Ki-61 and Ki-100 Aces cover
Quantity
In stock
£15.29 RRP £16.99 Website price saving £1.70 (10%)

This product is usually dispatched within 10-14 days

Description

The story of the elite Japanese Army Air force (JAAF) aces that flew the Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien (Swallow), and the Ki-100 Goshikisen in the Pacific Theatre of World War 2.

The former, codenamed 'Tony' by the allies, was a technically excellent aircraft, possessing power, stability and a good rate of climb - differing radically from the usual Japanese philosophy of building light, ultra-manoeuvrable fighters. Its pilots soon realised, however, that the type was plagued by a number of dangerous mechanical issues. Then as the war moved relentlessly closer to Japan's doorstep, a desperate, expedient innovation to the Ki-61 airframe by fitting it with a radial instead of inline engine resulted in one of the finest fighters of World War 2 - the Ki-100.

This book uses the latest findings to provide a gripping account of some of the most remarkable and hard-pressed fighter pilots of the war. It reveals how these men, unlike so many of their unfortunate late-war colleagues, could surprise Allied aircraft in high-performance fighters and claim successes in the face of enormous odds.

Table of Contents

Introduction

A Difficult Birth
The Rush to Combat - New Guinea 1943-44
Attrition - The Philippines and South-East Asia
The Noose Tightens - The Island Campaigns
A Desperate Battle - The Air Defence of Japan
Seven Week Fighter - the Ki-100

Appendices

Product details

Published 20 Nov 2015
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781780962955
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 90 b/w; 32 col
Dimensions 248 x 184 mm
Series Aircraft of the Aces
Short code ACE 114
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Nicholas Millman

Nicholas Millman is one of Britain’s leading resea…

Resources

Book Vote

Tell us what titles you would like to see published by Osprey, then vote for your favourites in our monthly book vote!

Related Titles

Sign up for Osprey membership for access to thousands of plane profiles, maps, battle scenes and more. Plus up to 30% off website purchases

Free UK delivery for orders £30 and over