Four well known shots this week, but great detail.
Built by Kawasaki at their Kagamigahara plant during April 1943 with "Kou" armament of 2 x 12.7mm Ho-103 machine guns in the fuselage forward decking and two 7.7 mm Type 89 machine guns in the wings. Uncoded serial number 163.

Aircraft had two vertical fuselage bands in white. There was one eagle marking on the left side of the cockpit, and white fuselage band indicating the 2nd company. Hinomarus were outlined in white then over painted, and red four-pointed stars over each wing gun port.

This aircraft was flown by Captain Shogo Takeuchi, commander of the 2nd Company 68th Sentai. Takeudchi was later KIA at Hansa Bay flying another Ki-61.
Abandoned at Cape Gloucester Airfield (Tuluvu) probably due to mechanical trouble, probably around November 1943. It was found hidden at the airstrip on December 30, 1943 by USMC at the airstrip and reported to intelligence. Submerged up to its wings in recent floods.

Technical Evaluation In Australia
Known as the 'Cape Gloucester Ki-61' this aircraft was dismantled and shipped aboard an LST to Eagle Farm. Assigned TAIU code XJ003, stripped to bare metal and American markings were applied. It was refurbished and tested during the first half of 1944. Flight tests in Australia were cut short due to metal cuttings in the engine.

Technical Evaluation In USA
It was sent to Anacostia NAS in June 1944. It was concluded that the aircraft was a pleasant aircraft to fly but 'a great deal of maintenance was required during the trials it seems likely that the Japanese found it difficult to keep the 'Tony' in commission." Other components went to other places for testing. The pilot's armor plating (10.3mm armor) were conducted at Aberdeen Proving Ground. It could be easily defeated by .50 caliber fire and in one test at close range even failed to stop a .30 caliber round. These tests were carried out directly against the freestanding armor. Believed to have been scrapped at the end of the war, or in the later 1940s.




Regards Duggy

Two this week, of P-38J-43-28650-Sweet-Sue-27thFS-1stFG-15thAF.

Nice, I like how that second photo really shows off all those little details and weathering.

Ten this week from the "Flight Archives" of Bristol Beaufighter IF, X7543, on a test flight from its factory at Weston-super-Mare.












Regards Duggy

Nice shots. I've never really paid any attention to night-fighter cammo, it looks like it has some sort of low-vis roundels on the upper surfaces only?

And apart from the great view of the plane, also notice the backround. Some very nice cloud "setup". Good reference images for those who wish to paint aerial scenes with undercast and overcast clouds.

Due to X-mas, I forgot.
So P-40F-Warhawks-33rd-FG-take-off-From-USS-Chenango-CVE-28-during-Operation-Torch.

Regards Duggy

Taken in San Diego circa 1963, an SP-5B Marlin of Patrol Squadron (VP) 48 with the seaplane tender Pine Island (AV 12)
These aircraft & ships soldiered on till the Vietnam war.




Happy New Year everyone.

Four wonderful shots this week.
Taken at March Field C.A. on July 23rd 1934.




Regards Duggy

Aaaa... the golden age of flight. Thanks for sharing!

eMeL