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| JAAF 68th Hiko Sentai 2nd Chutai |
Aircraft History Built by Kawasaki at Kagamigahara during April 1943. At the factory, this aircraft was delivered with a natural aluminum finish and a fuselage Hinomaru outlined with a white border. Uncoded serial number 163. Delivered to the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) as Type 3 Fighter / Ki-61-Ia Tony manufacture number 263. Armament configuration "Ko" with two 12.7mm Ho-103 machine cannons in the nose and two 7.7mm Type 89 machine guns in the wings. Wartime History Assigned to the 68th Hiko Sentai, 2nd Chutai. Assigned to pilot Captain Shogo Takeuchi, Commanding Officer (C. O.) of the 2nd Chutai. In the field, this aircraft had dark green spray paint applied to the upper surfaces in a snake weave pattern. The left side of the cockpit had an eagle marking. The fuselage Hinomaru was outlined in white, then the border was over painted with green spray paint. The rear fuselage had two vertical white bands around the Hinomaru. The forward stripe was wider and the rear band was smaller indicating assignment to the 2nd Chutai. The tail had a stylized "V" motif of the 68th Sentai, 2nd Chutai. The leading edge of the wing had a yellow identification stripe with a red four-pointed star around each machine gun barrel. The forward edge of the main landing gear doors was painted yellow. During November 1943, abandoned at Cape Gloucester Airfield (Tuluvu) at Cape Gloucester No. 1 (Old Strip, West Airfield) in West New Britain. Likely, the aircraft had mechanical problems and was carefully hidden and camouflaged with palm fronds. While parked, this Tony was not damaged by Allied bombing raids or strafing attacks. On December 30, 1943 this aircraft was discovered by U.S. Marines when they captured the airfield area. The Ki-61 was intact but submerged up to the wings due to recent rains and flooding. After being reported to Allied intelligence, it became known as the "Cape Gloucester Ki-61" or "Cape Gloucester Tony". Disassembled and loaded aboard a U.S. Navy Landing Ship Tank (LST) and shipped to Brisbane. Transported to Eagle Farm Airfield to hangar 7 and assigned to Air Technical Intelligence Unit (ATIU) with tail code XJ003 painted in black on both sides of the tail. The Ki-61 was stripped to bare metal finish and U.S. stars and bars markings were applied to both sides of the fuselage and wings. During early 1944, the Ki-61 was restored and flight tested at Eagle Farm Airfield. Further tests were cut short due to the presence of metal filings in the engine and was once again disassembled for shipment to the United States for further evaluation. During June 1944, shipped from Brisbane to NAS Anacostia where it was reassembled and flight tested further. Test pilots concluded it was a pleasant aircraft to fly but "a great deal of maintenance was required during the trials it seems likely that the Japanese find it difficult to keep this Tony in commission." This Ki-61 was also flight tested at NAS Pax River Test Center. The pilot's armor plating (10.3mm armor) was removed and tested at Aberdeen Proving Ground. During test using American .50 caliber and .30 caliber machine guns against the freestanding armor, it was proved that the armor could easily be defeated by a .50 caliber bullet at close range and also failed to stop a .30 caliber bullet. The ultimate fate of this Ki-61 is unknown after testing. Likely, it was placed into storage and was scrapped at the end of the war. References Production figures of the Kawasaki Ki-61 Tony by Jim Long Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien by Richard M. Bueschel has photos and history of this aircraft. Tuluvu's Air War by Richard Dunn details the capture of this fighter. Emblems of the Rising Sun (1999) pages 32 (68th Sentai, 2nd Chutai), 91 (artwork profie 135) 120 (upper photo) back cover (lower photo) Setting Suns (2007) page 99 Thanks to Jim Long and Richard Dunn for additional information Contribute
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