Mitsubishi Ki-2

A Type 93 Twin-engine Light Bomber or Mitsubishi K-2 special today.

The wikipedia entry HERE is not bad, just need a few corrections. 

First of all the engines of Ki-2 Model 1 were Nakajima Jupiter, nine-cylinder air-cooled radials of 450-570hp; not "Kotobuki".

Production figures are a bit confusing. There were 113 Ki-2-I produced and 61 Ki-2-II; total 174.

Actually there were various sub-types unfortunately not properly explained and documented. Our friend Zygmunt  Szeremeta has offered to help illustrate some of the major ones. 

 

First of all the basic Mitsubishi Ki-2-I with three crew members; pilot, dorsal gunner and nose gunner/bombardier.

The next version of the Model 1 features one more crew member behind the pilot. I believe this was a reconnaissance and trainer version as the photos below testify.

Model 1s of the "Rikugun Koku Shikan Gakko" (Army Officers' School).

Note the mount of the twin 7.7mm Army Type 89 flexible machine gun (special).

Note the Nedinsco Type 25cm Aerial Camera (check our older post, here, for more).

Some Model 1s had a turret installed in the dorsal position. Artwork below by Kaiho Hideichi. 

The major external characteristic of the Mitsubishi Ki-2-II was the retractable landing gear. Note also the enclosed cockpit and occasional enclosed turret for the forward gunner.

Collector's items

Some guy recently put up on-sale on the Japanese ebay a number of Sankyo kits of their "peanuts" series in 1/150. Hope you like the vintage box art.

Thank you "Jun in Tokyo" for the correction. 

Yokosuka D4Y1-C "Suisei" - 121 Kokutai

A Yokosuka D4Y1-C "Suisei" (Judy) belonging to the 121 Kokutai is having the Atsuta engine checked. Location is Katori base, Chiba prefecture, during the winter of 1943-1944.

The 121Ku was organised on October 1, 1943 as the first land-based reconnaissance unit of the IJNAF. Originally based in Katori it was equipped with "Suisei" and Nakajima C6N "Saiun" (Myrt) with a total of 12 aircraft in its strength on October 1, 1943. By January 1944 the number of aircraft became 24 and a month later reached its peak with 48.

At that time, February 1944, the unit relocated to Tinian, in the Marianas and to Peleliu, in the Palau, where it became the main reconnaissance unit of the 1st Air Fleet.

From June 1944 the unit participated in the Operation A-Go in the course of which lost its aircraft. The unit was disbanded on July 10, 1944 and the remaining members fought as foot soldiers in the battles for Tinian island where they lost about 70 members and the battle for Peleliu where only five survived.

 

The unit used the kanji "雉" (kiji) meaning "pheasant" from October 1943 until January 1944. After that date they used the number "21".

The aircraft in the background has the "kiji" on its tale while the kanji on the fuel truck says "龍" (ryu) - dragon.

Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily"

Today we feature a series of stills from a short movie showing how the bombardier/nose machine-gunner of a Type 99 Twin-engined Light Bomber or Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily" was climbing into his position when in emergency.

The usual way was to climb on the wing and then through the cockpit. Note the Type 98 flexible machine gun of 7.9mm, a copy produced under licence of the German MG15, and the "vane" sight which was not usually attached to front line combat aircraft. So this is probably a "Lily" belonging to a training school like Hokota. 

Mitsubishi Ki-1

A photo of an Army Type 93 Heavy-Bomber or Mitsubishi Ki-1 undergoing final engine check before taking off.

More about the type, here.