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  Ki-61-Ic Hei Tony Manufacture Number 3010  
JAAF
68th Sentai
or 78th Sentai

Aircraft History
Built by Kawasaki at Kagamigahara during November 1943. Uncoded serial number 10. This aircraft was armed with a pair of imported German Mauser MG 151/20 cannons and to distinguish these models, a base number of 3000 was added to the uncoded serial number.

Delivered to the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) as Type 3 Fighter / Ki-61-Ic Tony manufacture number 3010. Armament configuration "Hei" with 2 x 12.7mm Ho-103 machine cannons in the nose with 2 x Mauser MG 151/20 cannons.

Wartime History
In December 1943, this aircraft was likely flown from Japan via Okinawa to Formosa to Clark Field to Davao to Mapanget (Manado) to Sorong to Babo Airfield before arriving at Boram Airfield near Wewak. Assigned to either the 68th Sentai or 78th Sentai. No known markings. This aircraft also might have operated from Hollandia or Tadji (Aitape) or other forward airfields in New Guinea.

Mission History
During February crashed on Umboi Island (Rooke). The precise date and pilot who crash landed this aircraft are unknown.

Wreckage
Afterwards, the crash site of this aircraft was investigated by Technical Air Intelligence Unit (TAIU) and noted the manufacture number 3010 and estimated the date of the crash to be February 1944. Also, they observed the aircraft had improved self-sealing fuel tanks and was armed with Mauser 20mm cannons in the wings.

References
Production figures of the Kawasaki Ki-61 Tony by Jim Long
Thanks to Jim Long and Richard Dunn for additional information

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Last Updated
September 18, 2021

 

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