Nakajima Ki-27 "Nate", 204 Sentai, "Kato Hayabusa Sento-tai" - video

At the start of the iconic 1944 film "Kato Hayabusa Sento-tai," Colonel Kato (portrayed by actor Fujita Susumu) arrives at the 64 Sentai base in Canton, China, from Taiwan, flying a Nakajima Ki-27 "Nate."

The markings on the fighter show that it belonged to the Kyodo Hiko 204 Sentai.

Let's begin with the unit history. The 204 Sentai is a unit that engaged in significant combat during WWII, yet it remains relatively obscure, probably due to the scarcity of surviving photographic material.

On April 8, 1942, the Kyodo 204 Hiko Sentai (204th Training Squadron), comprising two chutai equipped with Nakajima Ki-27 "Nate" fighters (a third chutai was formed in October), was organised at the Zhenxi Airfield near Hakujoshi (present-day Baicheng) in western Manchuria (present-day Northeast China). Together with the Kyodo 206th Sentai, consisting of two light bomber chutai, it formed the Hakujoshi Kyodo Hikodan (Baichengzi Training Wing). 

In September 1943, due to the attrition of air units fighting in  South Asia, the 204th was also ordered to deploy to the Burma front. After returning to Kashiwa Airfield in Chiba Prefecture in October and converting to Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" (Oscar) Model II, it arrived at Mingaladon Airfield on the outskirts of Rangoon in late November, via Taiwan, French Indochina, and Singapore. From there, it engaged in the Rangoon Air Battle in early December, the attacks on Calcutta and Tinsukia in India, the assault on Kunming deep within mainland China, and the offensives on Akyab and Maungdaw, achieving considerable results. 

On February 22, 1944, by Army Order No. 24, the Kyodo 204 Hiko Sentai was redesignated as the 204th Sentai and reorganised into a purely combat unit. With the commencement of the Imphal Operation, the 204th, alongside the veteran 50th and 64th Sentai born of the Burma air campaign, fought in various locations, fulfilling its duties well. However, the operation ended in a crushing defeat for the Japanese forces. The 204th withdrew to Don Mueang in Thailand in early August, entering a period of rest and recovery. 

However, by early October, the situation in the Philippine theatre had become critical and the 204 received orders to deploy there. Without sufficient time for full recovery, it moved with 18 aircraft to Nielson Airfield, outside Manila on Luzon Island, on the 11th. During the air battle over Manila on the 15th, six aircraft were shot down early on, and seven more were severely or moderately damaged on the ground, resulting in the loss of the majority of its strength. Nevertheless, it was immediately replenished, and on the 18th, 13 aircraft advanced to Fabrica Airfield on Negros Island. From there, they engaged in ship attacks using bomb armament, the assault on Leyte Island, and convoy escort duties. However, their strength rapidly depleted, and by around November 10, they had no operational aircraft left. 

On the 12th, the unit was ordered to return to the mainland. The survivors arrived at Mito Airfield in Ibaraki Prefecture aboard transport aircraft. During the month-long campaign in the Philippines, the squadron lost 17 pilots. After receiving replacements of Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" (Oscar)  Model III at Mito and restoring its strength, the 204th was again ordered south. 

By the end of February 1945, it had assembled in Saigon, French Indochina. However, the strength of 24 aircraft upon departure from Mito had dwindled to only about 10 by the time they reached Saigon due to en route breakdowns. The deterioration of equipment from mass production and the decline in crew proficiency were keenly felt. In French Indochina, the squadron primarily provided escort for transport convoys bound for the home islands. In late July, preparing for the decisive battle on the mainland, it moved to Taiwan to join the later-arriving squadrons, but defeat came shortly thereafter.

These two stills from the movie "Kato Hayabusa Sento-tai" give us a very clear impression of the unit's rather atypical marking(s) consisting of a forward pointing "arrow" on the fuselage and, in this case, two white bands and probably the white tip of the tail.

