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Ironic given the outward similarities between the Ki61 and the He100 and the fact that the earlier German design could completely outpace the later Japanese one.It does look as if the Japanese were rarely impressed by the pre-war early war European ideas on military aircraft design and philosophy (I'm thinking of their look at some German aircraft which they rejected, the Heinkel fighters for instance)
I know films are rarely a credible source for information but I recently obtained the extended Japanese cut of the film 'Tora Tora Tora'.
One of the senior Japanese pilots mentions at the start of the film that he had been to Europe and seen first hand the best German and British fighters (the Me 109 and Spitfire, IIRC) and that the Zero (described in the film at this stage as their new fighter pre Pearl Harbour attack) was superior to both.
Sadly I've not any way of checking if that was based on a historical figure or just invention for the film.
It does look as if the Japanese were rarely impressed by the pre-war early war European ideas on military aircraft design and philosophy (I'm thinking of their look at some German aircraft which they rejected, the Heinkel fighters for instance) although obviously this changed with the late war designs they did like.
I know films are rarely a credible source for information but I recently obtained the extended Japanese cut of the film 'Tora Tora Tora'.
One of the senior Japanese pilots mentions at the start of the film that he had been to Europe and seen first hand the best German and British fighters (the Me 109 and Spitfire, IIRC) and that the Zero (described in the film at this stage as their new fighter pre Pearl Harbour attack) was superior to both.
Sadly I've not any way of checking if that was based on a historical figure or just invention for the film.
It does look as if the Japanese were rarely impressed by the pre-war early war European ideas on military aircraft design and philosophy (I'm thinking of their look at some German aircraft which they rejected, the Heinkel fighters for instance) although obviously this changed with the late war designs they did like.
It was used primarily as an interceptor and CAP fighter (The spitfire in particular became the bane of high flying Ki-46 recon craft....nabbing 14 of them over the course of the Burma fighting...usually at 30,000 feet or higher), and as escort for transport runs and covering ground attack missions. It's short range did not suit it for deep penetration missions vs. JAAF airfields.
Spitfire vs. Zero is an interesting discussion; since the Spit is just about the closest match for the Zero you're going to find. The Spit is an amazing turner, but the Zero is nigh insane in the turn (the figures I remember for flat sustained turning performance is 18 seconds for a 360 in the spit, and 16 for the Zero. Given the nigh infinite variables, consider it a comparative measure.) .