake.

Parts of the airport - a major hub for travel in northern Japan - is still being reconstructed [sic].

Sendai police official Hiroshi Ouchi said evacuations of nearby homes may be considered.

The bomb disposal team is exploring options to either move the bomb or explode it on site.

It is common for bombs that are duds to be uncovered at constructions sites in Japan - many of its cities were bombed during WWII."

Check also here.

The airport of Sendai after the devastating tsunami of March 11, 2011

On August 1st, 1943 the Mito Rikugun Hiko Gakko (Mito Army Aviation School) located in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, moved to Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture and changed it's name to Sendai Rikugun Hiko Gakko (Sendai Army Aviation School). 

Originally Mito taught radio communications and training for machine gunners. In August 1940 the communication department of Mito became independent receiving the name Rikugun Koku Tsusin Gakko (Army Aviation Communications School). In Sendai the courses included anti-aircraft, vehicle and transportation but also aircraft maintenance focusing mainly in the training of Army officers.

The main entrance of the Sendai Rikugun Hiko Gakko

The Luigi Scarano Collection Pt. 3

Here are some pictures of my Nakajima Ki-44 "Shoki", Hasegawa 1/48 model, 85 Sentai, Lieutenant Colonel Wakamatsu Yukiyoshi. - Luigi Scarano

 

Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" (Oscar) - Akeno Army Aviation School

A line up of Akeno "Hayabusa" warming up their engines just before take-off. They are all Model 2Koh early. The serial number of the falcon in the foreground is partially visible; "38" something. The one in the background has the Akeno school tail marking and the number "48" right above it. The wheel wells look unpainted.
Note their different camouflage patterns directly over the NMF surfaces. 

The Luigi Scarano Collection Pt. 2

Nakajima Ki-84 "Hayate" (Frank). Hasegawa 1/48 scale, decals Sky Model, Captain Ogawa Tomojiro, 103 Sentai.

Tachikawa Ki-54 "Hickory"

A vintage photo from a September 1944 magazine. 

"Wild Eagles reading letters from home under the wing of their beloved plane".

Actually we are not 100% sure about the type of the aircraft. We believe it's a "Hickory", possibly Ki-54Hei transport, with the wheel covers removed. The landing gear of the Ki-54 is very similar with the one Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily" had but the lack of cowling gills points to a Ki-54. Feel free to send us your thoughts.

Vintage ads

Two vintage fountain pen ads today. Don't forget to visit the links for more interesting information about the companies.

Hoe and sword - Pen and sword

Ideal for giving consolation at the front

PILOT FOUNTAIN PENS

From 2.00Yen

More about the "Pilot" company, here.

Superior domestic product

ZEBRA PEN

Modern technology. Good writing. Excellent materials. Long life.

Avialable at stationary and department stores

Tokyo, Co. Ltd, Ishikawa fountain pen points manufacturer

Check here for more about the "Zebra" pen company.  

Sopwith 2 Reconnaissance

In March 1918 two Sopwith Strutter Model 1 built in France by Lioré et Olivier were imported by Japan. They were tested as reconnaissance or twin-seat fighter showing exceptional performance in multiple roles. The IJAAF immediately made plans to have them produced locally so the Balloon Research Group based in Tokorozawa imported engines and started building them. The first was completed in November 1918 and by next year ten more were built. In March 1920 the Tokorozawa brunch of the Army depot started building the type and by the end of the year they had built five more. In total, two were imported and 15 were built in Japan.

 The photo from a vintage postcard bellow was taken in Mikatahara airfield.

I don't think the guy in the middle could have chosen a more inappropriate moment to scratch his balls!

The Luigi Scarano Collection Pt. 1

Luigi Scarano, from Cava de' Tirreni - Italy, shared with us photos of his beautiful models. First up his 1/48 Hasegawa Nakajima Ki-43-IIKo "Hayabusa" with Fine Molds decals belonging to the 50th Sentai and piloted by 2nd Chutai leader Capt. Miyamaru Masao, August 1943, Sungai Petani airfield, Malaya.

The kanji on the tail of the 50th Sentai Hayabusa did not follow any particular pattern. Some had bird names, others had weather related or spiritual subjects and some even the names of the pilots' wives. In the case of Capt Miyamaru's Hayabusa the kanji can be read as "Myo" or "Tae" and could mean "exquisite" or more probably it's just a female name. 

Grazie mille Luigi!