Here's the story behind the forward pointing "arrow". The unit's original base was called "Chinzei" in Japanese and the same kanji were used as an older name for Kyushu Island in Japan. A famous samurai archer, Minamoto no Tametomo who was "known in the epic chronicles as a powerful archer and it is said that he once sunk an entire Taira ship with a single arrow by puncturing its hull below the waterline. It is also added in many legends that his left arm was about 4 inches longer than his right, enabling a longer draw of the arrow, and more powerful shots."(!!!!), used to call himself "Chinzei Hachiro Tametomo" to denote he was from Kyushu. Therefore the 204 unit marking is an illustration of a "hane", the fletches of the traditional Japanese arrow.

Note that the particular aircraft has not uniform top surfaces. Either it's uneven older and weathered paint or more likely it's camouflage (or perhaps a combination of both). The camouflage could be light brown patches over the standard overall IJAAF hairyokushoku (gray green) or mustard yellow and light brown patches. Leave a comment with your thoughts on this.

As we saw in the unit history above, in October 1943, the 204 relocated to Kashiwa Airfield, in Chiba, Japan, to change its "Nates" to "Oscars" before being deployed in Southeast Asia. The film "Kato Hayabusa" premiered in theaters on March 9, 1944, just before the date the 204 updated its aircraft. It seems they discovered an old 204 Sentai "Nate," possibly at Kashiwa Airfield, and just incorporated it into the film.

In these two stills, of interest are the two crossing "lines" on the canopy. What could they be?

In the top still we can also see that the "Nate" is equipped on the wing with a gun camera.

It's a 35mm Type 1 Training gun camera manufactured by "Roku O Sya", later "Konishi-Roku" (modern day Konica). Photo from here: DO NOT FORGET to visit the site!!!

The DNK publication "Nippon Rikugun Sentoki-tai Senreki to Hiko Sentai Shiwa" (The Imperial Japanese Army Fighter Group) features 204 Sentai "Nate" artwork by artist Yoshino Yasutaka. Similar artwork has appeared in various publications in the past but without any accompanying photographic evidence. There is some uncertainty regarding how the various 204 chutai were indicated in the markings. Some Japanese researchers mention that the color of the "hane" changed, indicating 1st Chutai - white, 2nd Chutai - red, 3rd Chutai - yellow. Others explain that the whole marking set changed color depending on the chutai.

In the "Kato Hayabusa" movie, we can see that the "Nate" has two white bands on the fuselage around the "hane." Did that indicate different shotai within the chutai or different chutai? There is just not enough photographic evidence to draw conclusions.

During its deployment in Burma, the "Hayabusa" equipped 204 Sentai continued to use the same unit markings, as indicated by these photos featuring a Nakajima Ki-43 Model 2 Koh Late Type captured by Allied forces in the Lashio region of Burma in March 1945. Note that the wing tips are also painted white, perhaps one more unit marking indicating different chutai?

The same aircraft is featured in these two photos that were on sale on Ebay. Note the absence of bands around the fuselage "hane" but also the presence of a thin white band between the "hane" and the hinomaru which seems to have a very roughly applied border. Note that the white paint on the top wing tips is not repeated on the bottom and the white tipped spinner.

Artist Nohara Shigeru included a profile of this aircraft (?) in Model Art #595. If it's the same aircraft the depiction of the spinner is unfortunately innacurate. Perhaps only the very top photo of the four was available at the time the artwork was created?

According to some sources, the unit changed its markings in February 1944, when it was renamed "204 Sentai." This time, they consisted of a thick band running along the forward edge of the tail and an individual aircraft number on the rudder. Again, it is not exactly clear which color combinations were used to indicate the different chutai. The photo features a Model 3 "Hayabusa" found at Matsuyama Airfield, Taiwan, in August 1945.

Again, artist Nohara Shigeru included a profile of this aircraft in Model Art #595.

Fine Molds has released a kit in 1/48 FC05, that features this particular aircraft on the box cover but note the unfortunate iff stripes not following the shape of the wing's leading edge.

Radek Pelikán spotted in his archive another 204 "Hayabusa" photo, this one believed to be of the unit commander Maj Aizawa Torashiro. Thanks a lot Radek!

Nohara-san also included in Model Art #595 a profile of the aircraft of the above aircraft. 

Finally, Nohara-san created artwork for one more 204 "Hayabusa," featured in Koku Fan Illustrated #42. As before, I don't know of any photos of this aircraft, so I can't confirm the unit markings or the paint scheme.

