This is the leader plane (indicated by the fuselage strips) of the HQ Chutai, 77th Sentai, stationed in Burma 1943. The white crescents on the tail are stylized seagulls, the emblem of the 77th Sentai. Burma witnessed bitter fighting in terrible conditions, the allied forces predominantly from British Commonwealth countries.
The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa was known as the Peregrine Falcon or the Allied codename Oscar. This was a single-engine, land-based tactical fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II as designation Type 1 Fighter. Like the Mitsubishi Zero, which it resembled, the Nakajima Ha-25 radial engined Ki-43 was light, maneuverable and easy to fly. Although it entered service in 1941, it was obsolete when it was first introduced. Designed as a monoplane that would fly like a biplane, it did not permit major upgrades in power, armament or much protection for the pilot or fuel.
The Ki-43 was legendary for its combat performance however in East Asia in the early years of the war. Its lightweight construction, lack of armor and limited firepower, however proved to be deficient in comparison to later, more powerful Allied fighters. Its armament of two machine guns also proved inadequate against the more heavily armored Allied aircraft. Nevertheless, the Ki-43 shot down more Allied aircraft than any other Japanese fighter. Total production amounted to 5,919 aircraft
The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa was known as the Peregrine Falcon or the Allied codename Oscar. This was a single-engine, land-based tactical fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II as designation Type 1 Fighter. Like the Mitsubishi Zero, which it resembled, the Nakajima Ha-25 radial engined Ki-43 was light, maneuverable and easy to fly. Although it entered service in 1941, it was obsolete when it was first introduced. Designed as a monoplane that would fly like a biplane, it did not permit major upgrades in power, armament or much protection for the pilot or fuel.
The Ki-43 was legendary for its combat performance however in East Asia in the early years of the war. Its lightweight construction, lack of armor and limited firepower, however proved to be deficient in comparison to later, more powerful Allied fighters. Its armament of two machine guns also proved inadequate against the more heavily armored Allied aircraft. Nevertheless, the Ki-43 shot down more Allied aircraft than any other Japanese fighter. Total production amounted to 5,919 aircraft
