TROTSKIY is up

[Don Boose]

The caption of Ki-44 version 1.7-70 (syouki70_v17) reads: “Ki-44-IIC [Ki44-II Hei], 70th Air Regiment [Hiko Dai 70 Sentai], 3d Company [Dai 3 Chutai], June 1945 [Showa Year 20], Chiba Prefecture, Kashiwa Air Base [Chiba-ken Kashiwa Hikojo].”

Don

[Frank Kelle]

Hello! Just for information: a new Version of the Syouki(47 V.17) ist online, again the date of the page has not changed...
Happy eastern to all of you!

[Don Boose]

Thanks, Frank.

The Easter offering from Trotskiy (syouki47_v17) is Version 1.7-47 of the Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki (Demon Queller), Allied Code Name “Tojo,” aircraft Tail Number 32, of the 47th Air Regiment’s special attack unit, the Shinten Seikutai. The caption reads: “Ki-44-II, 47th Air Regiment [Hiko Dai 47 Sentai], Sky-shaking Air Superiority Unit [Shinten Seikutai], Aircraft Number 32 [32 ?ki Note: The first character means “number.” It’s pronounced “ho” in Korean, but I do not know how it is pronounced in Japanese.], December 1944 [Showa Year 19], Tokyo Metropolitan Region, Narimasu Airfield [Tokyo-to, Narimasu Hikojo].”

The 47th Sentai was formed from the 47th Independent Air Company [47 Dokoritsu Hiko Chutai], also known as the Kawasemi Butai [Kingfisher Unit], which was stationed in Saigon at the beginning of the war and was the first unit to take the Ki-44 into combat in Malaya. After service in Burma and China, the 47th was returned to Japan in April 1942 for air defense duties in the Tokyo metropolitan area as part of the 10th Air Division [10 Hiko Shidan]. In October 1943, it became a full Sentai. In November 1944, the Shinten Seikutai [literally, Sky shaking air superiority unit, but sometimes translated as the “Sky Shadow” unit] was formed to conduct ramming attacks against B-29 bombers. The emblem on the side of the fuselage is the Shinten symbol, the center part of which is very similar to the emblem used by the 47th when it was known as the Kawasemi Butai.


Don

[serkanomer]

Originally Posted by smsuski

Hello everyone,
Mr trotskiy has put a model up. The first japanese one.
M Suski
trotskiy.moo.jp

HI. How are u. I hope, u are fine

[Don Boose]

Over a cup of coffee in the Army War College cafeteria, my friend, Colonel Nakamura, told me the pronunciation of the Japanese Kanji "号" is "go." So the term "32号機" [Aircraft Number 32] is pronounced sanjuni [32] goki [machine number].

I know you have all been waiting eagerly for that information. Now I can get back to work.

切磋琢磨！

Don

[Don Boose]

I have just taken delivery of Koji Takaki annd Henry Sakaida's book, B-29 Hunters of the JAAF (http://www.ospreypublishing.com/auth...p?author=A2973).

There is a painting of Ki-44-II, Tail Number 32 of the Shinten Seikutai of the 47th Sentai at Narimasu Airfield. The pilot is identified as Master Sergeant Isamu Sakamoto [Sakamoto Isamu in Japanese style].

The Special Attack ramming aircraft were identified by the red tails they sported in place of the regular 47th Sentai emblem.

Don

[member_3]

hien088_v19 is up.

[Don Boose]

The caption to hien088_v19 reads "Ki-61, 244th Air Regiment [Hiko Dai 244 Sentai] 2d Company [Dai 2 Chutai], February 1945 [Showa 20 Nen 2 Getsu], Chofu Base [Chofu Kiji]. The aircraft is Tail Number 88.

I'll provide more info later on the famous B-29 Killer 244th Sentai, but the manuscript is due to the editor tomorrow and I'm kind of distracted just now.

More later,

Don

[Frank Kelle]

Again thanks for your information Don and to Mr. Trotskiy for my birthday gift :p. One question: what means Showa 20 Nen 2 Getsu?
Is it a more exacter date? Normaly you only wrote "Showa 19" for example?

[dansls1]

Originally Posted by Frank Kelle

Again thanks for your information Don and to Mr. Trotskiy for my birthday gift :p. One question: what means Showa 20 Nen 2 Getsu?
Is it a more exacter date? Normaly you only wrote "Showa 19" for example?

Happy Birthday Frank! It's a good month, you share it with both myself and my son :D