Nakajima Ki-44 "Shoki", 87 Sentai

A quite interesting photo from the Dutch archives has been circulating online lately, showcasing a Nakajima Ki-44 "Shoki" belonging to the 87 Sentai.

The aircraft had originally suffered a forced landing with the propeller blades bent and was found by Allied forces at the end of the war. The tail features the unit's marking, most probably in red, indicating that it belonged to the 2nd Chutai of the unit. Note that it has a white border. The individual aircraft number "72" is also applied on the bottom of the tail. Note also the iff stripe following the shape of the wind leading edge. The spinner does not seem to be the same color as the unit marking, and the aircraft doesn't seem to have any anti-glare panel; if it does, it's very faint and could have been overpainted with the top camouflage. Last but not least, note that the fuselage hinomaru has a white border, but the wing hinomaru doesn't. Some online commentators mentioned that the aircraft was flown by "Lt. Hideaki Inayama" ; nevertheless...

...Nagao-san of Lifelike Decals, has included a decal set for Inayama's aircraft in the "Nakajima Ki-44 Part 1", 48-036 set, with plenty of information. Since Inayama's plane has been, I guess, traditionally(?) been identified as carrying the number "25" and a blue diagonal band, we can safely conclude that the "Shoki" in the previous photo was not flown by Inayama but by a different pilot in the unit.

Here's another photo of the Nakajima Ki-44-II "Shoki" of the 87 Sentai seen in the top photo, taken at a later date. It had had some panels removed, perhaps by trophy hunters, the rear part of the canopy is missing and the fabric-covered rudder has deteriorated.

There are more 87 Sentai Nakajima Ki-44-II "Shoki" photos online. This one is even more interesting as it has wing hinomaru with white bands and the fuselage hinomaru surrounded by a white box! The tail marking could also be in red indicating a 2nd Chutai or in yellow showing that it belonged to the 3rd Chutai. I'm leaning towards a red, 2nd Chutai aircraft since it seems to have a white border (if it were yellow, it wouldn't need a white border). The number on the tail is probably "85" but I'm sure there will be some who disagree. In any case, we can see two details that need correcting with the Lifelike illustration of the Inayama aircraft. First, the red unit tail marking needs a white border and second, the "25" should have been repeated on the bottom of the rudder.

As for the overall color of the "Shoki" in the photo, it's anyone's guess. Perhaps brown?

A Tachikawa Ki-36 "Ida" is also in the foreground and a Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally" behind the "Shoki".

One more photo of a 87 Sentai Nakajima Ki-44-II "Shoki" I spotted online. This one is missing its tail number. It seems that some aircraft of the unit had their tail numbers applied a bit spaciously with half the number on the rudder and half on the tail, while other numbers were more tightly spaced, applied only on the rudder. This "Shoki" has an unusual white box surround on the fuselage hinomaru as well and, this time, it definitely belongs to the 2nd Chutai, as indicated by the unit marking in red.

Here's a brief history of the unit.

The 87 Sentai was organized on March 1, 1941, in Harbin, Manchuria (present-day Northeast China). It remained stationed in the area after the outbreak of the Pacific War, continuing training in preparation for operations against the Soviet Union.

From late 1942 to early 1943, the squadron underwent reorganisation to the Nakajima Ki-44 "Shoki" Model 2. Half were the Ki-44-II Hei equipped with two 40mm cannons.

In July, the sentai transferred to Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, and was soon ordered to provide air defence for the Palembang Oil Refinery.

Enjoying a period of calm and ample fuel supplies, the sentai continued its training. However, in May 1944, it was temporarily redeployed to Burma to participated in the Imphal Operation.

During engagements with P-51s and other aircraft, the unit lost a quarter of its operational aircraft and suffered six fatalities. 

Returning to Palembang, the 87 again worked to rebuild its strength during a period of relative calm and by the end of August possessed 52 aircraft. Whilst other units were successively committed to the battle in the Philippines that autumn of 1944, the 87 remained in Palembang, defending the oil refinery.

The situation finally seemed to change in January 1940, when air raids by carrier-based aircraft from a British fleet departing Ceylon occurred. The 87 Sentai engaged in aerial combat against over a hundred Avengers, Hellcats, Corsairs, and Supermarine Seafire launched from four British carriers.

