Although often dismissed as ‘followers’ by many both in the lead-up to and during the Second World War, the huge Japanese aviation industry was producing outstanding designs with a different design philosophy from any other nation.
The vast expanse of the Pacific battleground meant an aircraft’s range was of paramount importance, and in fighter development, an almost pathological emphasis on manoeuvrability above all other attributes resulted in the production of comparatively light aircraft with phenomenal levels of agility until the stark reality of war caught up with Japanese air combat doctrine. Join us as we examine the finest machines produced by this idiosyncratic aerial power.
Some aircraft in our photos feature United States markings: that’s because they were captured by the Americans and evaluated at the time the pictures were taken.
10: Mitsubishi Ki-83
Mitsubishi Ki-83
The result of an Imperial Army specification calling for a high-altitude, long-range heavy fighter the Ki-83 was possibly the most aerodynamically clean radial-engined aircraft ever built. As well as recording the highest speed attained by any Japanese aircraft built during the war, the Ki-83 was blessed with remarkable agility for such a large aircraft.
Compared to its direct US equivalent, the F7F Tigercat, which also failed to see meaningful service during the war, the Ki-83 possessed a similar range but was faster, more manoeuvrable, and more heavily armed with two 30-mm and two 20-mm cannon, all firing through the nose. Unfortunately for this superlative warplane, its timing was appalling.
10: Mitsubishi Ki-83
Mitsubishi Ki-83
First flown in November 1944, tests were regularly interrupted by American air raids and of four known prototypes, three were damaged or destroyed by bombing. After the war the sole survivor was evaluated in the US and received glowing praise.
With the higher-octane fuel available in America the Ki-83 ultimately recorded a speed of 761 km/h (473 mph). Sadly, despite being earmarked for preservation the only Ki-83 to survive the war was presumed to have been scrapped in 1950.
9: Mitsubishi Ki-15
Mitsubishi Ki-15
The stylish Mitsubishi Ki-15 became a brilliant harbinger of what the Japanese aviation industry was capable of when in 1937 a single example, named Kamikaze (yes indeed – pictured), flew from Tokyo to London for the coronation of King George VI.
Despite much of the coverage of this flight turning out to be predictably obsessed with the racial make-up of the Kamikaze’s crew, a few reports managed to notice that the aircraft was a totally indigenous design.
9: Mitsubishi Ki-15
Mitsubishi Ki-15
Very few at all, however, pointed out that the 51 hour, 17 minute, 23 second flight over a distance of 15,357 kilometres occurred without any mechanical trouble and at a speed unattainable by virtually any contemporary military aircraft. This sort of thing should have acted as a sharp wake up call to Western observers (but didn’t).
The less peaceful version of the Ki-15 was used as a reconnaissance and light attack aircraft in the Second Sino-Japanese war, being arguably the first modern combat aircraft to see service in that theatre, and in developed form during the opening stages of the world war, when its speed was still good enough to render it highly difficult to intercept.
8: Mitsubishi A6M ‘Zero’
Mitsubishi A6M ‘Zero’
The Zero was one of the greatest aircraft of all time. However, unlike such aircraft as the Spitfire, it was not developed sufficiently to remain in the vanguard of international fighter design despite being produced in greater numbers than any other Japanese aircraft before or since.
Nonetheless, for a period of around two years it was, without doubt, the most psychologically shocking aircraft in the sky and the most advanced carrier fighter in the world, and one with an enormous range of 2600km (1600 miles).
8: Mitsubishi A6M ‘Zero’
Mitsubishi A6M ‘Zero’
The fact that the Zero caused a stir amongst the Allies is perplexing: the aircraft had appeared over China well before Pearl Harbor and a Zero was captured as early as 1941 which was flown and inspected by an American intelligence team. Nonetheless, the overriding response to the Zero’s capabilities once Allied fliers met it in combat was surprise.
Utterly dominant from its appearance in 1940 to the latter end of 1942, the Zero remained a dangerous opponent until the very end in the hands of an experienced pilot, though such individuals were in short supply for the latter part of the conflict due to the horrific attrition of the Pacific war. But for two glorious years, if you were Japanese at least, the Zero reigned utterly supreme over land and ocean.
7: Mitsubishi Ki-67
Mitsubishi Ki-67
On the whole, Japanese bombers of the war were not a particularly inspiring bunch. The Navy’s Mitsubishi G4M for example, whilst boasting a beautifully streamlined airframe and spectacular range, was prone to burst into flames if on the receiving end of light attacking fire. The brilliant Ki-67 therefore comes as something of a surprise and the Army were utterly delighted with it.
The contemporary Japanese definition of a ‘heavy’ bomber was not the same as that of other nations and the Ki-67 would have been described as a medium bomber in any other air force. Furthermore its published bomb load and range of 1070 kg and 2800 km (1,700 miles) respectively don’t sound that brilliant when compared with, say, the earlier B-25H Mitchell which could carry more than 2000kg and fly 2170 km. But the B-25 could either carry 2000 kg or fly 2,170 km, not both; the range quoted was only possible with a much-reduced load.
