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  Ki-51B Sonia Manufacture Number 959  
JAAF
26 Sentai

Aircraft History
Built by Mitsubishi, estimated assembly date of late April 1943. Delivered to the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) as Type 99 Assault Plane Shugeki / Ki-51B Sonia manufacture number 959. This was the assault version with armor plate and bomb racks with an overall dark gray paint scheme.

Wartime History
Assigned to an unknown Sentai (Flying Regiment). Likely, assigned to the 26th Hiko Sentai (26th Flying Regiment) or possibly assigned to one of the other units that also operated this plane type. Possibly, on November 30, 1943 destroyed by bombing while parked at Cape Gloucester Airfield.

Wreckage
This Sonia was destroyed at Cape Gloucester Airfield near Mount Talawe south of Tuluvu (Cape Gloucester). American bombing had destroyed its wings and a tree impact had broken the fuselage in half.

On January 27, 1944 inspected by U.S. Army TIAU (TIAU) and included in CEAR No. 35. This Sonia was the subject of a detailed technical report about the fuel tanks, armament and protective armor. The team also noted the presence of bomb arming wires that were still attached from a prior bombing mission.

References
Crashed Enemy Aircraft Report No. 35 (CEAR No. 35) - Ki-51 Sony 959
Production Record of the Type 99 Assault / Recon Plane by Jim Long
"Note 5. No. 959 was built by Mitsubishi. It was reported by CEAR #35 when found at Cape Gloucester. Crash inspectors did not report whether it was a recon version or an assault version, but they did report finding armor plate. The CEAR writer apparently added the information that it was a recon version. But his assumption was apparently wrong, as the finding of the armor by the crash inspectors would indicate and as a translated Japanese mission report that identified No. 959 as an assault bomber would show."
Tuluvu's Air War Chapter X: The Aircraft of Tuluvu by Richard Dunn

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Last Updated
November 27, 2022

 

Tech Info
Ki-51
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