The British carrier-based aircraft, bravely penetrating the air defences reinforced by barrage balloons and anti-aircraft guns,

repeatedly bombed the oil refinery, inflicting heavy damage. The sentai intercepted with full force and cooperating with anti-aircraft artillery units, claimed to have shot down 50 aircraft (British records indicate 41 aircraft lost).

Kawasaki Ki-45 "Toryu" (Nick), 13 Sentai

Today's set of photos feature a Kawasaki Ki-45 "Toryu" (Nick) found by US forces at Cape Gloucester Airfield (Tuluvu) belonging to the 13th Sentai. Some of the photos were contributed by our friend Patrice Fresnel, others are from NARA and the net.

Kawasaki Ki-45 "Toryu" (Nick) flown by the 13 Sentai found at Cape Gloucester (Tuluvu) in January 1944. The aircraft had made an emergency landing, note the bent propeller blades, and then was straffed but otherwise it was in fairly good condition.

As with most, if not all, "Nicks" the rather complicated top camouflage was applied at the Kawasaki factory and therefore it was very neatly painted and was less prone to flaking than those applied at the depots. Note that unlike the fuselage hinomaru, the wing hinomaru do not have a white ring and the camouflage is painted around them. On the fuselage, the hinomaru have white ring and they were painted over the camouflage. 

In this and the previous photo we can see that the port engine is missing but the landing gear is still keeping the plane upright. 

In the belly of the "Nick" a Type 98 37mm Tank Gun, standard equippment of the Type 95 "Ha-Go" Light Tank, was installed. This was a special modification for only a small number of aircraft to give the aircraft some punch against the heavier US bombers. All Japanese sources agree that the particular aircraft was a Ki-45 Kai-Ko.

Unfortunately the Type 98 37mm Tank Gun was hand loaded by the rear observer and therefore its rate of fire was approximately one round every 30 seconds, making it virtually useless during aerial combat. It could deliver a devastating blow against a bomber though. In the photo we can see the gun breech in the observer's position.

The unit's tail marking at the time consisted of a stylized representation of the unit's number "13" comprised number "1" and three bars. The serial number of the aircraft was "1023" and the last two digits were repeated on the tail above the unit marking. In the previous photos the part of the tail marking on the rudder looks darker than the rest of the marking and some artists have depicted it in red, suggesting that perhaps it was a replacement? Nevertheless the camouflage pattern on the rudder matches the rest of the tail and the number "23", from the aircraft's serial number, is painted on the rudder; if the rudder was from a different aircraft it would have a number not matching the serial number. There are many reasons why the canvas covered rudder would look darker than the metal covered parts of the tail.

Artwork by Devlin Chouinard.

A depiction of the Tuluvu "Nick" from War Thunder. Not bad at all except for the innacurate wing hinomaru.

The formation ceremony of the 13 Sentai was held on March 15, 1938, at Kakogawa Airfield, Hyogo Prefecture.

At that time the unit was equipped with Kawasaki Ki-10 "Perry" fighters but these were soon replaced with Nakajima Ki-27 "Nates". 

In September 1941, relocated to Taisho Airfield in Osaka and in December moved to Kashiwa Airfield, Chiba Prefecture, assigned to Tokyo air defence

In August 1942, changed its aircraft to Kawasaki Ki-45 "Toryu" (Nick).

In April 1943, commenced advance into the South Pacific. Concentrated at Rabaul by late June. Relocated to the Eastern New Guinea/Wewak front in July.

August 16: Air raid engulfed most aircraft on the ground in flames, causing severe difficulties for air defence. (Operational aircraft numbered only eight by late September). Retreated through Wakde Island, Ambon, and Kendari.

April 1944: Transferred to Halmahera Island. Reorganised with the Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" (Oscar) as the primary aircraft type. Engaged in combat across various sectors of the New Guinea front.

October 1944: Reorganised at Itami Airfield with the Nakajima Ki-43  "Hayabusa" Model III.

Continued combat operations across various sectors of the New Guinea front until November of the same year. In New Guinea, the squadron was reconfigured with the "Hayabusa" as the primary aircraft.

December 3: Transferred to the Porac (Philippines) area and reorganized again with the Kawasaki Ki-45 "Toryu" as the primary aircraft.

December 6: Supported the Burauen Paratrooper Raid.

