Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa Vol. I

Author: Dariusz Paduch
Publisher:
ISBN: 9788366673489
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 76

Book Description
Nakajima K-43 Hayabusa, code-named Oscar by the Allies, was the Imperial Japanese Army's equivalent of the Zero fighter in service with the Imperial Navy. In combat units the machine replaced the aging Ki-27. Manufactured in large numbers, the fighter remained in frontline service until the end of the war. By the time its final version entered production, the development of its successor - the Ki-84 - had already started. The Ki-43 was a very maneuverable machine, but in many areas it was inferior to its adversaries. Despite its fragile design, poor armament and almost no armored protection, the Ki-43 was well-liked by the Japanese pilots and it became a symbol of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service. Hayabusa was the pinnacle of the Japanese fighter design development until the lessons learned in the Pacific laid the ground for new approaches to the construction of tactical aircraft.

P-47D Thunderbolt vs Ki-43-II Oscar

Author: Michael John Claringbould
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472840925
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 81

Book Description
Although New Guinea's Thunderbolt pilots faced several different types of enemy aircraft in capricious tropical conditions, by far their most common adversary was the Nakajima Ki-43-II Hayabusa, codenamed 'Oscar' by the Allies. These two opposing fighters were the products of two radically different design philosophies. The Thunderbolt was heavy, fast and packed a massive punch thanks to its battery of eight 0.50-cal machine guns, while the 'Oscar' was the complete opposite in respect to fighter design philosophy – lightweight, nimble, manoeuvrable and lightly armed. It was, nonetheless, deadly in the hands of an experienced pilot. The Thunderbolt commenced operations in New Guinea with a series of bomber escort missions in mid-1943, and its firepower and superior speed soon saw Fifth Air Force fighter command deploying elite groups of P-47s to Wewak, on the northern coast. Flying from there, they would pick off unwary enemy aircraft during dedicated fighter patrols. The Thunderbolt pilots in New Guinea slowly wore down their Japanese counterparts by continual combat and deadly strafing attacks, but nevertheless, the Ki-43-II remained a worthy opponent deterrent up until Hollandia was abandoned by the IJAAF in April 1944. Fully illustrated throughout with artwork and rare photographs, this fascinating book examines these two vastly different fighters in the New Guinea theatre, and assesses the unique geographic conditions that shaped their deployment and effectiveness.

Nakajima Ki.43 "Hayabusa"

Author: John Stanaway
Publisher: Merriam Press
ISBN: 1576381420
Category : Fighter planes
Languages : en
Pages : 200

Book Description

Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa Vol. II

Author: Dariusz Paduch
Publisher: Monographs
ISBN: 9788366673939
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 80

Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu in Japanese Army Air Force Service

Author: Richard M. Bueschel
Publisher: Schiffer Military History
ISBN: 9780764303449
Category : Donryu (Bomber)
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
The JAAF Nakajima Ki-49 DONRYU (Helen) is presented in this volume. All variations, markings and units are covered in this, the seventh in a multi-volume series.

The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet

Author: Marek Ryś
Publisher:
ISBN: 9788366673571
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 24

Book Description
Although the German Me 163 Komet rocket fighter was created as a remedy for the mass air raids of the Allied air force on Germany, its origins date back to 1938. Alexander Lippisch then began work at the DFS factory on a tailless rocket-propelled aircraft, designated as DFS 194. At the beginnings of 1939, the project was handed over to the Messerschmitt factory and there it developed into the Me 163A. Two prototypes of this aircraft - V4 and V5 - were completed in 1941 and flown as gliders. Then the V4 received a Walter HWK R.II rocket engine with a thrust of 7.5 kN, and on October 2, 1941 H. Dittmar achieved a speed of 1003 km/h on mentioned plane. Thirteen Me 163As were built for training.

Ki-43 ‘Oscar’ Aces of World War 2

Author: Hiroshi Ichimura
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 9781846034084
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
Dubbed the 'Oscar' by the Allies, the Ki-43 Hayabusa was the most prolific Japanese fighter of World War II. Produced in great numbers, it initially proved superior to most US and British fighter types, due to its excellent maneuverability. The light weight and large wing area gave it a small turning radius and a high rate-of-climb which was ideal for pilots in close combat fighting. However, the Ki-43's swiftness and agility came at a price, with the low-wing design meaning that firepower and safety had to be sacrificed. With only two machine guns, a Ki-43 pilot would have to perform a dangerous balancing act between achieving a high rate of kills and their own survival. Surprisingly, more Japanese pilots achieved Ace status flying the Hayabusa than any other plane and despite being steadily outclassed by new fighters, the Ki-43 remained in frontline JAAF service until the war's end. This book expertly charts the experiences of the pilots and discusses the early stages of the war in South-East Asia, China, Burma and New Guinea. Accompanied by detailed appendices and specially commissioned artwork, this is the first volume in English to focus exclusively on the exploits of the Ki-43.

Ki-44 ‘Tojo’ Aces of World War 2

Author: Nicholas Millman
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 9781849084406
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
The 100th title of Osprey's celebrated Aircraft of the Aces series covers a subject sure to be of interest to historians of World War II. The Ki-44 'Tojo' was a fast-climbing, heavily armed point-defence interceptor that was used successfully in slashing hit-and-run tactics that caught Allied pilots by surprise. In the air defense role 'Tojos' pioneered the deployment of a unique 40 mm cannon, the firing system which had no cartridges but instead had the propelling charge contained in the base of the projectile. The Ki-44 was to be used by the JAAF in larger numbers in China than anywhere else. This exciting title from author Nicholas Millman brings the Ki-44's role in the Pacific theatre to vivid life, accompanied by full color plates and archival photographs.

Vietnam War Army Helicopter Nose Art

Author: John Brennan
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781625450357
Category : Military helicopters
Languages : en
Pages : 192

Book Description
Like a fifty-year-old time capsule unearthed and opened for public display, this book unlocks a treasure trove of over 250 recently recovered Vietnam War photographs from veterans. These helicopter nose art photos capture that typical and distinctive American war custom of embellishing one's assigned aircraft with personalized markings.

P-40 Warhawk vs Ki-43 Oscar

Author: Carl Molesworth
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782007466
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 82

Book Description
Known for the distinctive 'sharkmouth' decoration on their noses, P-40 fighters first saw combat in China during World War II. Their most common adversary was the Japanese Nakajima Ki-43, nicknamed 'Oscar.' Carl Molesworth describes and explains the design and development of these two foes, the products of two vastly different philosophies of fighter design. The P-40 was heavily armed and sturdy with armour protection and self-sealing fuel tanks, but paid for this with the loss of speed and a sluggish performance at altitude. The Ki-43 was a rapier to the battleaxe P-40 and the Ki-43 was immensely nimble, though with less firepower and durability. This book examines these two different fighters, and the pilots who flew them over China, with an action-packed text, rare photographs and digital artwork.