Friday, 25 April 2025

"Toraware no Nihonki" #15 - Mitsubishi A6M "Zero with Green Crosses 零戦, 緑十字

The original AWM photo caption mentions:
"A Japanese A6M3 Model 22 Zero fighter aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy. This Zero, serial number 3844, was found intact by Allied forces at Kara airstrip near Buin after the surrender. On 15 September a Wirraway of 5 Squadron RAAF arrived with personnel to make an inspection. The aircraft was clearly airworthy, and had been repainted overall white with green crosses for identification as required under the surrender terms. Wing Commander William Kofoed RNZAF decided to ferry it to the RNZAF airstrip at Bougainville. The Zero remained there until mid-October, when it departed by ship for New Zealand. It is now in the collection of the Auckland War Memorial Museum, NZ."

A non-Japanese online source adds:
"Assigned to an unknown Kōkūtai (Air Group) with tail code 2-152....
"In 1945, as a morale boosting exercise for roughly sixty to seventy Japanese Navy maintenance personnel stationed at Kara Airfield, this Zero was repaired to flying condition using parts from several other Zeros including including A6M3 Zero 3616, A6M3 Model 32 Zero 3278 and A6M3 Model 32 Zero 3217. The repaired Zero retained the identity of A6M3 Zero 3844 including the manufacture number stencil on the rear fuselage.
"By July 1945, the repaired Zero was restored to flyable condition and was reported by radio to headquarters at Rabaul. Soon afterwards, Petty Officer Sekizen Shibayama was flown as a passenger aboard E13A1 Jake that took off from Rabaul and landed off Buin (Kahili) where he went ashore and was taken to Kara Airfield. Shibayama planned to test fly the Zero then fly it to Rabaul, but the Pacific War ended before this was accomplished."

A more detailed account with more photos can be found here.

Nevertheless FAOW Special #6 mentions on page 136:
"One of the Zeros built in Rabaul [we saw in part #14 of this series] with parts from various aircraft. The front of the aircraft including the engine has serial number 3835. The rear s/n 3844. The cowling s/n 3616, the machine gun and pannel s/n 3278 and 3217. Note that the spinner is clearly a Mitsubishi built for a Model 21. 
The tail marking of the aircraft was "2-182"."

More photos of the aircraft from here

Wednesday, 23 April 2025

"Toraware no Nihonki" #14 - Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah", Mitsubishi A6M "Zero", Nakajima B5M "Kate, Aichi E13A "Jake" with Green Crosses

Four days following Japan's surrender on September 2, 1945, the remaining forces still in Rabaul, New Britain, reached out to the Allies to indicate their intention to surrender.
Following negotiations, the only aircraft remaining in operational condition received approval for a final flight from Rabaul to Jacquinot Bay Airfield on New Britain's southern coast. 
As stated by online sources:
"On September 18, 1945 the first flight included Ki-46 Dinah 2783, A6M5 Zero 4043, A6M5 Zero 4444 and A6M5 Zero 3479 escorted by sixteen Allied fighters.
On October 14, 1945 the second flight included B5N2 Kate Tail 302 and E13A Jake 4326."
The Rabaul "Dinah" in Jacquinot Bay Airfield. On the tail, under the white paint, it had a kikusui marking designed by maintenance crew member Sgt Maj Azuma.

According to non-Japanese online sources, the "Dinah" pilot was Capt Iwanaga Nario but FAOW #38 mentions that his name was 2Lt Sato Teruo.
  
This photo taken at the end of the war when various Japanese aircraft had been surrendered to the RNZAF shows a typical dispersal and maintenance area, this time at the RNZAF's base at Jacquinot Bay. Note the RNZAF Ventura in the background, and in the foreground are a surrendered Japanese Dinah (left) and Kate. Photo: Roy Paton

This is the Japanese Ki-46-II 'Dinah' reconnaissance bomber that also passed to the RNZAF after being captured at Rabaul. It was left at Jacquinot Bay by the RNZAF, and may still be there rotting away. Photo: Roy Paton