December 14: Squadron commander killed in action while supporting the "Kikusui Special Attack Unit" (9 heavy bombers), combat strength halved. Subsequently recovered strength at Saigon, reorganising with 10 Nakajima Ki-84 "Hayate" (Frank) and 20 Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" fighters.

March 1945: Transferred to Singapore. Participated in "Operation Meigo" and other operations.

July of the same year, withdrew to Pingtung Airfield, Taiwan, where the end of the war found it.

Hasegawa has released two 13 Sentai "Toryu" kits. The one depicted here is in 1/72, number #00810. It includes decals for the Tuluvu "Nick".  

The other kit is number #09925 and is in 1/48. It too includes decals for the Tuluvu "Nick". 

Mitsubishi Ki-67 "Hiryu" (Peggy), "Fugaku-tai" - video

A two-part video today (from here) with some addition I made at the end of the first, featuring specially modified Mitsubishi Ki-67 "Hiryu" (Peggy) bombers of the "Fugaku-tai".
The "Fugaku-tai" unit was organized on October 24, 1944, with 26 members (11 pilots, 15 mechanics) from the Hamamatsu Bombing School, under the command of Maj Nishio. The next day, the unit received their Mitsubishi Ki-67 "Hiryu" (Peggy) bombers at the Kakamigahara Aviation Depot and the following day a departure ceremony was held. 
After a brief stop at Chyayi Airfield, Taiwan, the unit arrived to their base, Clark Field, Luzon Island, the Philippines where they begun training and maintenance. 
On November 7, five aircraft of the "Fugaku-tai" were ordered to attack enemy naval forces in the waters east of the Philippines, making their first sortie.
On the 11th, they again sortieed east of the Philippines in search of enemy carriers, but returned without locating targets due to poor weather. 
On the 13th, as Manila on Luzon Island and the Clark area came under attack by US carrier-based aircraft, the third sortie order was issued and at 17:00, Maj Nishio and three other aircraft departed Malcat Airfield. Around 18:00, approximately 400 km east of Clark, they engaged in aerial combat with about 20 F6Fs whilst locating the enemy naval group. Maj Nishio's aircraft and Sgt. Maj Kunishige's aircraft made a daring dive attack. Sgt. Maj Shimamura, Kunishige's passenger, radioed “Enemy sighted. We are diving in” before being shot down. At this time, a confirmation aircraft verified that Kunishige's aircraft had rammed and sunk a battleship. 1Lt Soga's aircraft and Sgt. Maj Yukiyasu's aircraft returned, awaiting a second attack. Sgt Ito's aircraft returned to Malcat due to engine trouble. 
On the 15th, a fourth attack was ordered against the US naval force in the waters south of Mindanao Island but all "Peggys", except one, returned to base without locating their target. 

More sorties were carried out on the 25th and 30th, but in both cases the bombers returned without locating the target. 

At dawn on December 16, two "Hiryu" took off for the seventh attack, accompanied by four escort fighters. They sought enemy ships south of Mindoro Island but failed to return. 
On January 9, 1945, the eighth attack was launched with two aircraft to attack ships in Lingayen Gulf but, failing to find favourable opportunities, returned to base. 
The following day, January 10, one "Hiryu" took off solo and plunged into the enemy fleet in Lingayen Gulf. 
Subsequently, on the 12th, having received orders for a special attack on enemy vessels in Lingayen Gulf, a single "Hiryu" took off  for the tenth attack. As the last aircraft of the "Fugaku-tai", it charged the enemy ships at ultra-low altitude and was destroyed.

For a far more detailed and comprehensive account of the unit, I'm afraid you'll have to wait for an "Arawasi" magazine article.

Mitsubishi Zero-sen, 381 Kokutai - video

An unbelievably clear video today featuring pilots, ground crews and Mitsubishi Zero fighters. 

The original is here. The narator speaks Indonesian, we tried to translate what he says and we were able to come up with this: 

"In one of the airforce stations of Dainippon [Great Japan], from sunset to sunset, we always hear the sound of a plane flying. Which shows that the members of the Dainippon Navy keep training enthusiastically."

So, unfortunately no exact location is mentioned. The unit is the 381 Kokutai as indicated by the number "81" on the tail marking of one of the Zeros, let's try to figure out where the video might have been shot from the unit's history.

