Wartime History
Abandoned in the north-east portion of the Alexishafen Airfield. The tail is torn off to the side behind the wreck. The leading edge of the wing is crumpled, and the gear up, supporting that this aircraft probably force landed at the strip.

Wreckage
Overgrown in a sago swamp area, this wreck has avoided scrapping that occured to wrecks closer to the former airfield. Both engines are still on their mounts and in place.  The nose section is burned out and missing.

Ray Fairfield visited in 1972:
"An interesting anecdote on this one. I found a drum of 7.7mm ammunition for the flexible gun in the dirt next to the rear gunner position. When I got it home and hosed the dirt off, it started to smoke! Turned out to be white phosphorous rounds, first I'd ever seen or heard of in that calbre."

Charles Darby visited this wreck in 1974:
"I think your tentative i/d of 2106 is correct, in that your description of the aircraft and its location in a sago swamp match what I found in 1974."

John Douglas visited this wreck in 2000:
"I offered locals 50 Kina to show me a new wreck and more complete wreck. They showed me this aircraft."

Justin Taylan visited in November 2003:
"There is a circular gun mount (gun missing) behind the cockpit, and most of the hinomau on the side of the fuselage. The fuel tank had a layer of rubber protecting it. Underneath the wing is a 'gate' shapped flap.  There was some discussion if this wreck was possibly a Ki-45 Nick, but  from this evidence, it is a Lily."

References
Type 99 Light Bomber / Ki-48 Lily Production Figures by Jim Long
Charles Darby noted manufacture number and tail number.
Thanks to Jim Long for additional information.

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Last Updated
February 19, 2024