World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
20 Feb 2009 04:31:41 PM

Captured Kawasaki Ki-61-Ia Hien (Swallow) on a test flight. Code Name (Tony) many Japanese aircraft were re-built and tested at Anacostia Naval Air Station, near Washington D.C. During W.W.II. The Tony was operated by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. Most aircraft were armed with two wing mounted 20mm cannon, and two fuselage mounted 12.7mm machine-guns.

2.  BILL says:
2 Mar 2009 04:48:20 PM

Captured Japanese Aircraft were also tested at Eagle Farms, based at Brisbane/S E Queensland, Australia. Operated by ATAIU-SWPA: Mitsubishi Zero A6M3 (Hamp) Model 32 X-J002, Nakajima Ki-43-1b(Oscar) XJ003, Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien (Tony) XJ004, and another Nakajima Ki-43-2IIb (Oscar).

3.  BILL says:
2 Mar 2009 05:16:10 PM

Where are they now: Kawasaki Ki-61(Tony)is located at the Kamikaze Museum Kyushu,Japan this aircraft, is not the one tested at Eagle Farms. Nakajima Ki-43-IIb (Oscar) is on loan from the National Air & Space Museum to the EAA Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Other Oscar and Zero Fighter's are located in Australia. Indonesia: Ki-43 Oscar, A6M5 Zero. U.S.A. Zero A6M3 Model 22 needs major restoration Museum of Flying Santa Monica, Ca. Other Japanese Aircraft are in Collections through out the World.

4.  Bill says:
15 Jan 2011 12:11:44 PM

Added from my previous comment dated
20 Feb 2009:

RADIAL ENGINE "TONY" IMPROVING THE BREED:

The Kawasaki Ki-100 was an air-cooled radial engine variant of the Ki-61 in-line liquid-cooled engine, "Tony" used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF).

Developed due to shortages caused by B-29s
bombing the engine production plant for the Ki-61, Kawasaki was left with 280 airframes
without engines, a solution was found, by
using the Mitsubishi Ha-112 or Ha-33 air-cooled radial engine, of 1,500hp for takeoff
The engine led to improved power and maneuverability, but its high-altitude performance against US B-29s was limited by the lack of a super-charger, nevertheless the Ki-100 was an excellent dog-fighter holding its own, against the P-51 Mustang, the P-47 Thunderbolt and the F6F Hellcat.

In the hands of an experienced pilot, the Ki-100 was a deadly combat aircraft.
Armed w/2x20mm cannons and 2x12.7mm machine guns with a top speed of 580km/h or 360mph

JAPANESE TOP GUNS:

During WWII the Japanese captured different types of Allied aircraft, among them were the
North American P-51 Mustang and Grumman F6F Hellcat.
The most experienced instructors and combat veterans, would fly the captured Allied fighters in mock combat, against other Japanese fighter aircraft, at Army bases throughtout Japan the training was used to
show the pilot's how to best combat these
enemy fighters.
The Ki-100 was never given a Allied code name, it was just designated by its Japanese aircraft number, the Ki-100.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

At wars end the US shipped four Ki-100s for
tests, among the 40 Japanese aircraft sent to the United States after WWII, only 8 have survived.

In 1959 the last Ki-100 was broken up, due to being left outside to rot.
Another Ki-100 is maintained in beautiful condition at the RAF Museum, Hendon outside of London.

5. Bill says:
24 Aug 2013 09:34:26 AM

Above file photo shows a Ki-61 in flight with Japanese markings, in reality the Tony was captured and tested at Eagle Farms, Australia.

Photograph was taken flying over the City of Brisbane on July, 1944 Also the fighters tail numbers have been air brushed out X-J003 as assigned to TAIU-SWPA. The Ki-61 Tony was later shipped to the USA

6. Terence Enright says:
23 Oct 2013 04:21:06 PM

I am a vet that was in cape glouster New britain for three and 1/2 years of WW11 I helped capture the KI 61 and have information and photos of this event.I would to speak with anyone that was involved with this airplane.I would like to share my experience and photos.Sincerely Terence E Enright

7.  Bill says:
8 Nov 2016 06:15:06 PM

IN ENEMY HANDS: FILE PHOTOGRAPH

Photo of Kawasaki Ki-61-1a Ko s/n 263 (Tony) being test flown by US forces. Aircraft was captured at Cape Ghoucester later tested and evaluated as XJ-003 by TAIU-SWPA Eagle Farms, Australia and as TAIU-9, shipped back to the USA a/c later crashed Yanceyville, North Carolina 2 July 1945