Japanese Airfields, Equipment & more #28 - revised

Vehicles - Starter trucks
Toyota GB. Standard equipment for fighter aircraft units was to have one starter truck per plane while for reconnaissance and bomber units the ratio was one starter truck per three planes. 
Unfortunately, there is almost nothing in Japanese sources about these vehicles, regarding type, production or any other data. Feel free to contribute.

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".

Japanese Airfields, Equipment & more #11 - revised

Dining

IJNAF & IJAAF ground crews and pilots on standby often dined out at the airfield, so it wouldn't be unusual to find them sitting under the shade of an aircraft wing having a meal.

Ground crew members enjoying their food near their Mitsubishi A5M "Claude" fighters. Note the various food containers.

Pilots have just had a meal and are relaxing enjoying a cigarette. Note the buckets mentioned in a previous post and the various different chairs.

Similarly, in this video, these 87 Sentai pilots are having a meal next to their Nakajima Ki-44 "Shoki" fighters, ready for takeoff.

IJAAF & IJNAF wrecked aircraft - Clark Field, Philippines Pt.2

We will continue this series based on the two recently found ebay photos, with two Nakajima Ki-44 "Shoki" fighters.

This is the first time I have seen a photo of the aircraft in the front with the rudder missing.

They are within the red circle of the panoramic photo.

The aircraft behind the rudderless "Shoki" is this one. 

It has a hiragana "も" (mo) on its tail and various publications add that its serial number is #2143.

I think the hiragana "mo" is barely visible on the tail of the aircraft in the photo above. Based on the complete lack of damage the aircraft in both photos have, I'd say that this photo shows the same "mo" aircraft from the port side. It's a rather rare occasion when we can see both sides of a Japanese aircraft. (both photos: NARA)

In this video still, we can see the same "Shoki" but note and remember the fuselage hinomaru without a white surround.

Several other "Shoki" fighters were also present at Clark Field in the area where the TAIU set shop. Here's a different Ki-44, also with a borderless hinomaru.

In this color photo found in Bob Mikesh's "Japanese Aircraft Interiors", I believe we can see the "Shoki" in the previous still, with a yellow hiragana "さ" (sa) on the tail, squeezed between two Kawasaki Ki-45 "Toryu". 

I'm sure you're surprised with the blue-painted fuselage hinomaru, right? According to Mikesh-san:

"Since the field was occupied before the fighting on Luzon had ended, the red hinomarus of the Japanese were painted blue, so that when spotted from the air by Allied fighter pilots, they would not be mistakenly strafed by Allied aircraft."

Another explanation was that the hinomaru were painted blue to repel souvenir hunters and I would add that the deleted tail numbers on the 19 Sentai "Hien" we saw in previous posts, was something that was done for the same purpose.

Based on this photo, we can safely conclude: first that that's what happened at some time to the "mo" "Shoki" as well, therefore the borderless hinomaru, and second that it had similarly brown top camouflage, not green as mentioned in various publications and shown in color artwork.

I don't think I've ever seen any Japanese models with blue hinomaru. Leave a comment if you have.

I can't decide if this photo, from here, shows the "mo" or the "sa" Ki-44 but all the publications that feature this photo say "mo". At the same time they are unaware of the "sa" color photo, so...

The photo source mentions in the caption that this particular "Shoki" belonged to the 22nd Sentai. 

This is only mentioned in the "Emblems" book by P. Scott. 

I do not know what the source of this claim is. All Japanese publications that include the "mo" "Shoki" admit that they have no idea of the unit this particular aircraft belonged to.

In my opinion, the "mo" and "sa" hiragana on the tails, indicate that these were replacement aircraft that did not yet belong to any particular sentai, and Japanese sources (FAOW, Model Art etc) agree with that. "mo" and "sa" are numbers "33" and "45" respectively in the iroha numbering system, which would be too high for aircraft assigned to units but not for replacement aircraft brought to the Philippines from a depot.

