Ki-43 Oscar Aces of World War 2

By Hiroshi Ichimura

Dubbed the 'Oscar' by the Allies, the Ki-43 Hayabusa was the most prolific Japanese fighter of World War II. Produced in great numbers, it initially proved superior to most US and British fighter types, due to its excellent maneuverability. The light weight and large wing area gave it a small turning radius and a high rate-of-climb which was ideal for pilots in close combat fighting. However, the Ki-43's swiftness and agility came at a price, with the low-wing design meaning that firepower and safety had to be sacrificed. With only two machine guns, a Ki-43 pilot would have to perform a dangerous balancing act between achieving a high rate of kills and their own survival. Surprisingly, more Japanese pilots achieved Ace status flying the Hayabusa than any other plane and despite being steadily outclassed by new fighters, the Ki-43 remained in frontline JAAF service until the war's end. This book expertly charts the experiences of the pilots and discusses the early stages of the war in South-East Asia, China, Burma and New Guinea. Accompanied by detailed appendices and specially commissioned artwork, this is the first volume in English to focus exclusively on the exploits of the Ki-43.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Oct 23, 2012
• ISBN: 9781782005445

Reviews for Ki-43 Oscar Aces of World War 2

[shrike58 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What I like best about this number is how the author does a fine job of personalizing a service that has been relatively faceless in the English-language literature, while at the same time providing solid examples of the factors of logistics and technology that undercut the Japanese effort to remain competitive in the air war.My main complaint is that while I don't expect that much in the way of bibliographic material from an Osprey booklet, it's disappointing that there's none at all provided here.

[luftwaffe_flak · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very well researched if the text at times is a little dry. The first hand accounts, photos, and color plates are top notch however and push it from 3 to 4 stars.