7: Mitsubishi Ki-67
Mitsubishi Ki-67
The Ki-67 on the other hand was quite capable of flying 2800 km with its 1070 kg bomb load. It could also do so at a speed the B-25 could only dream of and possessed an agility unmatched by any other medium bomber. The Hiryū was not only the finest bomber built by Japan, it was also one of the best aircraft in its class worldwide.
The Ki-67 emerged into a world where Japanese forces were everywhere being pushed back and assailed by vast quantities of Allied aircraft. The Hiryū saw considerable action during its relatively brief service, attacking the US 3rd Fleet off Formosa and the Ryukyu Islands and later being used at Okinawa, in China, French Indochina, Karafuto and against B-29 airfields on Saipan and Tinian.
6: Kawasaki Ki-100
Kawasaki Ki-100
Few fighter aircraft in history have made a successful switch from an inline powerplant to a radial but one of the finest examples of this rare breed was the Ki-100. The Ki-61 from which it was derived was a fine fighter, but unfortunately for Kawasaki, engine supply had never kept up with airframe production, and even if it had, the Ha-140 was proving highly troublesome in service.
The situation became totally untenable after a B-29 raid on 19 January 1945 effectively ended production of the Ha-140. This added considerable impetus to ongoing work to re-engineer the Ki-61 to accept the radial Ha-112 engine, which was in relatively plentiful supply and possessed much better reliability.
6: Kawasaki Ki-100
Kawasaki Ki-100
The resulting aircraft exceeded even the most optimistic expectations of the design team and utterly vindicated the decision to re-engine: although marginally slower than the Ki-61, the new Ki-100 could outclimb and outmanoeuvre the previous fighter.
Tested against a captured P-51C Mustang the Ki-100 was found to be slower but much more manoeuvrable and could out-dive the American aircraft. Given pilots of equal ability, a dogfight would always favour the Ki-100 – though it was admitted the P-51 could break off and escape at will. Against the F6F Hellcat, the Ki-100 was superior in every regard.
5: Aichi D3A
Aichi D3A
Though the Ju 87 Stuka remains the archetypical dive bomber of the war, it performed most of its deadly work on land. The D3A was the preeminent Axis dive bomber at sea, sinking more Allied warships than any other Axis aircraft, and was the first Japanese aircraft to bomb an American target.
The D3A opened its account at Pearl Harbor, but then proved that this was no fluke by sending three US destroyers to the bottom in February and March of 1942 and then causing havoc amongst Royal Navy shipping in the Indian Ocean during April, culminating in the sinking of the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes.
5: Aichi D3A
Aichi D3A
During the Indian Ocean raid, D3As achieved hits with 80% of their bombs – this was against manoeuvring ships at sea and represents an incredible success rate. These post-Pearl Harbor attacks were conducted solely by the D3A but most of the successful strikes carried out by the Aichi aircraft were conducted in concert with the Nakajima B5N torpedo bomber.
The glory days for the D3A were very much the initial two years of the war, when the surprising agility and adequate performance of the Aichi dive bomber saw it used as a fighter aircraft on occasion, but the inexorable improvement in Allied fighters saw the D3A gradually outclassed by its enemies, despite the introduction of the aerodynamically improved D3A2. Even once totally outdated the D3A could still inflict terrible damage on its enemies: a D3A sank the American destroyer USS William D Porter as late as 10 June 1945 in a kamikaze attack.
4: Kawanishi N1K-J
Kawanishi N1K-J
The Japanese happily converted heavy bombers into fighters, so it should come as no surprise that the Navy’s finest landplane fighter of the war should have derived from a floatplane. The float was removed from the powerful N1K1 maritime fighter and replaced with wheels to create the N1K-J.
The resulting aircraft proved faster than the Zero and had a better range than the J2M Raiden and was rushed into production. Compromised by the mid-wing configuration of the Kyōfū, necessary to keep it clear of spray, the initial N1K1-J required unusually long landing gear which were the source of considerable trouble but the aircraft demonstrated an excellent turn of speed and a truly remarkable manoeuvrability.
4: Kawanishi N1K-J
Kawanishi N1K-J
A redesign to eradicate the N1K-J’s most obvious flaw, its mid-mounted wing, saw the aircraft appear in a low-wing configuration as the N1K2-J Shiden-Kai with a simplified and lightened structure that consisted of fewer parts and could be built in fewer man hours whilst boasting improved performance. In combat, the Shiden proved formidable, even against the latest Allied fighters.
The reputation of the Shiden was enhanced by the 343 Kōkūtai, a unit formed of the Navy’s most experienced surviving fighter pilots and equipped with the N1K2-J. Even during the chaotic conditions prevalent over Japan during 1945, the 343 Kōkūtai exacted a considerable toll from the enemy and the N1K2-Js of the unit were the equal of any Allied fighter they encountered.
