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Apparently not as P-40s got creamed in the Philippines, East Indies and New Guinea. The older Ki-27 was the primary IJA fighter aircraft in the Philippines and even it did well against the Far East Air Force.
Not really true. These aircraft did hold their own until the P-38 came into service. During the summer of 42' there was close to a 1 to 1 kill loss ratio against IJNAF and JAAF units in the area. Look at the unit history of the 35th and 49th FGs for example during that period and I believe this is also mentioned in "Bloody Shambles." The AAF definitely wasn't dominating but they weren't getting "creamed," especially P-40 units by no means. The first P-38 units started flying missions at the end of 42 and the face of combat greatly changed.Apparently not as P-40s got creamed in the Philippines, East Indies and New Guinea. The older Ki-27 was the primary IJA fighter aircraft in the Philippines and even it did well against the Far East Air Force.
Now where is JoeB when we want a good IJA/IJN vs. Western AFs discussion
Jenisch i agree with you about the ki-43 but my observation of japanese shortsightedness goes back to the beginning of ww2. They did not have the industry or oil to sustain a prolonged war. They thought they could cripple the u.s. with one swift blow but to me that was shortsighted. Which admiral said we have awakened a sleeping giant? Can't remember the name right now but he had foresight. At that time they were a culture that believed a divine wind would save them from all attackers. They were arrogant enough to believe that we and other nations were of a lesser breed....they thought we would not have the stomach to fight back if we were attacked....boy were they wrong!
The "samurai mentality" was not necessarily held by many of the Japanese fighter pilots, especially from 1943 on. Those who survived till the end of the war did just that - survive. Read about Saburo Sakai or Hiroyoshi Nishizawa, gallant warriors but hardly to the strict samurai code you elude to. The atrocities of the Japanese is apples and oranges when discussing personnel who flew for either the JAAF or the IJNAF and belongs in a political discussion, something not happening in this forum.Thats great info flyboyj....guess i should specify the zeke when i discuss light armor and roman candle fuel tanks! I do stand by my observation of the samurai mentality of death before capture or surrender. They thought us weak and inferior if we surrendered to them and became POW's. A lot of POW's were beheaded by disgusted sword weilding japanese captors. I realize the kamikaze was disputed by some in jap high command and was implemented out of desperation but they still thought that more honorable than surrender. What really tweaks me is the civilians on saipan that lept to their deaths over being captured by G.I.'s. They really believed we would torture them!
A question: the Allies used much radar to bounce the Japanese planes?