A Japanese Me-109

[Guest ericthered1975]

The link below provides a rare photo of a Me-109 used by Japan, with the mark of the Rising Sun emblazoned on the fuselage. Does anyone know if Japan used German fighters in combat? The link also features a selection of photos unimaginable for the High Command of the Luftwaffe at the beginning of WW2, see their powerful Me-109 and Fw-190 fighters captured and tested with allied markings. To view all photos, visit the link below:

 

http://aviacaoemfloripa.blogspot.com.br/2011/02/uma-visao-incomum-para-luftwaffe.html

 

Cheers, Eric.

 

 

[old man emu]

The people beside 109 with the Rising Sun markings appear to be a Japanese ground crew with a European pilot and another European. Perhaps this is a pre-war photo of a Japanese evaluation test, and the Europeans are the demonstration pilot and a sales rep.

 

OME

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

Kawasaki Hien

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawasaki_Ki-61

 

 

[Kiwi303]

Just off the top of my head, they received about 3 or so ME-109's plus licencing rights to build them, but preferred the Zero.

 

They only had one inline fighter, the Ki-61 above, which was retrofitted with a radial engine and became the Ki-100.

 

I haven't read the link above as I am on slow mobile data here over the cellphone in a rural valley but I wouldn't be surprised if the Ki-61 was a ME-109 since I do know the engine for the Ki-61 was a german design and only one plant was making it until being bombed into pieces. Whereas the Japanese radial fitted to make the -61 a -100 was made far more widely as it was a common fitment to Jap planes, like the Merlin in England.

 

 

[fallowdeer]

Call me a pedant but I think the correct nomenclature is Bf 109

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

...I wouldn't be surprised if the Ki-61 was a ME-109 since I do know the engine for the Ki-61 was a german design and only one plant was making it until being bombed into pieces. Whereas the Japanese radial fitted to make the -61 a -100 was made far more widely as it was a common fitment to Jap planes, like the Merlin in England.

I believe the aircraft was a Japanese design. Japan had some terrific designers and the Germans tried (unsuccessfully) to get rights to build Kawasaki's impressive Ki-46.

 

 

[red750]

Ki-61 gear retracts inwards, 109 retracts outwards.

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

Ki-61 gear retracts inwards, 109 retracts outwards.

That alone means the Ki-61 was quite a different design. Willy Messerschmitt used pair of strong castings on the forward fuselage carrying the engine, taking u/c loads and allowing the wings to be easily removed. The engine could be replaced in about ten minutes. The 109 was easy to mass produce, but the crazy splayed wheels meant mobs of them were lost in landing accidents.