Here's the story of the aircraft of the "Last Rabaul Airforce" from a Japanese source:
"By late 1943, the only remaining IJAAF reconnaissance units in Rabaul were parts of the 10th Sentai equipped with "Dinah" and the Dokuritsu 83 Chutai equipped with "Sonia." In March 1944, only a single 10th Sentai "Dinah" remained in Rabaul, yet three additional "Dinahs" from Wewak were dispatched to Rabaul to participate in the 17th Army's Torokina Operation. One of the three "Dinahs" suffered damage from friendly anti-aircraft fire and performed an emergency landing, resulting in three operational "Dinahs" from the 10th Sentai remaining in Rabaul. A while later, enemy forces destroyed one of them on the ground, while another was shot down right after taking off. Consequently, just a single "Dinah" was left operational in Rabaul. 
"During that period, the IJAAF conceived the notion of collecting components and constructing several aircraft. Initially, the ground teams successfully assembled two "Dinahs." 
"In a similar manner, the IJNAF succeeded in gathering five Zeros and two "Kates". Numerous tropical diseases afflicted the region, particularly malaria, prompting the "Dinahs" to take 3-4 trips to Truk to deliver medicine to Rabaul. The "Dinahs" achieved great success, and to utilize the leftover "Sonia" pilots, the remnants of the 1st and 11th Sentai chose to collect parts and successfully assembled 5-6 "Hayabusa" fighters, which were designated the "8th Area Army." Embarkments were built as well, but before their completion, all "Hayabusa" fighters and one "Dinah" were destroyed on the ground.
(source: Maru #380)

The three Zeros warming up in Rabaul ( source)

Two of the three surrendered Japanese A6M5 Model 52 Zero aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy on the move.The aircraft were painted in the surrender colours of white with green crosses. (RNZAF Official Photograph) (AWM)

Four surrendered Japanese aircraft after arrival at the RNZAF airfield at Jacquinot Bay. The formation consisted of three Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52 Zero fighters of the Imperial Japanese Navy (including serial numbers 3479 and 4043), and one Ki-46 Dinah reconnaissance aircraft (serial number 2783) of the Imperial Japanese Army. The aircraft were flown by Japanese crews, and departed Vunakunau at Rabaul with an escort of RNZAF F4U Corsair fighters. All the Japanese aircraft wear surrender markings, which consisted of an overall white finish with green crosses for easy recognition. (RNZAF Official Photograph.) (AWM)

A Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy. This aircraft, coded '302', was the last flyable bomber left at Rabaul by the end of the Second World War. The aircraft was operated by the 105th Naval Base Air Unit. Escorted by four RNZAF Vought F4U-1 Corsair fighters, on 14 October 1945 it was flown to Jacquinot Bay by Warrant Officer Kataoka Goro and surrendered. The photograph depicts Japanese ground crew probably at Rabaul preparing the aircraft for its last flight. (AWM)

This is the Japanese carrier-borne B5N2 "Kate" bomber which was also captured at Rabaul in September 1945. It too passed into RNZAF possession and was flown to Jacquinot Bay, but as no shipping space could be found to return it and two Zero's also captured to New Zealand, the three aircraft passed into RAAF ownership. They were left at Jacquinot Bay and according to 'Aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force' by David Duxbury, Ross Ewing and Ross Macpherson (Heinemann, 1987) were still there as late as 1972, along with the Dinah seen below and at the top of this page. Photo: Roy Paton

New Britain, 1945. Japanese Aichi E13A1 "Jake" seaplane in surrender markings of white with green crosses. On 1945-10-14 this aircraft was flown into Jacquinot Bay and surrendered to RNZAF Forces. (RNZAF OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH.) (AWM)

This is the Japanese E13A1A "Jake" reconnaissance seaplane which was captured at Rabaul in September 1945. It passed into RNZAF possession and was flown to RNZAF Station Jacquinot Bay, where a month later it sank at its moorings. The remains are probably still there. Photo: Roy Paton

Hasegawa has released a kit of the Rabaul "Dinah" in 1/72, kit number: 02185

Monday, 21 April 2025

"Toraware no Nihonki" #13 - Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah" with Green Crosses 一〇〇式司令部偵察機, 緑十字

According to the original AWM caption:
"Menado, Celebes 1945-10-03. Occupation by Menado Force. Lieutenant Colonel R. A. C. Muir, commander of the force, and Colonel De Rooy, Netherlands East Indies Army inspecting Japanese planes at Langowan. The planes have been painted with green crosses on a white background, the agreed surrender colours."
Unfortunately I have been unable to find more photos showing the tail or information about this Model 3 "Dinah".
Leave a comment if you have more.

