Ki-46 discussion

[tomo pauk]

Welcome here.

 

[nuuumannn]

This is the case in general for a lot of stuff in museums by the way,

Yup, I worked in aviation museums for nine years in various capacities. As for the RAFM's Ki-46, I can assure you it's not one of these. It's been in complete condition from the moment it arrived in the UK. It's unique status is well known by the museum staff and the heritage groups that have an interest in that sort of thing. As I mentioned, it did undergo an extensive restoration.

 

[nuuumannn]

I've got a Ki-46 and Ki-46 probable, shot down by RAF & RNZAF Buffaloes.

Fixed it! Damned Australians, they take credit for everything we do, even the rubbish stuff like Russell Crowe... (yes, he was born in New Zealand)

The type of aircraft that Sgt Killick attacked on 14 January is unconfirmed - Rudge in Air-To-Air refers to it as a Japanese 'bomber'; "to 'Knock some bits off', but his attack was interrupted by a Zero, which had crept up behind him, so he wisely vacated the area."

 

[MikeMeech]

Welcome here.

Hi
Thank you and fubar for the welcome.

Mike

 

[Schweik]

Hi
My first post here but I found these details a bit odd for Spitfires as according to the 'Third volume of 'Bloody Shambles series' there are 9 Ki-46 of 81st Sentai shot down by Spitfires, 4 by Mk. Vc and 5 by Mk. VIII. Details include the names of the Ki-46 pilots as well as RAF, so appear to be confirmed.
Dates are 8 Nov 1943 - at 25,000 ft by 615 Sqn., 10 Nov 1943 by 615 Sqn., 16 Nov 1943 - at 26,000 ft by 615 Sqn. 16 Jan 1944 by 615 Sqn. all Spitfire Mk. Vc.
26 Apr 1944 at 32,000 ft by 81 Sqn., 28 Mar 1944 by 607 Sqn., 1 May 1944 by 152 Sqn., 15 Feb 1945 by 152 Sqn., 18 Feb 1945 - at 28,000 ft. by 17 Sqn. all Sptfire Mk. VIII.

I hope that is of interest

Mike

Great details and welcome to the forum.

I don't think that is a huge number though it ads up to about 3 per year. Presumably they were running more recon missions than that.

 

[spicmart]

Why was the Ki-46 never developed into a fully-fledged twin-engined fighter in the vein of the DH 103 Hornet?
Was the step to instead design the Ki-83 necessary or could Mitsubishi have achieved the same with properly upgrading the Dinah?

 

[Schweik]

Ki-46 wasn't very maneuverable, is basically the problem.

 

[Capt. Vick]

Isn't there one in a museum Canada somewhere?

 

[Juha3]

Why was the Ki-46 never developed into a fully-fledged twin-engined fighter in the vein of the DH 103 Hornet?
Was the step to design the Ki-83 necessary or could Mitsubishi have achieved the same with properly upgrading the Dinah?

There was a fighter version of Dinah, modified Ki-46-III known as Ki-46-III KAI. Two 20mm cannon in nose and one obliquely mounted 37 mm cannon firing forward and upward between cockpits. But as Schweik wrote Ki-46 wasn't very maneuverable, it was not even a good climber. So the only reason for the Ki-46-III KAI was B-29s, at least it had a good high altitude speed and long loiter time.

 

[tomo pauk]

Ki-46 carried 500 US gals of fuel. Cut the fuel load down to 250 gals for 1500 lbs lower weight? Should've improved both maneuverability and rate of climb.

 

[Mike Williams]

Ki-46 wasn't very maneuverable, is basically the problem.

What source(s) led you to that opinion/conclusion? Thanks in advance.