Back to P. Scott's photo caption, the 22nd Sentai is mentioned in all Japanese publications as a unit exclusively equipped with Nakajima Ki-84 "Hayate", no other aircraft type is mentioned. Peter mentions the "red leading edge to the fin, the unit marking". It's a rather confusing statement and honestly, I can't see any "red leading edge", the tail looks evenly painted to me with one color. He also mentions the top "green finish" and agrees with R. Bueschel in that the "mo" indicates the pilot; I disagree with both statements. Perhaps Peter has seen a color photo of this aircraft and therefore can describe the top camo as green, the red edge barely visible under the green and the white "mo". Unfortunately, I'm not aware of any such color photo.

These were not the only Ki-44s found at Clark Field and brought to the TAIU area. The aircraft in the photo is not seen in the panoramic photo and belonged to the 246 Sentai.

The unit was organized on October 10, 1942, came under the 18th Hikodan, was based at Kakogawa airfield, Hyogo Prefecture, and was charged with the air defense of the Hanshin area (Osaka, Kobe). Initially, it was equipped with Nakajima Ki-27 "Nate" fighters organized in three chutai, one of which was originally the 2nd Chutai of the 13th Sentai.

In July 1944, the unit relocated to the Akeno Fighter School and exchanged their "Nates" with "Shoki" fighters. After brief and largely unsuccessful assignments to Taiwan and Kyushu, the unit was based in Itami airfield, also in Hyogo Prefecture, around August 1944. At that time the 246 Sentai had 56 Ki-44s in its strength.

Two months later, the unit relocated to Taiwan assigned to air defense duties without success.

On November 8, 1944, 20 "Shoki" of the unit advanced to Clark Field.

On December 13, a group of enemy ships had been spotted heading for Mindoro Island and orders were given for an attack to be organized. The 246 Sentai was to escort the "Kyoko-tai" suicide attack unit, equipped with Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lilly" bombers. In reality, it was a one-way mission since it was at the very edge of the Ki-44 range. Thirteen aircraft were ready but just before takeoff, new orders arrived. The unit was to relocate first to Silai Airfield at Negros Island to refuel, then meet the tokko unit. But while the "Shoki" were getting refueled there, they came under attack by six P-38s. Four Ki-44s took off immediately but the one flown by Sgt Maj Kawamoto was shot down at an altitude of only 10 meters.

The next day, ten "Shoki" of the unit were patrolling the area around Bacolod airfield, again in Negros Island, when they were suddenly jumped by no less than 30 enemy fighters. Since the Japanese fighters were at the end of their fuel supply and at a disadvantageous position, the commander of the unit, Maj Ishikawa, ordered everybody to do belly landings. All the pilots were unharmed but the planes were heavily damaged.

After that, the supply of replacement aircraft was erratic and the unit was ordered to return to Japan's mainland. In April 1945, the unit changed to Ki-84s and Ki-46-IIIs.

The same "Shoki" featured in the previous photo, revealing the plane's individual number "338" on the wheel cover. It's a well-known aircraft and the subject of numerous kits and decal sets. (photos from here)

The same "338" "Shoki" from a video still. In the background of the video we can see a Kokusai Ku-8-II glider and a "Hien" squeezed between them.

Several derelict 246 Sentai Ki-44s fighters were also gathered in the TAIU area.

In the photo from the Jeff Ethell collection, we can also barely make out the aircraft with blue hinomaru in the background on the right.

Nakajima Ki-44 "Shoki" free flight model by Doug Beardsworth

I wanted to share some photos of my "Shoki", which will be making its first contest debut later this month. The model was built from a heavily edited Diels engineering laser-cut kit. The "Shoki" is a very challenging Free flight subject, due to its very short nose and small wing. The short nose means that achieving the necessary balance point will mean adding a fair amount of dead-weight ballast to the nose. And then the small wing area means there are fewer square inches of lifting area to carry the all-up weight of the ship and ballast with its rubber motor. I’ve changed the construction from using 1/16” square stock to smaller 1/20” square stock for the fuselage stringers, and stabilizer and fin/ rudder construction. And the dihedral and stabilizer’s area have both been increased in order to improve lateral and pitch stability. 