The 381 Kokutai was organised on October 1, 1943, in Tateyama Airfield, Chiba Prefecture, and was incorporated into the 13th Air Fleet, 23rd Air Squadron. The unit was to be assigned to the protection of the Balikpapan oil fields of Borneo so, in early January 1944, an advance party of 10 aircraft deployed to Balikpapan Airfield.

On February 20, received 36 Zero fighters and 12 Nakajima J1N "Gekko" (Irving) night fighters from the 202nd Kokutai, which relocated to the Inner South Seas.

Around that time, the main force of the 381 was based at Kendari Airfield, Celebes Island, with detachments at Sumba Island, and Ambon Island. 

In early March, former seaplane fighter pilots were incorporated into the 381 following the disbandment of the fighter squadron of the 934th Kokutai.

On March 31, the 381 suffered casualties during "Operation Desecrate One" and relocated to Davao, Philippines.

On April 1, the unit organized three hikotai: the 602 Hikotai with 48 fighter-bombers with c/o Lt Kurosawa Takeo, the 902 Hikotai with 24 night fighters with c/o Lt Matsumura Hideo and the 311 Hikotai with 48 Zero Model 52 fighters with c/o Lt Kanzaki Kunio. 

On May 15, abandoned Kendari and the main force withdrew to Balikpapan, Borneo. 

The publication "Nankai No Umiwashi-tachi" (The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Groups in the Southwest Pacific Theater) by DaiNipponKaiga, features 381 Kokutai photos taken by photographer Abe Tetsuo when he visited Sorong base, West Papua in May 1944. While the earlier photos of 381Ku Zeros show bigger and more visible tail markings like the Zeros seen seen in the video, those aircraft featured in "Nankai", show a smaller tail marking placed higher on the tail. So, if these different tail markings is any indication then the video was shot sometime between January and May 1944, probably at Kendari Airfield, the main base of the unit. 

Let's see some stills.

The begining of the video features a Model 52 Zero, fresh out of the Mitsubishi factories, with tail marking "81-165". The same aircraft can be seen in a photo taken when the unit was based in Toyohashi base, Aichi Prefecture, before the unit was dispatched to Borneo.

Another Mitsubishi-built Model 52 has tail marking "81-171" and again can also be seen in Toyohashi.

A third Model 52 with tail marking "81-163", also seen in Toyohashi. All these photos indicate that the video was shot on a date close to the relocation from Toyohashi to Borneo and Celebes.

Note the very very interesting white wing tips on these Zeros, and how irregular they have been applied.

From 00:44 two pilots are seen playing "shogi".

The sign at 00:54 says "Kaigun Sentoki-tai Shikisho" (Navy Fighter Unit Headquarters).

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

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.

Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" (Oscar), 48 Sentai - 一式戦闘機「隼」, 飛行48戦隊 pt.1

The 48th Sentai (Squadron) was formed on July 21, 1943, at Yanji in eastern Manchuria (present day Northeast China) with personnel drawn from the 77th and 204th training Sentai. In late April, the 48th Sentai, which by that time had been fully equipped with 43 aircraft organized in three chutai (flights), was ordered to be dispatched to Central China, and the Ki-43s led by squadron leader Major Masao Matsuo, left Yanji on the 27th and assembled at Wuchang Airfield on the 29th. 

A photo from a vintage publication featuring 48 Sentai pilots receiving instructions from sentai commander Maj Matcuo Masao. The location is Wuhan and the photo is dated end of April 1944. The "Hayabusa" in the background are all Model 2 Otsu. At that time the unit did not use any specific tail marking but had numbers applied on the tail. According to some sources, the 1st Chutai numbers were in white, the 2nd Chutai in red and the 3rd Chutai in yellow. The squadron headquarters had its numbers painted in "sky blue". The visible numbers are "47", "66" and "98".

From then on, they carried out daily attacks on enemy strongholds such as Suichuan, Shayang, Changsha and Hengyang as part of the Operation Ichi-go, and achieved considerable success. But the unit also suffered heavy losses, including the wounding of squadron leader Matsuo and the death or injury of all the officers. By September 1, they were down to 14 aircraft.