 

[Mike Williams]

Hi
My first post here but I found these details a bit odd for Spitfires as according to the 'Third volume of 'Bloody Shambles series' there are 9 Ki-46 of 81st Sentai shot down by Spitfires, 4 by Mk. Vc and 5 by Mk. VIII. Details include the names of the Ki-46 pilots as well as RAF, so appear to be confirmed.
Dates are 8 Nov 1943 - at 25,000 ft by 615 Sqn., 10 Nov 1943 by 615 Sqn., 16 Nov 1943 - at 26,000 ft by 615 Sqn. 16 Jan 1944 by 615 Sqn. all Spitfire Mk. Vc.
26 Apr 1944 at 32,000 ft by 81 Sqn., 28 Mar 1944 by 607 Sqn., 1 May 1944 by 152 Sqn., 15 Feb 1945 by 152 Sqn., 18 Feb 1945 - at 28,000 ft. by 17 Sqn. all Sptfire Mk. VIII.

I hope that is of interest

Mike

At the risk of getting in the weeds here, can you (or other board members) flesh out the info on the Spitfire VIII claims? I have the 17 Squadron claim of 18 Feb 1945 (see attachment) in which the pilots involved identified the aircraft as an Irving. I'm interested to know what Japanese aircraft and pilot were lost that might coincide with that claim.

 

[MikeMeech]

At the risk of getting in the weeds here, can you (or other board members) flesh out the info on the Spitfire VIII claims? I have the 17 Squadron claim of 18 Feb 1945 (see attachment) in which the pilots involved identified the aircraft as an Irving. I'm interested to know what Japanese aircraft and pilot were lost that might coincide with that claim.

Hi
'Air War for Burma' by C. Shores, page 333 has the following on it:

So according to this source the aircraft has been identified as a Ki 46 of 81st Sentai with Lt Hono as pilot.

Mike

 

[Mike Williams]

Hi
'Air War for Burma' by C. Shores, page 333 has the following on it:
View attachment 646924
So according to this source the aircraft has been identified as a Ki 46 of 81st Sentai with Lt Hono as pilot.

Mike

Thanks!

 

[MiTasol]

Ki-46 carried 500 US gals of fuel. Cut the fuel load down to 250 gals for 1500 lbs lower weight? Should've improved both maneuverability and rate of climb.

And add guns and ammo and the structure to support them and access them and you could be back close to the original weight

 

[tomo pauk]

And add guns and ammo and the structure to support them and access them and you could be back close to the original weight

Original weight was increased by hundreds of pounds when people just added guns and ammo on the existing Ki-46s, unlike with my suggestion.

 

[Juha3]

Ki-46 carried 500 US gals of fuel. Cut the fuel load down to 250 gals for 1500 lbs lower weight? Should've improved both maneuverability and rate of climb.

When modified to Ki-46-III KAI the forward fuel tank and the camera installations were removed.

 

[Juha3]

What source(s) led you to that opinion/conclusion? Thanks in advance.

Hello Mike!
At least Francillion in his Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War and Green and Swanborough in their article " Mitsubishi Ki.46... ...the Aesthetic Asiatic" in Air International Nov 1980 mentioned it

 

[buffnut453]

Fixed it! Damned Australians, they take credit for everything we do, even the rubbish stuff like Russell Crowe... (yes, he was born in New Zealand)

The type of aircraft that Sgt Killick attacked on 14 January is unconfirmed - Rudge in Air-To-Air refers to it as a Japanese 'bomber'; "to 'Knock some bits off', but his attack was interrupted by a Zero, which had crept up behind him, so he wisely vacated the area."

Here's one that I think we can claim as confirmed, shot down by 243 Sqn Buffalos on 10 Jan 1942 by Sgts Charlie Kronk (pictured, wearing the Mae West) and Bert Sam Wipiti, the latter being of Maori heritage. Alas, the image has been rather badly colourized.

For the record, although both pilots were New Zealanders, they were operating in a regular RAF Squadron.

 

[Mike Williams]

Hello Mike!
At least Francillion in his Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War and Green and Swanborough in their article " Mitsubishi Ki.46... ...the Aesthetic Asiatic" in Air International Nov 1980 mentioned it

Thank you Juha.