To my mind, the "Shoki" appears more like an air racer rather than a dog fighter. It is essentially a big radial engine attached to a small airframe with a comparatively small wing. In my opinion, it “looks fast” and that fin and rudder extending well past the stabilizer only adds to the effect. And from what I’ve read, it was employed in combat in the manner of a fast, swooping and diving attacking  airplane. 

The ship is covered with Esaki Japanese tissue, and the translucent silver color was sprayed on with multiple, highly thinned coats of nitrate dope with some silver enamel added. All of the markings are cut from colored tissue or hand painted.

I have not created a spinner for this bird as yet. That will be completed once I find the correct propeller diameter and pitch that gives the best flights. So the prop is a bit provisional until I get the flight qualities dialed in. 

- Doug Beardsworth -

Nakajima Ki-44 "Shoki" - 87th Sentai - video

Yet another video from the NHK collection. The date of this one is July 27, 1944 and features Nakajima Ki-44 "Shoki" of the 87th Sentai.

The narrator says:

"The day starts and ends with combat at the air base in the India-Burma border front. The pilot enjoys a modest and quick meal at the shadow of his beloved plane, during the short time between combat. There are no words to describe the hardship of the wild eagles flying in the areas where the enemy aircraft run wild. When the order to take off is given, the immediately respond and look for the enemy. Now in the India-Burma area it's the height of the rainy season and our fierce fight is becoming even more harder. On July 7 our Burma based air units attacked the enemy airfield of Myitkyina in North Burma. 23 P-40s, 16 transporters, a total of 39 enemy aircraft were destroyed.

When one unit returns from combat, immediately another unit is taking off and yet the faces of our courageous pilots are bright. Following fierce combat the wild eagle is talking dispassionately about his aerial encounter."    

 

 

 

The 87th Sentai relocated from Sumatra's Gelumbang airfield, 50km from Palembang, to Meiktila in Burma to support the Operation U-go, the attack against Manipur in India, on May 8, 1944. The unit suffered heavy casualties with six dead and 3/4 of their operational aircraft and returned to Sumatra on May 27 to refit and recuperate. So this video was probably shot either during the time in Burma or in Sumatra. Note the monkey!

Nakajima Ki-44 "Shoki"

Two Army Type 2 Single-seat Fighters or Nakajima Ki-44 "Shoki" (Tojo) of the Rikugun Koku Seibi Gakko (Army Maintenance School) in Tokorozawa.

The aircraft in the foreground has all the surface panels of the port side removed to help with maintenance tutoring and lacks the starboard wing.

The aircraft in the background is in a more complete state. But note that both aircraft lack radio antennas. The typical tail marking of the Maintenance School is a horizontal bar with a hiragana above it. Akimoto-sensei states that the bar and the hiragana are black and indeed this is how it looks in many photos. Nevertheless there is also a number of photos where the band looks lighter than the hiragana.

Examples, in MA#329 (1989), p.61 middle, the hiragana "き" (KI) looks darker than the bar on the tail of the Ki-43 "Hayabusa" although in MA#395 (1992), p.33 top profile, illustrator Nohara Shigeru chooses to depict both as black.

Same in the photo on p.65 of Koku Fan Illustrated#80. Kawasaki Ki-61 "Hien" with hiragana "I" on the tail. And again on p.68, a Mitsubishi Ki-30 "Ann" with a brighter bar than the hiragana "HA". 

In the Schiffer publication (1970) on p.30, top photo, "Shoki"  with dark "KO" on the tail seems again to have a brighter bar. Nohara decided to depict it with a red bar in the latest Model Art #779, Profile#5 (2009) p.110 although he is unsure about the white bands around the hinomaru. 

That is exactly why color photos are so important.

Nakajima Ki-44 "Shoki"

A line-up of Nakajima Ki-44-I "Shoki" belonging to the Akeno School. The aircraft in the foreground is also featured on p. 27 of FAOW#16 and it had the number 59 painted on the wheel cover.