3: Kawanishi H8K
Kawanishi H8K
The Pacific during the Second World War was the largest battlefield in history, yet all but a tiny fraction of it was water. As a direct result the flying boat was of particular value in this realm, and the best flying boat fielded during the conflict was the Kawanishi H8K: the most heavily defended and fastest flying-boat serving with any of the combatants.
The H8K’s impressive range allowed it to bomb targets at distances of up to 1850 km (1,150 miles) in missions up to 18 hours in duration and even greater distances could be flown when the H8K operated in concert with supply ships from which they could refuel and arm, effectively conferring a transoceanic range.
3: Kawanishi H8K
Kawanishi H8K
Unlike most other Japanese aircraft, the H8K was a difficult target for Allied flyers. It was fast (for its size), well armoured, and well protected possessing a highly innovative fire suppression system for its huge fuel tanks. It was also prodigiously well-armed, the H8K2, bristling with five(!) 20-mm cannon and five 7.7mm machine guns.
Offensive armament was similarly potent; the H8K could carry two Type 91 torpedoes or up to 2000kg of bombs or mines. Meanwhile, Kawanishi was renamed Shin Meiwa in 1949 (building cars under the Daihatsu name from 1951) and eventually returned to flying boat construction with the PS-1 which entered service in 1971, a direct successor to the mighty H8K.
2: Nakajima Ki-84
Nakajima Ki-84
On its combat debut in China the Ki-84 displayed all the virtues of earlier Japanese fighters but possessed none of their shortcomings. It was fast, powered by the mighty 18-cylinder Nakajima Homare with water-methanol injection and delivering 2000 hp at take-off; well armed with two 12.7-mm Ho-103 machine guns in the fuselage and two 20-mm Ho-5 cannon in the wings.
Tough, featuring self-sealing fuel tanks and armour protection, both largely absent from previous Japanese fighters; and manoeuvrable: on its debut the Ki-84 could outclimb and outmanoeuvre any Allied aircraft then in service. It couldn’t last, of course. Allied bombing took their toll and Nakajima was forced to rely ever more on unskilled labour such as students.
2: Nakajima Ki-84
Nakajima Ki-84
Whilst utilising increasingly poor-quality raw materials and components, hydraulics failed, the Homare engine proved troublesome, and undercarriage legs sometimes snapped on landing. At the same time, combat attrition saw the quality of Japan’s fighter pilots inexorably dwindle. Nonetheless, a Ki-84 in decent shape gave even a mediocre pilot a fighting chance against the ever-increasing hordes of excellent Allied aircraft.
Despite noting that ‘very little effort has been made to make the pilot’s job easy or safe’, the US report on a captured Ki-84 states ‘the handling and control characteristics of the aircraft are definitely superior to those of comparable American fighters’, concluding that it ‘may be compared favourably to the P-51H and P-47N’.
1: Mitsubishi Ki-46
Mitsubishi Ki-46
Reconnaissance aircraft seldom get the attention they deserve, performing essential work, usually alone and unarmed. In the Ki-46 the Japanese possessed the world’s finest example of this type of aircraft, which proved difficult to intercept throughout the conflict. As late as September 1944, even a Spitfire Mk VIII required the removal of armour and a pair of machine guns to achieve the performance necessary to intercept it.
Curiously, the Ki-46 programme started with the decidedly unimpressive Ki-46-I which handled poorly, failed to meet performance estimates and was used largely for evaluation and training. An engine change to the Mitsubishi Ha-102 featuring single stage, two-speed supercharging transformed the aircraft and when the Ki-46-II entered service in July 1941 its performance rendered it immune from interception.
1: Mitsubishi Ki-46
Mitsubishi Ki-46
Throughout 1942 and 1943, the Ki-46 swanned about in near-perfect safety, with only an occasional unlucky or careless example falling to Allied fighters. The Ki-46-II was built in the greatest numbers of any variant and remained in service until the end of the war. By this time its performance advantage had diminished but it still possessed a decent chance of survival in Allied-controlled airspace, which is more than can be said for the majority of Japanese aircraft.
The improved Ki-46-III was faster still due to a weight reduction programme, the adoption of more powerful Ha-112 engines with direct fuel injection, and a revised fuselage design resulting in near-perfect streamlining. In this form it could achieve a maximum speed a shade over 640 km/h (400mph).
1: Mitsubishi Ki-46
Mitsubishi Ki-46
The Ki-46 was developed further into the turbo-supercharged Ki 46-IV. Although it never entered production, its performance was incredible: in February 1945 two of the prototypes flew from Peking to Yokota in 3 hours 15 minutes, covering 1,430 miles at an average of 700 km/h (435 mph). By contrast the cruising speed of the contemporary, and much-vaunted, Mosquito PR Mk XVI was 512 km/h (318mph) and its absolute maximum 655 km/h (407mph).
Loved by its crews and respected by its enemies, the Ki-46, designer Tumio Kubo’s masterpiece, was for most of the war in a class of its own.
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