Burma Ki-43

[Greebo]

Thanks to Lyric1 for finding me the info for this skin in this J-Aircraft Forum thread.

This aircraft was a presentation machine, one of two supposedly donated by the Burma-Japan Association as a propaganda stunt in 1944. The emblem on the vertical tail is a stylised version of Burma's Peacock national emblem. There is no Sentai tail marking visible to indicate which unit this aircraft was assigned to although at this time the 50th, 64th and 204th were the Ki-43 units active in Burma. The 64th received three more Burma-donated Ki-43s which were painted in solid green upper camo and these did have their Sentai's marking as well as the Peacock emblem, so unless I get better info I'll list this as a 64th machine in the game.

[Citabria]

amazing work greebo

[Lusche]

 

[Drano]

Totally awesome as usual, Greebo. I built a model with this scheme years back although without the peacock on the tail. Because of that it'll have to be my Oscar skin of choice!

[oboe]

A real stunner, Greebo!

I found the Ki.43 a lot of fun to fly in the MA.   

[Dragon Tamer]

 

[lyric1]

 Was not expecting that one.
 Glad you did it though.

[Devil 505]

 

[oboe]

Greebo or Lyric, can you answer a question about JAAF color schemes - when an aircraft has this green mottled camo - is that applied directly over bare metal, of was the whole aircraft painted a light off-white color before the camo applied?

Looking for information about this.

Thanks!

[Greebo]

For most of the war Ki-43s left the factory in bare metal, with only an anti-glare panel and red hinomaru markings in six positions. Camouflage schemes were painted in the field without primer and with whatever paint was available. Late in the war a factory-applied camouflage scheme was introduced, olive green on top with grey below. I'd guess this was because of the increased risk of Allied bombing or interception before the aircraft even reached their units. As far as I know this was also the case with other IJAAF fighters like the Ki-44, Ki-61 and Ki-84, although I haven't researched that enough to be sure.

For the IJNAF the situation was reversed. A6Ms were always well painted, probably due to the increased corrosion associated with carrier ops, but later fighters like the N1K2 had camouflage paint applied to the bare metal and to the upper surfaces only.

[lyric1]

There is no Sentai tail marking visible to indicate which unit this aircraft was assigned to although at this time the 50th, 64th and 204th were the Ki-43 units active in Burma. The 64th received three more Burma-donated Ki-43s which were painted in solid green upper camo and these did have their Sentai's marking as well as the Peacock emblem, so unless I get better info I'll list this as a 64th machine in the game.

No definitive answer yet as to what group however I am inclined to think that the skin is not part of the 64th as more information comes to light.


Ⅱ-Gata otsu hikō dai 64 sentai dai 2 chūtai aikoku Biruma nihonjin-kai ken'nō kitai.
Ⅱ type B flight 64th squadron second Squadron Patriotic Burma Japanese Association dedication aircraft.

[Nefarious]

Incredible work. Can't wait to see it soon, it will be needed over in SEA!

[Vraciu]

Great work.

What about some of the Japanese allies?   Not allowed in AH?

http://www.cbi-history.com/part_xvi_b.html

[Greebo]

I've already done a Manchuko and a Thai Ki-43. Any of the Japanese Allied Air Forces ought to be OK if their aircraft were in operational squadrons and so long as there are good enough photos for them.

Lyric1 recently found me some info on a few interesting Ki-43s from Japanese squadrons that I will likely skin at some point.

[lyric1]

I have found another photo of these two aircraft in a book online.
No squadron identification though you can tell by the first aircraft in each photo that they are an exact camo match.