B-29 Superfortress vs Ki-44 "Tojo"

Pacific Theater 1944–45

B-29 Superfortress vs Ki-44 "Tojo" cover

Description

By the time the Americans began their aerial bombardment of Japan in 1944, both the JAAF and IJNAF were spent forces. What the Japanese did have though was the Ki-44 "Tojo." Armed with two 40 mm cannon, it was the most heavily armed and feared single-seat fighter to see action against the new American bomber, the B-29 Superfortress. For the bomber crews, they had what they believed was their "ace in hole": a fully armed B-29 carried four remotely operated gun turrets and a tail gunner's position, making it the world's most advanced self-defending bomber.

In every respect the Ki-44 pilots were fighting a desperate battle. Many who made their mark did so using suicidal ramming attacks or "Taiatari." Illustrated with full color artwork, this volume examines why the Ki-44 was unable to break up bomber formations conventionally during the Pacific War, and how its ramming tactics, while terrifying, graphically revealed Japan's inability to stop the B-29.

Table of Contents

Introduction /Chronology/ Design and Development /Technical Specifications /The Strategic Situation /The Combatants /Combat /Statistics and Analysis /Aftermath /Further Reading /Index

Product details

Published Oct 24 2017
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 80
ISBN 9781472818867
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 40 b/w; 7 col
Dimensions 10 x 7 inches
Series Duel
Short code DUE 82
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Donald Nijboer

Donald Nijboer lives in Toronto, Canada and has wr…

Illustrator

Jim Laurier

Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives i…

Illustrator

Gareth Hector

Gareth Hector is a digital artist of international…

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