World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
3 Jul 2014 07:24:44 PM

THE ZEROS COUSIN:

File photo identifies fighter as the A6M Zero, it is however, a Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (Oscar) operated by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force.
The Oscar lacked armor protection, self-sealing fuel tanks. early models were armed w/ 2 x 7.7mm machine guns.
Later models carried limited armor and self-sealing fuel tanks and were armed w/ 1 x 12.7 and 1 x 7.7mm machine guns, 2 x 12.7mm machine guns or 2 x 20mm cannons all weapon were mounted in upper fuselage decking.

2.  Bill says:
4 Jul 2014 06:51:30 PM

The Japanese Army Air Force Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar was more maneuverable than the Japanese Navy's A6M Zero/Zeke fighter.
The Oscar was often mistaken for the Navy's Zero in combat. Like many Japanese combat aircraft the Oscar lacked pilot and fuel protection and a lack of heavy firepower, this would prove lethal for
Japanese pilots from 1943 on.

Today you can visit the Museum of Flight located in Seattle, Washington, USA, that has a Ki-43 that was built in 1944 under license by the Tachikawa Airplane Co. Aircraft in file photo, is not the Oscar displayed at the museum of flight.
The fighter was rebuilt from parts salvaged from other Ki-43s for display at the museum.