Kobayashi
Ki-61 pilot in mainland defence.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/japanese-forces/41565/kobayashi
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/japanese-forces/41565/kobayashi
The allied pilots in the Pacific the first times that met the ki 61, called it "Italian fighter", because its similarity with the Macchi 202.
The first encounter reports of Allied Forces claimed Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien were Messerschmitt Bf 109s, but further reports claimed that the new fighter was an Italian design, like MC.202! The Allied reporting name assigned by the United States War Department was "Tony". The Japanese Army designation (the plane was used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force)is "Army Type 3 Fighter".VictorSierra