Fiat BR.20 "Cicogna" in Japanese service

I was recently going through the Japanese propaganda videos dubed in Indonesian found in the Dutch archives. One video showcasing the "power of the Japanese Air Force" features a collection of short clips. Among them there is some really short footage of a Fiat BR.20 "Cicogna" operated by an IJAAF "jubakutai" (heavy bomber unit).

Although really very short, this is the only footage of a BR.20 in Japanese service I know of. Obviously the original would have included additional material, but regrettably, I believe it's unlikely it will ever surface.

According to the Japanese Wikipedia:

In 1938, 85 units of the late-model BR.20 were exported to the Imperial Japanese Army and deployed in the Second Sino-Japanese War under the designation "I-shiki" (Type I) Heavy Bomber. The aircraft served as an interim measure pending the introduction of the Type 97 Heavy Bomber [Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally"]; by the time the Type 97 was deployed to the front lines, stocks of Italian-standard bombs and spare parts had been exhausted, leading to the aircraft's withdrawal from frontline service. Nevertheless, the Breda-SAFAT 12.7mm machine guns with which the aircraft was equipped proved invaluable to the Army's development of its own aircraft machine gun, the Ho-103.

Type I Heavy Bomber (Fiat BR.20) flown by the 1st Chutai of the 98th Sentai.

Type I Heavy Bomber (Fiat BR.20) flown by the 1st Chutai of the 12th Sentai. 

(Photo Tanaka Shoichi via Jun Oizumi)

In case you didn't know, the best and immediately available (not ancient, out-of-print or inaccurate) reference for the "Sally" and the Fiat BR.20 in Japanese service, is the 3rd release in our Eagle Eye series.

Available from our online store: HERE

The 14 Sentai "Sally" that demands correction!

Four years ago ICM, with ARAWASI help, released the beautiful Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally" kit and everybody was thrilled and very happy. That is until...some modellers realized it was a Model 1 and that most of them were overall gray. Oh, the mysery! Little chance to show off and make squiggles with my expensive airbrush for camo!!!! Buhuhu... 

Rather than waiting for ICM to issue a Model 2 kit featuring numerous interesting camouflage and tail marking choices, there’s been a pursuit to discover "interesting" (i.e. highly camouflaged) Model 1 "Sallys" and push the matter, sometimes resulting in historical inaccuracies.

And so, the opportunity for this small piece came when I recently saw photos, splashed all over the net, of an absolutely beautiful model from a friend and a very respected Japanese modeller that is unfortunately historically inaccurate. I definitely wouldn't object to the occasional modeller who got the kit and had fun with it; I'm not out there looking to correct the work of modellers - I'd rather not be part of the "history police." However, when a well-regarded and fairly renowned modeller, recognized for creating highly precise models, produces an inaccurate one, I feel compelled to express my concerns before others begin to replicate his model.

Here goes...

There were two "Sally" Models. Model 1 had Nakajima Ha-5 engines, and Model 2 had bigger and more powerful Mitsubishi Ha-101 engines. In Model 1, the engines were fairly small, and half of the wheels were hanging from the nacelles. The Ha-101 engines were bigger and required equally larger nacelles, and the landing gear was enclosed with doors. Check the illustration below to see these differences in the engine, nacelle, and wheel areas.

Top, Mitsubishi Ki-21 Model 1 Otsu.

Bottom, Mitsubishi Ki-21 Model 2 Ko.

The illustrations are from Maru Mechanic #29 and although not bad at all, there are issues with the non-existent windows between the wing root and the fuselage door. But more importantly, note the differences between the two models in the engine, nacelle, wheel area.

As we described for the first time in our Eagle Eye #3 publication, according to the official unit history, the 14th Sentai relocated back to Japan in April 1942, where they exchanged their old Model 1 bombers for new Model 2s and trained for about a month. According to veteran recollections, the tail marking the unit became famous during the Papua/New Guinea campaign was adopted while in Japan, i.e. the unit used a different tail marking on their Model 1s. Then the unit moved to Kuala Ketil in central Malaya, where they spent the rainy season in Burma training with their new bombers, now having 27 (36) bombers in its strength. In other words, the unit DID NOT operate any Model 1s after April 1942. There are no photos or records indicating it had any. Yet, illustrations have appeared that show 14th Sentai Model 1s in the P/NG theater.

This photo detail taken from a US bomber during a November 2, 1943, raid against Rabaul, features a 14 Sentai 3rd Chutai "Sally" and a second one belonging to the 81 Sentai under a camouflage net. This has frequently been cited as evidence of a Model 1 14 Sentai "Sally."

Many who are not familiar with the differences between Model 1 and Model 2 "Sallys" overlook the wheel doors indicated by the red arrow. These doors confirm that this is a Model 2 "Sally"; definitely NOT a Model 1.

"Rising decals" has included decals of this particular "Sally" in its RD72105 set. As you can see it depicts a Model 1, which is inaccurate. Furthermore, the vast majority of 14 Sentai "Sallys" had the individual aircraft number painted at the bottom of the rudder.