In early November, in response to the ground forces' Guilin campaign, the squadron advanced to Hengyang Airfield as a forward base and engaged in attacks and interception operations in the area, but the counterattacks of the US Army Air Corps in China, which had been greatly strengthened, were extremely fierce, and after heavy combat on the 11th, the number of operational aircraft in the squadron fell drastically to just two. 

In order to restore its fighting strength, the 48th Sentai, which had retreated to Wuchang, gradually replaced their aircraft with Type 1 Model 3s. 

A rare 48 Sentai group photo taken on May 5, 1945, in Tenga Airfield in Canton. Sitting third from the left with the mustache is Maj Kaburagi Tateo, the second sentai commander of the unit.

During the second raid against Hankow on January 14, 1945, by over 100 US aircraft, the unit took part in the air battles in full force, but suffered heavy losses with few results. Between February and March, it was dispatched to Canton (present-day Guangzhou) in South China to provide air defence and and convoy protection. In May the unit moved to Tushanzen, near Nanking (present-day Nanjing) and in June to Taixian (present day Taizhou), but concentrated on training for anti-ship attacks in preparation for the imminent landing of US forces in Shanghai, and they avoided air combat until the end of the war.

A well-known NARA photo featuring a Manshyu Ki-79 trainer on the right side of the photo and a long line-up of 48 Sentai Model 3 Koh "Hayabusa" fighters. The NARA caption mentions that these aircraft were found in Shanghai but Japanese sources explain that the location is the Taixian Airfield, 100km east of Nanking. As we saw in the unit history above, the 48 Sentai was based in Taixian Airfield at the end of the war, not in Shanghai.

Hasegawa has released a kit, number 07418, of the aircraft featured in the photo above and the profile from the Hasegawa site shows the Ki-43 in color. The 48 Sentai adopted this tail marking design when they changed their older Model 2 "Hayabusa" fighters to the new Model 3. The aircraft belonged to the 1st Chutai as indicated by the tail marking in white. Note that the spinner is of the same color.

A lesser known NARA photo featuring the same "Hayabusa" line-up but this time we can see that the aircraft closer to the camera on the right has a dark spinner, which would indicated that it belonged to the 2nd Chutai which had red tail markings.

An often reproduced photo I spotted on the internet features another 48 Sentai Model 3 "Hayabusa". Behind the white "gaiseibutai shikibetsu tai" band that indicated that the unit was deployed outside Japan, there are two kanji (abe) that identify the pilot of this particular aircraft as Sgt Okabe. Again, some non-Japanese sources have identified the location as "Kiangwan Airfield" in Shanghai but Japanese sources disagree and mention Canton.

Artwork of the "Hayabusa" featured in the previous photo from the Fine Molds kit.

Last but not least, a photo I recently spotted on the net featuring some 48 Sentai, 2nd Chutai "Hayabusa" that have been taken over by the Nationalist Army of China. 

More exciting stuff in part 2!

IJAAF & IJNAF wrecked aircraft - Clark Field, Philippines Pt.5

There were two "Toryu" equipped units active in the Philippines during the last two years of the war. We examined the 27th Sentai in the previous post. In this post, we will take a look at the 45th Sentai.

The photo above featured in the Don Thorpe and Aircam books, shows a 45th Sentai Kawasaki Ki-45 "Toryu", in pristine condition, with its unit tail marking clearly visible and the number "37" at the base of the rudder. Behind it is the Ki-45 we saw in an earlier post, next to a prop/spinner and a wing, with the kanji "大" (dai) on its tail. 

The 45th Sentai was organized on July 27, 1938, in Manchuria, from the 4, 6, and 11 Dokuritsu Chutai which became the units' 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Chutai respectively. Equipped with Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lilys", the unit was based in Rabaul's Kokopo airfield in January 1943, from where it launched attacks against Guadalcanal. From April 1943, the unit was based in But (or Lae according to other sources) Airfield taking part in the battle of East New Guinea.

In early December 1943, the unit returned to Japan and from the middle of the month started training with "Toryu" fighters at Hokota.

On February 6, 1944, left Japan and four days later arrived at Clark Field. End of February relocated to Wakde Island and spent about a month training and conducting patrol.

End of March returned to Clark Field, and for a while was assigned to ship escort duties. During the period from early July until August, the unit had about 20 operational Ki-45s. End of August the unit's strength was 26 aircraft escorting ships passing through the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines. 

