World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe Ki-84 Hayate ("Gale") Army Type 4 Fighters were designed to replace the Ki-43 and Ki-44 fighters, and as a result they were the best Nakajima had designed. The first combat mission they saw was in China near Hankow in 1944, and they served in other locations such as Taiwan, Philippine Islands, Okinawa, and Japan Proper. 3,449 were produced before the war ended.

ww2dbaseIn 1945, the Manshu Aircraft Company in the Japanese-sponsored puppet state of Manchukuo embarked on the Ki-116 variant design, which aimed at providing greater power to the Ki-84 design. A single prototype was built with a 1,500-horsepower Mitsubishi Ha-112-II engine mated with a three-blade propeller. The Ki-116 prototype weighed 1,000 pounds less than the latest Ki-84 variant and was considered a promising development. The end of the war, however, prematurely ended this project.

ww2dbaseThe Allied code name for the Ki-84 aircraft was "Frank".

ww2dbaseKi-84 fighters were still impressing the Allies well after the war. Post war testing conducted by the United States Army concluded that the Ki-84 aircraft could reach the speed of 689 kilometers per hour, and they could out-maneuver just about any fighter the Allies used during the war. Many captured Ki-84 fighters were employed in the Chinese Communist military until the 1950s.

SPECIFICATIONS

Ki-84-Ia

Machinery	One Nakajima Ha-45-21 18-cyl radial engine rated at 1,990hp
Armament	2x12.7mm Type 1 machine guns, 2x20mm Ho-5 cannon, 2x250kg bombs
Crew	1
Span	11.23 m
Length	9.93 m
Height	3.38 m
Wing Area	21.00 m²
Weight, Empty	2,665 kg
Weight, Loaded	3,616 kg
Weight, Maximum	3,898 kg
Speed, Maximum	689 km/h
Rate of Climb	19.25 m/s
Service Ceiling	10,500 m
Range, Normal	2,155 km

Photographs

Visitor Submitted Comments

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1.  Bill says:
18 Feb 2009 02:42:42 PM

Photo of Ki-84 taken in the early 1960's I think the pilots name was bob walker, but I could be wrong, as it was such a long time ago. the Ki-84 was at that time part of the old Ontario Air Museum. Located in Ontario, California U.S.A. The Ki-84 had a staring roll in the movie "None but the Brave"

3.  Bill says:
4 Nov 2010 08:52:38 AM

The Nakajima Ki-84 was able to intercept the
B-29s over the Japanese Home Islands.
The fighter had excellent maneuverability and
performance. It was armed with 2x12.7mm MG's
in the upper fuselage w/ 350 rpg, and 2x20mm
wing mounted cannons w/150 rpg, some were
armed with 30mm cannons.

The Ki-84 had its maintenance problems, with
shortage of fuel and spare-parts and later
poor production quality and the lack of
experienced pilot's to fly the fighter,
nevertheless, the frank could hold its own
against the North American P-51 Mustang and
the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. It could also
out-turn the Spitfire.

The Ki-84 was also Manfactured by Manshu in
Manchukuo. Operated by the Imperial Japanese
Army Air Force, After WWII the Ki-84 was used
by both the Communist and Nationalist Chinese
until the 1950s.
The Ki-84 was also capable of carring
2x100kg/220lb bombs, 2x250kg/500lb bombs,and
2x100ltr./53gal drop tanks.

TACHIKAWA Ki-106:

The first prototype was completed by the
Ohji Paper Company Ltd. Built of wood and
metal and sealed with lacquer.

It was an accomplishment with many wartime shortage of material, and it was impressive
what Techikawa engineers did.
Some sources say between four and ten planes
were built by three different companies, one
of them a Tachikawa subsidiary.

SURVIVORS:

The Nakajima Ki-84 onced owned by the Planes
of Fame Museum, Chino, California USA, is now on display at the Heiwa Kinen-Kan Museum
at Chiran in Japan.
This is the only Ki-84 left in the world.

4.  Bill says:
7 Nov 2010 06:35:57 AM

"WHERE HAVE ALL THE YOUNG MEN GONE, GONE TO
GRAVEYARDS EVERYONE..."



Like most Japanese aircraft, the Ki-84 was
used in Special Attack / Kamikaze Missions.

Seventy Nine pilots from the Shinbu Corps, flying from Miyakonoja Army Air Base, flew
their Ki-84 Hayates in attacks against the
US Fleet off Okinawa.

These attacks were carried out between April 6th to July 7th 1945. All of the pilots were
between the ages of 18 to 23 years of age.
In 1977 Miyakonoja City erected a Memorial
to these brave pilots.

5.  Bill says:
7 Nov 2010 03:33:01 PM

To Anonymous Dated 26 February 2010 #2

Your absolutely correct, no Ki-84 in the
movie "None But The Brave", the movie was
"Never So Few"

The Nakajima Ki-84 does have a very short on
screen scene.
As Frank Sinatra and Steve McQueen watch the activity at the airstrip, from their jungle
position, the Ki-84 taxies.

Other parked aircraft looks like a A6M Zero.
And the usual mockup of Japanese aircraft,
that are destroyed in the night time raid.

Say the movie was made in 1959 and saw it on
television in the early 1960s and maybe
a few times after.

Also check out the Cessna T-50/UC-78 Bobcat
better known as the "Bamboo Bomber".


Well there you have it, Win some, Loose some

7.  Bill says:
2 Feb 2012 09:27:58 PM

Information on above photograph the Nakajima
KI-84 Hayate code name(Frank)was refurbished
and flown in the late 1960s by WWII ace Bud Mahurin.
The Frank was owned for years by the Planes of Fame Air Museum, Chino, California USA
and later returned to Japan. Aircraft is not airworthy today.