Nakajima Ki-43-II Otsu in the colors of the Hitachi Kyodo Hiko Shidan, or the Army Aviation School in Hitachi.
The cover illustration by Mr. Masao Satake adorns the box of one of the editions of the Fine Molds kit in 1/48 scale. The artwork presents a rather idyllic, even somewhat propagandistic scene. Nonetheless, it accurately depicts an aircraft numbered “24” with the school’s emblem on the tail, denoting this Hayabusa as belonging to the Combat Instruction Section.
I wrote in detail about the Japanese aviation training system some time ago. To recap briefly: while it allowed for comprehensive training of flying personnel, the length of courses and overall capacity of the institutions were inadequate for wartime conditions. The defeat at Midway, along with heavy losses in New Guinea and the Solomons (and to some extent in Burma and China), exposed these shortcomings in training the next generations of personnel. Consequently, new aviation training centers began to spring up rapidly.
Hitachi Kyodo Hiko Shidan initially operated as an advanced flight training division of the Akeno Aviation School. Following the last major reorganization of the Air Forces (of both branches) in the spring/summer of 1944, this unit formally became an independent training center. Nevertheless, it remained closely tied to its former parent institution. Instructors at Hitachi conducted advanced operational courses for fighter pilots, with a special focus on operations against enemy heavy bomber formations. Initially, they were equipped with Hayabusa planes and a few Ki-27 Nate aircraft. Soon, for obvious reasons, these were supplemented—and eventually completely replaced—by Ki-44 Shoki and Ki-61 Hien fighters. By the end of its operation, a significant portion of the aircraft fleet consisted of Ki-100 Goshikisen. Aviation schools in Akeno and Hitachi (as well as all other such centers) were dissolved by order on July 10, 1945. Some instructors and the most promising trainees joined the newly formed 111th Sentai in Akeno (on Ki-100 Ko and Otsu). The remaining pilots were assigned to other Air Defense Sentai of Japan.
Most Hitachi aircraft were left in natural metal color (not including the Ki-100s, which were painted on production lines). The unit’s emblem was a white ideogram on a red field, while fighters from the Combat Instruction Sections were given distinctive red “wings” on both sides of the emblem, similar to those at Akeno.
The last plate shows a camouflaged Tojo with a red lightning bolt. This is the personal aircraft of Major Yoshio Hirose, chief instructor at Hitachi and commander of the Combat Section. Major Hirose was a member of the “Old Guard.” His career began over China as early as 1937. On September 19 of that year, his formation of several Ki-10s intercepted eight bombers identified as O-38s and shot down three of them. These were the first air victories achieved by IJAAF pilots, though it was unclear which pilot (including Hirose) secured the first victory. From autumn 1940 to summer 1941, Hirose served as an instructor in Akeno, and he joined WWII on December 8, 1941, as an operations officer of the 77th Sentai, already holding the rank of major. That day, he shot down one of the Curtiss Hawk III aircraft engaged over Bangkok (it was a Thai fighter from Foong Klap Lai 43, or the 43rd Fighter Squadron). In July 1942, he transferred from the 77th Sentai to command the 64th Sentai, leading this famous unit for 15 months. June 1944 marked his return to Akeno, followed by an assignment to Hitachi. He oversaw the unit’s instructors almost until the end of December. On the 22nd of that month, flying his green Ki-44 adorned with a lightning bolt, he engaged a formation of B-29s near Nagoya. He was accompanied by his deputy and former comrade, Captain Osamu Kawakami. Both Tojos launched ramming attacks, reportedly destroying their selected targets, according to Japanese reports. Neither pilot survived the encounter. Major Hirose was posthumously promoted to full colonel. He was credited with nine aerial victories, two of which he achieved in biplane Ki-10s over China.
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