JAAF
? Sentai

Marty Bohls 1944

via Bob Rocker

Aircraft History
Manufacture number 6430 uncoded serial number 1430 was built by Nakajima in January 1944. Exact Manufacture Number is unconfirmed.

Wartime History
Operated from Hollandia. Wartime history or unit unknown. Captured by US Army when the area was liberated in late April 1944.

Wreclage
One of two Oscars repaired by ground crews from the 80th FS. This Oscar likely contained parts from several wrecks used in the restoration. Included parts of at least two aircraft, with manufacture numbers: 6430 and Ki-43 Oscar 5894 (either from production or repair by American forces.)

Technical Evaluation
Later, it was sent to the United States for technical evaluation. The plane was identified by the Wright Field technical intelligence unit as T2-6430. But this number is not the original Japanese manufacture number.

Jim Long adds:
"he EAA Ki-43-II is unique in having the cockpit enclosure from a Ki-43-I
grafted onto it. This probably happened when the Americans rebuilt it and couldn't find a serviceable canopy of the right type. The serial number purported to be that of the EAA Ki-43 is 6430, but it is doubtful. I think the real manufacture number of the EAA Ki-43 is lost to history. If you have FAOW No. 13 of 1988, you can see the Ki-43-II with the Ki-43-I cockpit enclosure in the upper photo on page 70. I believe this is the plane which became the EAA Ki-43-II. It had red or blue stars on its wheels, large rudder stripes, the star-and-bars insignia set well back on the sides of the fuselage, a fuselage flare in an unknown color along the right side (maybe both sides), and a unit insignia on its cowling (perhaps on both sides). "

Today
After the war, this aircraft was in storage. Later, donated to National Air & Space Museum (NASM).

Refurbished by the Wisconsin Air National Guard and painted in the markings of the 63rd Sentai with 13 on the tail and a white fuselage band. (The 63rd Sentai was one of four Sentai flying Oscars at Hollandia).

Displayed at the EAA Museum in Oshkosh until 2004. Presently, on loan to the Museum of Flight.

References
Thanks to Jim Long for Ki-43 production data.

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