Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily" various details - video

A video I stiched together highlights interesting details of the Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily", especially the armament and the interior of the aircraft.

It primarily consists of stock footage featuring various aircraft, but presented in this manner, we have the opportunity to examine the different armament combinations.

The standard way for the crew to board this aircraft is to use the footrests and handholds on the rear left side of the fuselage to climb up onto the wing, and then enter through the pilot’s or radio operator’s seat. However, only the bombardier can board directly through the door at the base of the front gunner’s position. But usually, a stepladder would be used so this sequence makes the entrance more dramatic.

The rear dorsal gunner is taking his position.

In case the usual hydraulic operation using high-pressure oil pumps fails, and the landing gear doesn’t lower properly, every aircraft is equipped with a manual hydraulic operation device using a pump.

The process for the “Lily” is: 1. Leave the selector cock as is and lower the leg lever on the hydraulic control box on the port side. 2. Connect the manual pump lever, which is stored in its designated position, to the pump base. 3. Operate it back and forth until the green warning light illuminates. This part of the video shows a passenger performing this operation while sitting on the auxiliary chair to the right of the pilot’s seat.

The black protrusion visible to the right of the radio mount is the formation command signal device, used to transmit signals such as “open the bomb bay” and “drop the bombs” from the leader’s aircraft via yellow, red, and white flip-up signal panels.

The nose gunner in this part is operating a Te-4 machine gun.

While normally "Lilys" were loaded with six 50kg bombs, in this part of the film the particular bomber is loaded with eight 50kg bombs in two rows of four.

Instruments on the top of the instrument panel. The right is the fuel gauge. The left is the altimeter, and the two needles indicate an altitude of 600 meters. The missing instrument in the middle would be the direction finder.

The rear, dorsal gunner operating a Type100 or Type 1 7.9mm twin machine gun

The rear ventral gunner showing his position and gun. In this case it's a Te-4 machine gun.

Another view of the nose gunner, this time operating a Type 98 7.9mm flexible machine gun, a licence copy of the German MG15.

Again the ventral gunner position but this time equipped with a Type 98 machine gun.

Another view of the dorsal position equipped with Type100 or Type 1 7.9mm twin machine gun

A different view of the ventral position.

View from the radio station looking forward. You can clearly see that the cockpit is located to the left. The wall-like structure on the left is the 225L No. 4 fuel tank.

This part shows a radio operator tapping a morse key. However, in actual combat, radio communications were routinely silenced from the moment of takeoff to prevent detection by the enemy. I'm not sure what the instrument with the number "15" on is.

The aircraft in the clip appears to be leaking oil or fuel...

...so the ventral gunner is hanging outside to take a look. I definitely wouldn't like to be doing that.

The radio operator discussing something with the pilot through a speaking tube. The angular goggles are an older model with poor lateral visibility; to address this, the crew began using oval-shaped goggles with curved lenses. The fourth fuel tank is visible on the right, and the radio, secured with rubber bands, can be seen at the bottom left.

The pilot looking completely nonchalant is getting the message about the leaking engine.