Monday, 14 April 2025

Mitsubishi A6M2-K by Jean Barby

Here are some photos of my latest Eduard work. They have done a very good research on the subject and the kit is first class, but, in some places, a bit tricky. Everything is out-of-the-box and, for an old modeler like me, that's very pleasant. The plane is from the Tsukuba Kokutai based in Kanoya during the Cherry blossom attacks on Okinawa and was flown by Lt.JG Kaneko Tamotsu. Up to now, only Hasegawa had done a A6M2-K model, but here, Eduard has outdone themself. Colors are from Mr Color range and the green is ref C15, the very dark Nakajima green. 

Sunday, 13 April 2025

"Toraware no Nihonki" #12 - Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah" with Green Crosses 一〇〇式司令部偵察機, 緑十字


Another Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah" Model 3 Koh adorned with green crosses appears in this frequently reproduced but typically cropped color photograph from the Jeff Ethell Collection. Given that other aircraft are entirely painted white, it appears that in her situation, the painting process may have been incomplete or they might have run out of paint. Interestingly, the "green" cross appears blue in this image, but it might be because of the photo quality. 
Acording to a Japanese source, the site is Irumagawa Airfield but according to Jeff Ethell Collection, it's Matsuyama (松山, now Songshan, Taipei) Air Base, Formosa (Taiwan), 1945 (thank you Gary).
Notable is the range of aircraft models adorned with white green crosses: a Tachikawa Ki-54 Koh, a Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally," and two Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily." Why are there so many green cross planes? As stated in the earlier post, only the planes that were granted permission to operate in certain missions were painted in this manner. What type of tasks would they be given? 
Contrast the range of types with a comparable variety shown in the photo from the previous post. Is it possible the location to be identical?

Friday, 11 April 2025

"Toraware no Nihonki" #11 - Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah" with Green Crosses 一〇〇式司令部偵察機, 緑十字

At the end of war all Japanese aircraft were banned from flying, as stated in one of the surrender conditions. Exceptions were aircraft that were to transport surrender delegations and these planes were to be painted overall white with green crosses instead of hinomaru.
A few years back the attached photo came on sale on Ebay. It features a number of surrender aircraft with a Mitsubishi Ki-46 Model 3 Koh in the foreground. Location is unspecified. The original unit tail marking is partially visible and it could be of the 17 Dokuritsu Chutai (see FAOW #38, p. 46 bottom photo) but I'm not sure because the unit didn't use numbers on its aircraft tails.
Leave a comment if you know more about the location or you have any suggestions about the unit.

Wednesday, 9 April 2025

"Toraware no Nihonki" #10 - Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah" in KMT markings 一〇〇式司令部偵察機, 中華民国国民政府 - video


...Or "Captured Japanese Aircraft". This is going to be a series of posts that will need "audience participation". Therefore, don’t hesitate to comment and share details about the aircraft discussed in these posts.
First up, a very very short clip cut from the same video we saw in the 27 March 2025 post. It features General Albert Coady Wedemeyer arriving at an airfield in Nanking. Of special interest is the Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah" in the background with Kuomintang (KMT) Nationalist China markings. It looks to be painted in overall white too.
I don't think I've ever seen a "Dinah" in KMT markings. Leave a comment if you know more about this particular aircraft or other "Dinahs" in KMT markings.

Friday, 28 March 2025

Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" (Oscar), 48 Sentai - 一式戦闘機「隼」, 飛行48戦隊 pt.3 - READ

The last major air battle of WWII in China was fought on January 14, 1945, over Hankou.
It was divided into five stages: the first stage, involving P-47s from the 81st Fighter Group; the second stage, with P-40s and P-51s from the US-China 3rd Fighter Group; the third stage, with P-51s from the 51st Fighter Group; the fourth stage, involving P-40s from the US-China 5th Fighter Group; and the fifth stage, with P-51s from the 75th Fighter Squadron.
The Japanese tried to intercept mainly with Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" (Oscar) fighters from the 25th and 48th Sentai.

