Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa
The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa was a single-engine land-based tactical fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II.
The Allied reporting name was “Oscar”.
Like the Zero, the radial-engined Ki-43 was light and easy to fly and became legendary for its combat performance in East Asia in the early years of the war. It could out manoeuvre any opponent, but did not initially have armour or self-sealing fuel tanks, and its armament was poor until its final version, which was produced as late as 1945. Allied pilots often reported that the nimble Ki-43s were difficult targets but burned easily or broke apart with few hits.
Total production amounted to 5,919 aircraft. Many of these were used during the last months of the war for kamikaze missions against the American fleet.
Japanese allies Thailand and Manchukuo also used the Ki-43 during the war. Post war Ki-43s abandoned by the Japanese were repaired and used by several air forces. Click on the links below for photos.