I’m a bit of a noob when it comes to Japanese aircraft, but does anybody know what was the most common Ki-43 variant in 1944/45 in the Pacific?
My guess is it would be the IIb model, but I’m not sure. Maybe the -III?
I’ve read Royal Navy Corsairs shot down some Ki-43s and am looking for the most likely opponent.
By: Skyraider3D - 3rd March 2006 at 07:13
Thanks Malcolm!
By: Malcolm McKay - 3rd March 2006 at 03:08
The 3 was the last development and was the prime version operating at the end. However there were still 1s and 2s being used in the home islands for defence against the B29s. Many were drawn from OTUs, although they weren’t really up to the task. There were I believe even instances of Ki-27s (also from OTUs) in use and they were to all intents and purposes obsolete by 1940.
The Japanese had to really scrape the bottom of the barrel by then. I’ve always liked the Nakajima fighters, they were all, with the exception of the Ki-44 Shoki, rather graceful aircraft.
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March 3, 2006 at 12:00 am