Warbirds Online features one of the rarer types of Japanese aircraft surviving from WWII the Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (“Peregrine Falcon”). The Ki-43 was a single-engine land-based tactical fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War 11. Total production amounted to 5,919 aircraft and it was well regarded by its pilots and the allied airmen who flew against it.
It was even lighter than the Zero fighter, with essentially the same engine and was extremely maneuverable. Despite considerable success early in the war the type was rapidly overtaken by allied aircraft technology and was no match for later allied types such as the P51D, Corsair and Hellcat. The Japanese also had difficulties in maintaining sufficient experienced pilots to fly its aircraft.
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- Oscar wreck no 3 Schyville NSW 1980s
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- Oscar wreck no 3 Schyville NSW 1980s
There are very few survivors of the type, with 7 known aircraft and several partial airframes in existence as well as 3 or 4 replicas constructed from original identities in the USA. In Australia, at least 4 Ki-43’s have been imported over the years. The most complete and famous of the aircraft is Ki-43-I Oscar Manufacture Number 750.
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- Oscar Number 750 – Sid Marshall 1960s
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- Oscar Number 750 – Sid Marshall 1960s
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- Oscar Number 750 -The Oaks 1980s
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- Oscar Number 750 side view – The Oaks 1980s
Manufactured in 1942 by Nakajima at Ota Japan and she operated in PNG from 1942 until 1945 when she was badly damaged in a landing accident at Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul, Papua New Guinea (PNG) but was repaired and then discovered by allied forces and eventually allocated to the Australian War Memorial. In 1953 the aircraft was sold on to Australian collector Bob Curtiss then again sold to Sid Marshall in 1962 and was placed on display at his collection at Bankstown. In 1980, the Oscar passed on to Jack Davidson and was stored at The Oaks NSW before being resold to Col Pay in 1985. The restoration was commenced by Col Pay, but in 1994 the aircraft was resold to The Alpine Fighter collection in NZ who completed its restoration even briefly hopping the aircraft into the air in 1996 at Wanaka. In 1999 the Oscar was sold to its present owner Paul Allen and resides in Seattle at the Flying Heritage Collection and although not flown, is believed capable of flight.
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- Oscar Number 750 on display at Bankstown
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- Ki-43-I Oscar No 750 – Col Pay’s Scone 1980s
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- Ki-43-I Oscar No 750 – Col Pay’s workshop
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- Ki-43-I Oscar No 750 – Col Pay’s workshop
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- Ki-43-I Oscar No 750 at Col Pay’s Scone 1980s
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- Ki-43-I Oscar No 750 engine at Col Pay’s
Three other Oscars were recovered from PNG and passed to the Australian War Memorial (AWM) in the 1980’s. These included Ki-43-II Oscar Manufacture Number 5465 which is on display in two locations – the AWM itself displays the engine and rear fuselage whilst the bulk of the aircraft is at the AWM Trealor Technology Centre in the ACT. Two other wrecks held by the AWM were traded at some stage with one going to the UK and it’s believed the other one is in the USA. All 3 of these aircraft were much damaged wrecks but considered restorable.
Warbirds Online was lucky to have visited these aircraft at a number of locations in Australia over many years and are pleased to present these images from our collection.
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- Ki-43-I Oscar No 750 Wanaka 1990s-image source unknown
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- Ki-43-II Oscar 5465 Wings in storage at AWM Annex
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- Ki-43-II Oscar 5465 fuselage & engine at AWM
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- Ki-43-II Oscar No 5465 at the AWM
Whilst there is not at present a complete aircraft on display in Australia, there is potential to restore the AWM aircraft or one may be sourced overseas for restoration. We can but hope. In the meantime we can view the Paul Allen machine with its very strong Australian connection as the “One that got away”.
© John Parker 2016
My Japanese friend (who I met in Townsville in the 70s, who recently visited us here in Townsville with his daughter and who now lives in New York and has a business providing transport services to Japanese visitors/clients in New York) took photos (at the departure lounge of the Townsville Airport) one of which featured (apparently) a HAYABUSA. Yesterday I was contacted by a friend of his asking the whereabouts of the/a HAYABUSA. Seems this friend of my friend knows of a Japanese collector (in/near Kagoshima who is apparently interested in acquiring one. This collector recently (this week) had a ZERO (ex Solomons) flown to Japan, which he had bought (from USA) for 350M Yen.
So I am seeking your concurrence/approval to pass on the info contained in your feature, and if possible a name/contact details of someone/people who could be contacted relating to the potential acquisition of a HAYABUSA.
Hi Peter
The aircraft in this article is the only complete one in Australia and we are not aware of any Hayabusa aircraft ever being at Townsville. Should you wish to acquire such an aircraft perhaps you can contact the Flying Heritage collection at http://www.flyingheritage.com/ or enquire with Plantium Fighters Sales who sell aircraft at http://www.platinumfighters.com/.
Kind regards
John
Thanks John, I will pass on the information.