1Lt Nakajima Kinya, a pilot from the 2nd Chutai, 48th Sentai, wrote an article in "Maru" magazine, Issue 161, October 1960, describing his experience on that day and his thoughts on the "Hayabusa." Here is a translation we prepared.

A big fight with P-38s 
In January 1945, the 48th Sentai was based in the Wuhan area, a key strategic point in Central China. In addition to the 48th Sentai, the main force of the Japanese fighter squadrons in China was also based here, and from the end of 1944 to January 1945, this area became the site of aerial battles between the "Hayabusa" and "Hayate" and the "Mustangs" and "Thunderbolts". At times, as many as 100 enemy fighters would take off in formation, and we would usually have 40 or 50 of our own, so the skies over the Wuhan area would be filled with the buzzing of dozens of fighter planes, like a swarm of bees. 
On that day, 15th January, as usual, there was a P-38 reconnaissance flight, and in the morning, a formation of B-29s and B-24s came to bomb the city of Hankou. We took off and attacked fiercely, but there were no significant results, so we landed and immediately began refueling. 
If we don't do it quickly, the "P-koro" will be above us.‘ We conversed while gazing at the clear winter sky, in frustration.
"P-koro" was the nickname we used for P-51s among us pilots. [difficult to translate "koro" but something like "worth less than a rock" wouldn't be far off] Sure enough, the "P-koros" soon arrived in large numbers. 
Up we go!’ My "Hayabusa", which had just finished refueling, taxied out of the hangar at Wuchang Airfield and took off, trying to beat the others to the start. Unlike other fighter planes, the "Hayabusa" would point its nose skywards at a steep angle immediately after take-off. It was a truly dashing sight, and no matter how many times I saw it, it never failed to impress me. Sgt Hirose's aircraft was following closely behind me on my left. 
The air battle had already begun over Hankou and the left bank of the Yangtze River, which was shining dimly. Flashes of light from friends and foes mingled together, and white parachutes drifted slowly through the smoke of the anti-aircraft guns. [P-40s from the US-Chinese 3rd Fighter Group, carrying parachute bombs were raiding Hankow at that time].
The 4-plane hentai, of which I was the leader, flew to the right above the hentai of our sentai commander [Maj Kaburagi Tateo was commander of the 48th at the time], and above my hentai was Lieutenant Kimura's 4-plane hentai [Lt Kimura Masukichi was the commander of the 2nd Chutai of the 48th Sentai]. The altitude was around 4,500 metres. 
As we cut through the Yangtze River and plunged into the sky, the enemy and our own planes were intermingled, each one trailing a white wake cloud from its wingtip. There were so many of them that I couldn't tell how many exactly, and in the midst of them, the flashes of machine gun fire and wisps of smoke. The hentai of our sentai commander swooped down on the four P-51s below. Two P-51s came flying towards me, as if to say ‘shoot us now!‘ I pulled a white thread from the tip of the wing and made a sharp left turn, quickly catching up with the P-51s above me. I pulled the control stick back as far as it would go and shot up. Without a moment's delay, the three planes in my formation chased these two planes around.
But this is when it became dangerous. Before we know it, four other "P-koros" have swooped in above us. The Kimura hentai above us has already disappeared, and we couldn't see where they had gone, so unfortunately, without cover, we couldn't finish off these two groggy "P-koros". And now it was our turn to avoid the bullets of the "P-koros" that were attacking us. However, in a situation like this, the nimble combat performance of the "Hayabusa" was out-and-out. If you think you can shoot down a "Hayabusa", give it a try and you’ll see what happens! 
While watching the enemy aircraft that were coming in, I circled around, letting the bullets flow behind me, and when the moment came, I turned sharply. The "P-koro" couldn't keep up and quickly broke off. It was truly a chaotic battle. Only my wingman, Sgt Hirose, was able to follow me, but, before I knew it, the other two aircraft in my hentai became separated from us, caught up in the huge vortex of battle. We were shoting at each other and, in return, we were getting shot at. 
The "Hayabusa" is a fighter that cannot be shot down, but is not as strong at shooting down other aircraft. The most pathetic thing was that the P-51's dive attack was completely different to the "Hayabusa's". As soon as the P-51 dove in and escaped, the "Hayabusa" wouldn’t be able to follow it. In aerial combat, speeding up/acceleration is more important than maximum speed. If we were at a disadvantage, we couldn't escape, and if we were at an advantage, the enemy could escape easily. Another thing was that we were frustrated by the fact that we were armed with only two 13mm cannons. Unless you get really close and shoot, you can't bring down the sturdy enemy planes. 
The "P-koros" know about the weak armament of the "Hayabusa", so they liked to face us head-on and shoot. If you shoot at each other, there's no way you can win, so unfortunately you have to steer the plane full-throttle and slide under the belly of the enemy plane and escape. Damn it! How many times did I grit my teeth in the heat of battle? 

