Aircraft ID? Japanese? (1 Viewer)

[keithwwalker]

Anyone have an ID on this wreck? It looks like a Japanese twin engine bomber, but was in Pennsylvania. Looks like a Ki-48 to me...

 

[mjfur]

Yes, it is a J1N Irving.

Nakajima J1N - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Wurger]

 

[Snautzer01]

Anyone have an ID on this wreck? It looks like a Japanese twin engine bomber, but was in Pennsylvania. Looks like a Ki-48 to me...

Where was it precisely?

 

[mjfur]

Where was it precisely?

I believe Middletown Airfield (Harrisburg, PA.) post-war renamed Olmstead Field.

• Olmsted Field AAF, Middletown 487th/496th Army Air Force Base UnitWas: Olmsted Air Force Base (1947-1968)Now: Harrisburg International Airport (IATA: MDT, ICAO: KMDT, FAA LID: MDT)

 

[Snautzer01]

How would .....etc etc.. you know by chance?

 

[mjfur]

It looks like four J1N's were captured/returned to the States with three being scrapped and one surviving at NASM.

Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko (Moonlight) IRVING

Twin-engine, conventional layout with tailwheel-type landing gear.Armament: (2) 20 mm fixed upward firing cannonEngines: (2) Nakajima Sakae 21 (NK1F, Ha35- 21) 14- cylinder air-cooled radial 1,130 horsepower (metric)Originally designed as a three-seat, daylight escort fighter air

airandspace.si.edu

The aircraft in the photo is not the survivor, but does give some clues to its identity if we can find the proper photo.

Edit: A possibility.

 

[mjfur]

How would .....etc etc.. you know by chance?

Various captured aircraft went thru Middletown for some reason. Not sure why. Just a best guess.
During WWII there weren't many large Military Air Fields in PA.. Pittsburgh, Middletown and Philadelphia, that's about it.

Edit: C/n 7334

 

[keithwwalker]

Thanks, it was at the Fleetwings factory in Bristol PA

[Damaged World War II airplane at Fleetwings Aircraft Factory field on Green Lane in Bristol Township] · Grundy Archive