The caption below the photo of the Hayabusa aircraft (with USA insignia) on the wall in the Townsville airport says it was taken in early 1944 and is believed to have been the 1st fully operational Oscar to be flown to Australia. I can send you a copy if you let me know an email address etc.
Regards
Peter
A Ki43-I was operated by Technical Air Investigation Unit South West pacific Area, identity XJ002, captured at Lae, New Guinea on 16/9/1943. Shipped to Brisbane, arriving 4/11/2016. First flight at Eagle Farm, on 17/3/1944. Further flights until 27/4/1944.
Fate unknown.
The Texas Aircraft Factory were rebuilding a number of Ki43 (4?) from wreckage, with American engines.
Two are with Jerry Yagen at Virginia Beach.
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=462298
Hi Adam
Thanks for sending us the information.
kind regards
Joh
During the 1980’s i had a farm outside of Scone NSW. i had a Winton Sapphire ultralight and hung around the airport with my flying friends at the Scone Aero Club. I was at Col Pay’s hanger one day in about 1998 talking to a mechanic (? John Jacques or similar name) who was working on the Nakajima Oscar which had been placed on stands to fit the undercarriage. My recollection is that the Oscar had only recently been assembled from the bits that had lain around for a long time. The aircraft was still in the dilapidated condition that is pictured in your photos. I believe the mechanic told me that the Oscar was either the last one in restorable condition or one of the last few. A group of about 7 people led by Col Pay came into the hangar and went over to the Oscar. With Col was a Japanese man in his 70’s or 80’s, a couple of other younger Japanese men and a few Australians. As i recall the group spent time inspecting the Oscar and i think taking some photos. I asked the LAME guy who the obviously respected older Japanese man was. He said “he was the bloke who designed the Oscar. I had to go and get some stuff in town so i left at that point. I went back to Sydney at the end of the weekend and dont remember further conversations about this event. Years later i remembered this encounter and did some research which revealed the Oscar was designed by Hideo Itokawa who had after the war gone on to work in space programs and indeed had an asteroid named after him. The Japanese space agency sent a probe to collect samples from the asteroid in the 1990’s which was named Hyabusa (peregrine falcon) the same as the Nakajima Ki43. I dont know how correct was the info given to me by the mechanic but for me it was a remarkable incident. I think given the old blokes age the nature of his examination of the aircraft and the deference shown him by the group it is highly likely that he was Itokawa.
Hi James
Thanks for getting in touch. This is certainly very interesting information, we have passed on your email to Ross Pay. Should you wish to contact Ross to discuss you can contact him at Pays Air Service http://www.paysairservice.com.au/aircraft/airservice/aerial_fire_fighting.asp
Kind regards
John
Hi, gents,I wondered, what happened to that Oscar?-it used to be at Marshal’s,Bankstown,with a spitfire,and a ME_109g–the Oscar,was displayed,as a “Zero”-I used to “joy-ride” with Mr.Marshal,in the 60s–& work nearby-I have a photo,of myself,with the Oscar,sitting in the open,at “the Oaks”-when I asked “the owner”what’s happening with the”Oscar”,they were very secretive,& gave me the”brushoff”–about 1980,I saw the ME-109-going down Canterbury Rd–on the back of a truck!!-off to England,but was stopped at the docks,and for years,was stored at a Gov.depot-Regent’spark-Sydney.I sat in it,when my arse,was smaller!!–Pity about the”GARISH”-restoration,of the “Oscar”–pity it left Aussie—
Hi John
Thanks for the information.
Kind regards
John
hello
I do skins for IL2 sim game . I use Osprey military books amongst others for references . My question here is how did a pilot identify another pilot from the same squadron ? IJA unlike IJN did not use serial numbers on the rudder and the prints i have reffer to one plane of a squadron so if it has a yellow band what did everyone else in the same squadron have for color ?
Hi Amin
I am not sure if this helps but please check this post on the artwork on these aircraft – it may help to explain some other forms of identification. https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4wr2fl/did_japanese_planes_had_nosebomber_art_on_their/
Other than this the formal designation of the Organization of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service is here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organization_of_the_Imperial_Japanese_Navy_Air_Service
kind regards
John
I believe I may have a propella from the Oscar 43. I found it in West Papua 1980 near the small village of Sarmi. I would like help to identify it as being of this aircraft.
The Texas Aircraft Factory did build 3 complete Oscars in the 1980-1890 period. Three partial hulks, very damaged came there from Alaska islands. Not restorable. Herb Tischler completed 3 new ones but no original parts usable. Two sets of riddled wings and various destroyed pieces of fuselage I photographed outside of hanger and many pictures of new fuselage and the first completed plane sitting there among the hundreds of new parts. All made there. Herb is long dead now, a shame. He also built 4 ME 262’s three single seat and one trainer. I saw the first one during shake down flights. Very fast!!!! Used modern turbo fan engines. About twice original thrust.