Mistaking a kite for an enemy plane 
The battle must have lasted more than ten minutes. I was thirsty. My eyes were blurry. I was breathing heavily. Suddenly, a thin spark flew across my field of vision. I spun around and made a sharp left turn, but at that moment I felt a sharp tug on the control stick, and it seemed that a bullet had hit the nose of the plane. However, I was not injured. The "P-koro" that had ambushed me flew off. Sgt Hirose chased after it. I returned to level flight, and jet black lubricating oil spewed out from the front of the windscreen. As I watched, it kept coming off and the windscreen became completely black, and I could no longer see anything at all in front of me. The enemy planes were still swarming around, but the oil pressure gauge was trembling as it dropped. Soon the engine would seize up and the propeller would stop. I decided to land, but if the enemy planes attacked at this time, all would be lost. I had been in danger many times, but I wondered whether this time I would be able to make it safely. I crept forward on tiptoe, feeling nervous. I was flying at a very low altitude. The enemy aircraft must have thought I had fallen, or they must not have had the time to chase me, because they were still fighting each other high up in the sky.
I hurriedly moved away from the combat zone, just above the ground and turned my nose towards the relatively distant Wuchang Second Airfield. The oil pressure gauge was already at zero. I approached the runway like a burglar without putting my landing gear down. However, when I looked behind me, my heart froze. An enemy aircraft was closing in on me. I thought, ‘Ah!’ but when I looked more closely, I saw that it was just a kite. Even in this critical situation, I still couldn't keep myself completely in control of my nerves. 
I removed the parachute harness and prepared to immediately jump out. At the end of the runway, I suddenly extended the landing gear and the flaps. Since I couldn't see anything outside, I stuck my head out of the side of the cockpit, and then violently the wheels touched down on the runway. If the enemy tried to strafe me, I was ready to jump out of the plane while I was still taxing.
And then, they arrived. The P-38s came straight at me. I switched off the engine, jumped out of my beloved plane, which was covered in oil, and ran into a foxhole. At that moment, the “dah, dah, dah, dah, dah” sound of the enemy guns was heard, and my plane on the runway was full of holes.

The "Hayabusa" lives on in my heart 
That night, I was kneeling in front of the white coffins of the war dead in the light of the lanterns in the barracks. In the 48th Sentai, 1Lt Kimura [Masukichi] and Sgt Tanno [Shigeru], both veterans of many battles, had been killed in action that day, and Lt Nakano, who had used his parachute to bale out of his plane, had been hospitalized with burns. The casualties, who were increasing one after another, were all elite pilots from the "Hayabusa" fighter squadron. Even though other fighter squadrons were gradually switching to the "Hayate" model, these pilots were not at all envious of them. They were the kind of people who would say, ‘Hey, listen up! The "Hayabusa" will never lose!’ and slap their arms [a Japanese gesture that shows that a person is really skillful]. 
Of course the "Hayabusa" had various faults, but it had become so much a part of the pilots that they were like their own flesh and blood. It was a plane that would move around completely unconsciously, like your hands would naturally go up when you yawn. Especially after the Model 3 was introduced with a multiple exhaust pipe methanol injection, I was proud that it was second to none in terms of its ability to climb, and when it was outmatched in a fight with a "P-koro", it would just keep climbing and escaping upwards. I wouldn't call it just a "conveyance/vehicle". Throughout my life, I don't think I'll ever find another machine that I can use so well, that it feels like a part of my own body.
Looking at "Hayabusa" photos, which seem so feminine compared to today's jet fighters, I feel a deep sense of nostalgia. And when I think of the faces of my comrades who disappeared one after another into the sky, I can't help but think, ‘What a waste for Japan.’


