Japanese Jug!

[rogerwilko]

 

[fubar57]

"Captured" Ki-44 Nakajima Shoki, American code name Tojo.

Geo

 

[GrauGeist]

That KI-44 was probably flown from the USAAF evaluation field in Australia, where many Japanese aircraft ended up during the later part of the war in the Pacific.

 

[vikingBerserker]

I never really noticed how odd the tail looked.

 

[Njaco]

What is this one?

.

 

[Milosh]

Bf109 with radial engine.

 

[GrauGeist]

What is this one?

.
View attachment 265322

That's Bf109V21, one of two radial engined project. The V21 had a P&W radial, the other (Bf109X) had a BMW801 with Fw190 cowling.

 

[fubar57]

What is this one?

.
View attachment 265322

Nice Chris, and thanks Milosh. Off to the Google machine to read up on that.

Geo

 

[Njaco]

They look similar, don't they?

 

[Aozora]

This fighter, the A7M1 "Reppu" (designed as a replacement for the A6M although built only as a prototype; codename "Sam" by the Allies) was a more likely candidate to be the "Japanese Jug", in physical size and looks:

 

[Juha]

IMHO Ki-87 is the best candidate for the Japanese Jug.

Juha

 

[fubar57]

Geo

 

[GrauGeist]

In terms of appearance, the IJN's Kawanishi N1K looked similar to a P-47:

So did the IJA's Nakajima KI-84:

And to a certain degree, so did the IJA's Kawasaki KI-100:

 

[zoomar]

How dare you compare a sleek beauty like the Ki-84 to the P-47? Seriously, as Juha noted, the Ki-87 is the best candidate for the Japanese Jug, down to the in fuselage supercharger.

 

[GrauGeist]

How dare you compare a sleek beauty like the Ki-84 to the P-47? Seriously, as Juha noted, the Ki-87 is the best candidate for the Japanese Jug, down to the in fuselage supercharger.

I would have to disagree, regarding the KI-87...the P-47 was "chunky" where the KI-87 had more curvatures, especially at the cowling.

The KI-84's large, angular cowling, radiator flaps, 4-bladed prop and tapering fuselage fall closer to the P-47's profile.

 

[Capt. Vick]

Here. Here. I agree!

 

[Njaco]

I would have to disagree, regarding the KI-87...the P-47 was "chunky" where the KI-87 had more curvatures, especially at the cowling.

View attachment 265370

The KI-84's large, angular cowling, radiator flaps, 4-bladed prop and tapering fuselage fall closer to the P-47's profile.

Looks like a pregnant Bf 109.......

 

[GrauGeist]

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

I agree Dave! Even the tail section comes closer to matching the Thunderbolt.

 

[Juha]

Ki-87 had a turbo and had the max speed of 697km/h, more or less like P-47D, that's the base of my reasoning.

Juha