Well-known, very highly regarded and respected (and a friend) aviation historian Michael Claringbould has included 14 Sentai "Sally" illustrations in one of his books. The books are top notch and VERY highly recommended but the artwork is occasionally not on par with the text. The attached illustration shows a misleading and incorrect combination of Model 1 fuselage with a Model 2 Otsu turret. I reached out to Michael and inquired about his source for Model 1 14 Sentai "Sallys," and he referred to the above photo in Rabaul.

This 14 Sentai "Sally" illustration far more accurately showcases the way the unit's aircraft looked when operated in the P/NG theater. There are some issues with the fuselage windows (the artist was probably inspired by the MM illustration) and again the aircraft misses the individual aircraft number at the bottom of the rudder. 

I really wish modellers could wait until ICM releases their Model 2 "Sally." And let's not forget there is a war going on there in Ukraine, and the ICM headquarters was bombed, not by innocuous requests but with actual bombs.

Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally" by Michael Boudreaux

I recently completed this 1/48 model of a Ki-21 with help from your excellent Eagle Eye book. It's one of the best aircraft monographs in my collection and was extremely useful during my build.  

This is the Ki-21a version, built as an early Nakajima produced aircraft. I deleted the side gunners windows to make it as early as possible. 

Markings are from the 60th Sentai, 3rd Chutai bombing China/Manchuria in 1939 and are painted on.

I also riveted the entire airframe using the drawings in the Arawasi book (excellent!).

The interior is painted in MRP Hai ran shoku dark blue, as well as the landing gear wells.  The exterior is painted in AK Real Colors Lacquer Hai Ryoku Shoku and toned with some Mr Color of the same tone (slightly warmer and lighter). Both brands of paint were excellent. I painted the bomb bay in the exterior colors as there are some photos in the Arawasi book that showed very light color in the bomb bay. It definitely wasn't Hai ran shoku dark blue but could also have been aotake or maybe primer but who knows for real.

The airplane is weathered with oil paints but kept pretty light as these aircraft that were seen in the period propaganda films and photos look exceptionally clean.

Thanks again for publishing such an excellent book, and please keep up the good work.  

- Michael Boudreaux, Austin, TX -

What a stunning model! Thank you, Michael, for sending photos of your "Sally." We truly value your positive feedback regarding our publication and we're really happy it was put to good use.

Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally", 60 Sentai, Philippines - video

The first "jubakutai" (heavy bomber unit) to take part in the attack against the US forces in the Philippines during the opening days of the Pacific War was the 14th Sentai. It actually flew the very first mission on December 8, 1941, when 18 "Sallys" took off from their base in Chyayi, Taiwan and, at 08:00, released their bombs over their target, Camp John Hay at Baguio in the north of Luzon Island. In early May 1942, the unit returned to Japan to swap their old Model 1 "Sallys" for new Model 2s. 

Consequently, for the assault on the fortified areas of Bataan Peninsula and Corregidor Island, two new "jubakutai," the 60th and 62nd Sentai, moved to Clark Field and initiated operations with heavy ordnance. 

The very first mission took place on March 24, when 26 "Sallys" from the 60th Sentai and 19 from the 62nd Sentai, together with 18 IJNAF bombers from the Takao Kokutai, bombed Corregidor. 

The two units kept flying missions, the 62nd Sentai until April 9 and the 60th Sentai until May 4, two days before Corregidor fell. 

The attached video features 60 Sentai Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sallys" and their crews based in Clark Field, receiving final instructions for a mission prior to April 3, 1942. 

Note the truck in the background, maybe a Dodge WC?

Note also the very interesting top camouflage with green and brown blotches. Unfortunately for us modelers, all the bombers seen in the video are Model 2s, so we'll have to wait until ICM finds time, amidst the dreadful war they continue enduring, to release this version too.

Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally" in 1/48 by Dan Salamone

This is my completed 1/48 ICM Ki-21I kit. Products used include: Gunze acrylic black surfacer, Tamiya acrylics, including custom mixes for IJA interior blue grey and exterior dark green (ao midori iro), AK paint marker for lighter green undercolor above Tamiya XF-14 base camouflage. Dead Design canopy masks, Kelik 3D decal interior details, oils for weathering and some light use of AK weathering pencils. Kit decals were used, I also added landing lights from MV lenses, and brake lines from fine wire.

This is my third “larger” kit from ICM, and so far the best as far as engineering, fit, and in the box detail. The clear parts are of a very high quality. Be sure to dry fit everything, there are a few steps where parts numbers are transposed on the instructions, dry fitting will reveal these errors. The main thing to be very careful of on this model is when the landing gear need to be attached, which is before the lower cowl parts are attached. This means the long gear legs are exposed to lots of handling, and also being masked during the painting process.

ICM would also have you build the model with the bomb aiming device protruding from the lower nose. The vast majority of Ki-21 images sitting on the ground show this instrument as not being visible, I closed the molded open hole and stowed the device inside the fuselage.