Håkans has a good report from the US side:
27 B-24s from the 14th AF, supported by 45 P-51s and P-40s, pounded Hankow. Eight enemy aircraft were claimed destroyed.
Seven B-25s from the 14th AF hit targets at and west of Kengtung.
42 P-47s, P-40s, and P-51s from the 14th AF attacked airfields at Wuchang and Hankow. 17 Japanese aircraft were claimed destroyed for the loss of at least three fighters.
At 10:00, the P-51Cs from 74th FS was in combat with Oscars north of Hukow and 1Lt Paul Crews claimed one destroyed (on the north bank of the Yangtze), Cpt Floyd Finberg claimed one probable, 1Lt Heston Cole claimed two damaged and 1Lt Edwin Beethoven claimed one damaged.
The P-47s from 81st FG fought Oscars near Hankow at 11:35-11:40. One was claimed destroyed by 2Lt Earl Roggenbauer (91st FS in P-47 #925), while a second was claimed as a shared between 2Lt Edward Slasienski (92nd FS) and 1Lt Jules Young (92nd FS). 1Lt Young also claimed one probable.
Fighters from the CACW and the 16th FS attacked Hankow between 13:15 and 13:50. The CACW used eleven P-40s carrying parafrag bombs and eleven P-51s with 100-pound demolition bombs. The plan was that the top cover P-51s would drop down and dive-bomb the airfield after Reynolds’ (7th FS (CACW)) P-40s had finished their parafrag attacks, but 1Lt Heyward Paxton’s P-51s ran into an estimated 25 to 30 Japanese fighters and had to jettison the bombs before they could make their attacks. A large combat developed over Hankow airfield.
Flying with Paxton was Cpt Edward Mulholland (P-51C 43-7100), by now the longest-serving U.S. pilot in the 7th FS (CACW). He followed in on the first pass and hit a Ki-43 in the fuselage and wing root with a thirty- to forty-degree deflection shot and the Ki-43 dove straight in (Mulholland's second victory). Next, he got in ninety-degree deflection shots on two more Ki-43s (credited as two damaged), but then his own aircraft was hit badly from behind and he broke off, heading for home. Soon the P-51 became uncontrollable, however, and Mulholland was forced to bale out.
Meanwhile, Paxton had watched Mulholland’s Ki-43 crash, then climbed back up into the fight. He spotted 1Lt Elwood Smith of the 28th FS (CACW), his wingman, with a Ki-43 on his tail, so Paxton gave the Japanese fighter a good burst to chase him off. Smith, who got one Ki-43 shared with 1Lt George Walston of the 16th FS at 13:20 and a second of his own at 13:45, later confirmed seeing Paxton’s Ki-43 crash (Paxton was also credited with a damaged Ki-43). This gave Paxton 6 and 1 shared victories, the most scored by a pilot while serving in the CACW.
Paxton, however, had been hit by a Japanese fighter and he dove out of the fight. Unable to keep his P-51C (42-25221) in the air, he belly-landed it suffering a leg injury in the crash, but he eventually linked up with Mulholland, and the two pilots returned to Laohokow about two weeks later. Because they both had escaped from behind enemy lines, they were taken out of combat. Paxton, because of his injuries, was sent home thereafter while Mulholland was assigned to air-defence duties at Liangshan, and then finally sent home in June.
Totally, the 7th FS (CACW) claimed 2 and 3 damaged Ki-43s over Hankou airfield between 13:15-14:15. These being claimed by Paxton (1 and 1 damaged) and Mulholland (1 and 2 damaged). Reynolds claimed three enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground while Lt J. T. Moore claimed two more.
The 16th FS claimed 2 and 1 shared and 1 probable Ki-43s over Hankow airfield at 13:20. These were claimed by 1Lt George Walston (1 shared Ki-43 or Ki-44 and 1 probable), 1Lt Walter Wyatt (1 destroyed) and 1Lt William Zimpleman (1 destroyed).
29 fighters, including 16 P-51s of the 75th FS, which was then stationed at Chihkiang under 5th FG (CACW) control, escorted B-24s to Hankow. The Japanese attempted to intercept the bombers as they hit their target from 16,000 feet, but the enemy pilots were unable to break through the escorts and attack the Liberators.
About 25 miles southwest of Hankow, Cpt Phil Colman of the 26th FS (CACW), flying an P-40N, spotted two Tojos below the bombers and dove to attack them. He caught up with them at 1,000 feet, and the first Ki-44 turned to the right and came at him head-on. The action took place so fast that neither pilot had a chance to fire at the other. Colman then switched his attention to the other enemy fighter and put a two-second burst into it as the pilot attempted to turn away from him. The Tojo caught fire in its fuselage and wings, then did a half-roll and dove into the Yangtze River below with a splash at 13:50. This was Colman's sixth victory in China, though he is officially credited with only five. He scored four more times as an F-86 pilot during the Korean War. Lt Oliver Strawbridge of 26th FS, 51st FG (P-51) claimed a Ki-44 and Lt Milton Searcy from the same unit a damaged Ki-43 at 13:20 over Hankou airfield.
The 27th FS (CACW) made one claim when 1Lt Yueh Kung-Cheng (P-40N) claimed a Ki-43 over Hankou at 13:50. He reported that he got on the tail of a Ki-43 at 9,000 feet and proceeded to chase it until the Oscar finally crashed into the ground and exploded.
These were the only aircraft destroyed by the 5th FG during the month.
The 25th FS, 51st FG (P-51) claimed one damaged Ki-43. 2Lt Daniel Cardin made this claim at 13:20 over Hankou airfield.
The 28th FS (CACW) claimed 2 and 1 shared over Hankou area when 1Lt Smith claimed a shared Ki-43 or Ki-44 at 13:20 and a Ki-44 at 13:45 while 1Lt Oliver Reynolds claimed a Hamp at 13:45.
Lt Van Moad of the 8th FS (CACW) was killed during this mission.
The P-51s from 75th FS, 23rd FG was back over Hankow in a mission 14:00-15:00 and again meeting (mostly) Oscars. They claimed four destroyed and six damaged; 1Lt Gordon Berven (one destroyed), 1Lt Fleming (one Tojo damaged), Cpt William Griswold (one destroyed and one damaged), 1Lt Curtis Mahannah (one destroyed and two damaged), 1Lt Donald Stanfield (one destroyed and one damaged) and 1Lt Walterman (one damaged).

