Known as Oscar in WW II — The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (隼, “Peregrine Falcon”)
Known as Oscar in WW II — The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (隼, “Peregrine Falcon”)
Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa 隼 at the Tillamook Air Museum — photo by Joseph May
The Oscar was designed for and flown by the Imperial Japanese Army in WW II and was contemporary of the Mitsubishi A6M Type Zero (Allied codename of “Zero” and “Zeke”) of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Like the Zero it was light and had an excellent climb rate and like the Zero it was lightly armed and could not absorb combat damage in other than slight amounts. Though the Zero has greater fame the Oscar was produced in greater numbers.
The Oscar’s mottled jungle camouflage — photo by Joseph May
The almost rare Ki 43 Hayabusa in these photos is regularly flown and resides at the Tillamook Air Museum which has this photo page on this Ki 43.
Drip pans under the radial engine are the healthy signs of a radial engine in flying condition — photo by Joseph May
