USAF KI-61 "Tony"

[Mark Allen M]

Once again looking for something else online leads to another find. This KI-61 was a leftover at an old Japanese airfield being re-used by the USAF during the Korean War. Seems to have been in good shape. Kind of "funky" stars and bars though. Bars look a bit long I'm sure it didn't last too long after these photos were taken. Shame as it looks really good. Never know it could be still alive somewhere.

[John Dupre]

Very interesting. I have heard that sometime in the early 1950s the US finally got the Japanese to scrap all of the abandoned aircraft in the country. Not sure why it took that long. Also at some point after the surrender all aircraft were supposed to have their propellers removed. Since it looks like the USAAF adopted this Tony they probably wanted it intact. I wonder if it was ever flown by the US or if many of the aircraf remaining after the surrender were flown.

[PinecastleAAF]

Nice handcrank on the starboard side.

[Lynn Allen]

Ober, what do you think, D-Day Stripes and green doors for Vlado??

Last edited by Lynn Allen on Sat Apr 14, 2012 6:09 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Mark Allen M]

What do you think, D-Day Stripes and green doors for Vlado??

You can paint the doors any color you want but just make sure you get those D-Day Stripes right

[Steve Nelson]

Yeager's attornies will be calling you about posting that P-51 pic..

As for the Tony, I think the order to remove the props only applied to aircraft being collected at disposal sites in the Home Islnads. Like the Oscar at Clark Field, it's a shame this one wasn't preserved. Of course, at the time they were just considered old junk.

SN

[Mark Allen M]

Yeager's attornies will be calling you about posting that P-51 pic..

Already posted here first.

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=45182
So I won't be alone in my jail cell

[oz rb fan]

you might just get what you wish for .
looks like this one does survive
http://www.j-aircraft.com/research/jiml ... y/tony.htm
and the only one on display anywhere at the moment.

[Steve Nelson]

Fascinating article..thanks for the link! I kniew there was a Ki-61 in the Peace Museum, but didn't realize it was the same aircraft.

Hopefully we'll eventually be able to see a flying Tony..I know Jerry Yegan has one being restored, and it seems like there might be one or two other ariframes being rebuilt as well.

SN

[oz rb fan]

Steve there are three being restored,Jerry's one and another flyer possibly for Kermit weeks (there were going to be 3 flyer's at one stage but one seems to have been dropped)and a static one to eventually go back to png.
and being done a couple of hundred k's north of where i sit (Melbourne au)

[Lynn Allen]

What do you think, D-Day Stripes and green doors for Vlado??

You can paint the doors any color you want but just make sure you get those D-Day Stripes right

Wow, that's sad....

[Obergrafeter]

What do you think, D-Day Stripes and green doors for Vlado??

Don't forget the sharks teeth!

[The Inspector]

The Ki-61 Hein used a license built version of the Daimler DB-601(Bf-109 power plant amongst others) and didn't have an electric starter so it was strictly Norwegian steam-

[Speedy]

What do you think, D-Day Stripes and green doors for Vlado??

You can paint the doors any color you want but just make sure you get those D-Day Stripes right

Wow, that's sad....

Now, in all fairness, this WAS 1985 and Mickey told me once that he wanted to do a warbird scheme with a 'racer' twist. And shortly afterwards he repainted it as Old Crow to go along with the Bowlin's Glamorous Glen III...so the pain didn't last TOO long.

[Dan K]

The Ki-61 Hein used a license built version of the Daimler DB-601(Bf-109 power plant amongst others) and didn't have an electric starter so it was strictly Norwegian steam-

Isn't #5017 a Ki-61-II-KAI, and thus mounted a Ha-140 (a copy of the DB-605)?