The bomb bay doors are also a bit fiddly, and ICM would have you glue the door halves together, with the front and back actuator arms in between, then attach the assembly for each side once dry. I attached the “outside” doors to the fuselage, then added the actuator arms, and the following day attached the “inner” doors. I'm not fully satisfied with the final look, if the attachment points on the door parts were more pronounced, it would have been a much easier process.

Overall, this model was very enjoyable, and is yet another type that I had though we would never see in 1/48. Kudos to ICM for daring to produce models like this, even more so during a time of war in the Ukraine.

It took me awhile to decide on what camouflage scheme to go with. I had assumed I'd go with one of the later Hamamatsu bomber school schemes, but ultimately decided on the 25th Independent Air Brigade HQ Flight option. 

The few images I was working from showed 2 colors painted on the overall grey green, to replicate the lighter color I went with the AK paint marker for ao midori iro, which is lighter than their color in the bottle. I mixed my own version of this same color to be close to the bottle color, using Tamiya acrylics. Thinning about 40% using Tamiya acrylic thinner and Tamiya acrylic retarder, and using less than 10 psi, I freehanded the dark green color in two separate sessions, totaling about 5 or 6 hours. I've been using an Iwata HP-C for almost 25 years, and as usual it performed very well.

The final clear coat is a new (to me) product, Gunze “Mr. Super Smooth Clear Matt”, in a spray can. This clear coat dries quickly, is matt, yet has a very fine eggshell finish that is very pleasing to the eye. 

References used were Famous Aircraft of the World #153, and Arawasi Eagle Eye #3. For a full build review with many in progress images, please look for my personal model bulding page on Facebook, “The 48th Dimension”. 

- Dan Salamone -

Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally" In Action - video

A short clip from the NHK collection, dated 27/5/1941, featuring Mitsubishi Ki-21 Model 1 Koh "Sally" bombers during a May 15 raid against targets in Zhejiang Province.

Although tail markings are not clearly visible, the unit these bombers belong to is the 14th Sentai. It was the only IJAAF heavy bomber unit operating in the area on that date and the narrator mentions among the pilot names "Hironaka" who is Colonel Hironaka the commander of the 14 Sentai at the time. At 00:38 we can barely see some tail marking consisting of white or yellow horizontal bands on the tail; the original tail marking of the 14 Sentai (as we first showed in our EE#3), before changing to Model 2s and moving to Papua/New Guinea.

Mitsubishi Ki-21-IA ‘Sally’ by Jan Voorbij

Mitsubishi Ki-21-IA ‘Sally’ bomber
60th Sentai, 2nd Chutai, spring 1939
Various AB's in occupied China
(ICM 72205, 1/72)

I finally completed my Mitsubishi Ki-21-Ia 'Sally' bomber. The kit is well detailed both on the inside and outsides. The building itself went well, but the plastic is a bit brittle which caused some problems when cutting the parts from their sprues and with the assembly of the landing gear and the engines. There were some minor other problems, like getting the tiny windows in place on the fuselage, which I could solve with some effort. A real problem I had with the incorrect color scheme as prescribed by ICM and it took me a lot of research and consulting experts on Japanese WWII planes (esp. “Arawasi George”) before I could pick and apply the right paints and shades. I prefer Tamiya paints for my Japanese aircraft and in this case I used XF-49 Khaki, XF-13 J.A. Green and X-2 Flat White for the upper side and XF-27 Black Green Flat for the undersides (NOT black!). Applying the challenging camouflage scheme was in itself quite an ordeal for me, being a brush painter. For the masking of the 129 tiny windows I used the Eduard CX638 masking set. I sprayed the kit with a layer of Mr. Hobby Top Coat  Flat to finish it off. Well, here she is:

Japanese Airfields, Equipment & more #22 - revised

Various activities at the airfield (IJAAF version). 

Kawasaki Ki-32 "Mary" light bombers are getting a check-over before the next mission. Note the Type 89 Special Twin flexible machine gun operated by the rear gunner.

Changing the tire of a Mitsubishi Ki-21 Model 2 Koh "Sally".

A last engine check of a Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lilly" and a Mitsubishi Ki-51 "Sonia" belonging to the IJAAF school at Gifu.

The Gifu Army Flying School was organised in August 1940 at Kakamigahara, Gifu Prefecture. It was disbanded in March 1942. A year later, the Gifu Rikugun Koku Seibi Gakko (Army Air Maintenance School) was organised based at Kakamigahara with three kyoiku-tai (training units).

The video from the NHK collection is dated March 1, 1944.

Changing the propeller of a Mitsubishi Ki-21 Model 2 Koh "Sally". Note the unpainted front with the red stripes and the black rear.

Changing the whole engine of a Mitsubishi Ki-21 Model 2 Koh "Sally". Note the crane mentioned in a previous post and the efforts of the crew to lift the tail to adjust the plane with the new engine.

Bringing water or tea to a newly arrived pilot with his Nakajima Ki-44 "Shoki".

Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally" by Andrey Zhevnerov.

Mitsubishi Ki-21-Ib, ICM kit in 1:72.