During a particularly heavy raid against Japanese-held airfields on September 12, the unit, now based in Saravia Airfield on the northwest of Negros Island, was timely alerted and all its' operational aircraft took off to avoid getting hit on the ground. While in the air, they didn't encounter any enemy planes, but right after the 2nd Chutai and half of the 1st Chutai landed back in Saravia, they were attacked and strafed by F6Fs from the carrier USS Wasp. The "Toryu" of the 3rd Chutai and the remaining half of the 1st Chutai were still in the air and tried to attack the US planes. In the ensuing air battle, two Ki-45s were lost and another was badly damaged when it made an emergency landing. Following this, the remaining operational aircraft escaped briefly to Panay and Palawan Islands. The next day, the F6Fs returned and inflicted further damage to the unit's aircraft that had remained in Saravia.

In the middle of October 1944, the unit had about ten operational aircraft. When the US forces landed at Leyte Island on October 17, the 45 Sentai, based in Saravia together with elements of the 27th Sentai, launched attacks against the US forces. On the 19th, 45 Sentai "Toryu" fighters attacked the US Fleet but two planes failed to return. Following further missions against the US forces, by October 20, the unit had only 4-5 operational aircraft, and by October 24 only one Ki-45 remained. At the end of the month, the unit retreated to Silai Airfield where it received a few replacement aircraft and returned to attack the US forces in Leyte.

During the Leyte operations, the unit's Ki-45s carried 100kg bombs when they were attacking bigger targets like enemy ships or 50kg Ta-Dan bombs when their targets were enemy-held airfields. At that time, the "Toryu" were not organized to specific chutais but every capable pilot flew whichever plane was operational.

During the November 1~23 period, the unit had three aircraft shot down, nine seriously damaged and received 13 replacements but on November 23 the unit had only nine aircraft, only four of which were operational. By the end of November, the unit had lost 18 aircraft and received only eight replacements.

On December 14, 1944, the 45 Sentai organized a tokko (special attack, suicide) unit with ten members and formed the "Koka-tai" (Emperor's Flower Unit) with five members from the 208 Sentai.

By the end of December, the unit had no operational aircraft left, and the remaining pilots only, were transported to Angeles Airfield. Around that time the remaining members of the 27th and the 45th Sentai with whatever Ki-45s could be found, merged and launched attacks against the US forces landing at Mindoro Island.

On January 15, 1945, the unit received orders to return to Japan and did so in the same manner we described for the 27th Sentai.

The unit finally managed to return to Hokota on January 25, where the union of the two sentai became official. In April 1945, the 27th Sentai was disbanded and all its remaining members joined the 45th.

As can be expected, "Toryu" "37" didn't stay intact for long.

Photo from Radek.

Here's another photo from Radek featuring a 45 Sentai "Toryu" found destroyed at Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island, which, as we saw above, the unit used as an emergency airfield.

Unfortunately, the tail number has been removed by souvenir hunters.

Remember this Ki-45, also in pretty good condition?

Sadly, this is how it looked after a while.

As we saw in previous posts and above, there were several Ki-45s with the kanji "大" (dai) on their tail. 

These were not the only Ki-45s found at Clark Field with kanji on their tails.

This one we first saw in the color photo in the "Shoki" post, has the kanji "宮" (miya) on its tail.

The name of the 2nd Chutai commander of the 45th Sentai, was Miyazaki, so it is possible that this was his personal aircraft.

This Ki-45 has the kanji "山" (yama) on its tail.

The name of the 3nd Chutai commander of the 45th Sentai, was Yamauchi, but he perished in October 1944. It could be one of his personal aircraft or, since the kanji for "yama" is quite common in many Japanese names, it could be the personal mount of another pilot.  

This leaves us with the aircraft with the mysterious kanji "dai". After exhausting research, we finally discovered that the name of the 1st Chutai commander was Kamiyama or Koyama which, unfortunately, is no match for the "dai" kanji. So, as of this post, the identity of the aircraft with the "dai" kanji remain unknown.

BUT, there were other Ki-45s in Clark Field with katakana on their tails.

This one has the katakana "ア" (a) on its tail.

More coming up. Stay tuned.