Reading one more time all the above, can't help but wonder how many US pilots made a claim against Nakajima's plane. I guess, at least one in the air and a bunch on the ground. 

For a more detailed account of the fighting over China, focusing on the combat histories of the 25th and the 48th Sentai, the best Japanese publication is entitled "AIR COMBAT OVER CHINA of Ki43 HAYABUSA in 1943-45, 25th & 48th Sentai", written by Umemoto Hiroshi and published by DaiNippon Kaiga in 2007.
Size: 15X22cm
Pages: 130
Photos: 76 b/w
A limited number of copies is available from Arawasi.
Price is 20$US (Postage Not Included)
Email us if interested with your name and the delivery address (to calculate postage): arawasiorder@gmail.com

Thursday, 27 March 2025

Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" (Oscar), 48 Sentai - 一式戦闘機「隼」, 飛行48戦隊 pt.2 - video

 

The attached short clip from the Showakan collection (originally from NARA), features General Albert Coady Wedemeyer arriving at an airfield in Nanking (note the sign in the very begining of the video confirming the location). He's shown around and spends a few momments posing in front of a captured Japanese aircraft; a Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" (Oscar) belonging to the 48 Sentai we saw in the previous post, with the number "35" on the tail and the pilot's name, probably Sgt Okabe, partially written behind the fuselage white band.
The date is not mentioned in the video but Gen Wedemeyer was indeed in Nanking for a meeting with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, General Marshall, Madame Chiang Kai-shek and others on December 21, 1945. It's a few months after the end of the war but I guess it's a possible date.