Manchukuo Imperial Air Force
Manchukuo Imperial Air Force | |
---|---|
飛行隊 | |
Active | 1937–1945 |
Country | Manchukuo |
Role | Air force |
Size | 200+ aircraft |
Garrison/HQ | Xinjing |
Colors | Yellow, blue, white |
Anniversaries | September 20 (Aviation Day) |
Engagements | Second Sino-Japanese War World War II |
Commanders | |
Ceremonial chief | Kangde Emperor |
Insignia | |
Roundel |
The Manchukuo Imperial Air Force (
History
Since the creation of the state in 1932, an airline called the Manchukuo Paramilitary Airline operated as a fleet of transports, consisting mainly of passenger aircraft. The only military action it saw was providing support to the
Starting out with just one
In the 1940s the Manchukuo Air Force was greatly expanded with an influx of new trainers, transports, and its first fighters. The latter were
Organization
Three fighters squadrons were formed in 1942 from flying school cadets, with the typical strength of a squadron being as follows: 11 officers, 12 to 14 non-commissioned officers, and 90 enlisted men.[1]
The organization of the air force in 1941 was as follows:[1]
- 1st Air Unit (Xinjing)
- 2nd Air Unit (Fengtian)
- 3rd Air Unit (Harbin)
- Tongliao Independent Air Unit
- Flying School
List of aircraft
An aircraft construction industry existed in Manchukuo. It produced Nakajima Ki-27 fighters, among others, although the majority of them went to the Japanese air services rather than the Manchukuoan Air Force. The Manchukuoans had the following aircraft:[1]
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat Aircraft | ||||||
Nakajima Type 91 | Japan | fighter | II | 129 | ||
Nakajima Ki-27 | Japan | fighter | 12 | |||
Nakajima Ki-43
|
Japan | fighter | 4[2] | Delivered in 1945. Ki-43-II Ko Variant. | ||
Nakajima LB-2 | Japan | medium bomber | 1 | A converted experimental craft from the Manchukuo National Airways | ||
Kawasaki Ki-32 | Japan | light bomber | 1+ | |||
Kawasaki Type 88
|
Japan | light bomber/Reconnaissance | 230 | |||
Mitsubishi Ki-30 | Japan | light bomber | 1+ | |||
Mitsubishi Ki-21 | Japan | bomber | 6 | |||
2F BXN2 Gamma | United States | bomber | 2E | 25 | ||
Transport | ||||||
Tachikawa Ki-54 | Japan | transport | 1+ | |||
Trainer
| ||||||
Tachikawa Ki-9 | Japan | trainer | 59 | |||
Tachikawa Ki-55 | Japan | advanced trainer | 1+ |
See also
- Manchukuo Imperial Navy
- Manchukuo Imperial Guard
Sources
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f Jowett 2004, pp. 90–92.
- ^ cocinilla. "Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa [Cazabombardero]". La Segunda Guerra (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-03-27.
References
- Jowett, Philipp (2004). Rays of the Rising Sun, Volume 1: Japan's Asian Allies 1931–45, China and Manchukuo. Helion and Company Ltd. ISBN 1-874622-21-3.
Further reading
- Green, William (1997). Flying Colors. Motorbooks International. ISBN 0-7603-1129-3.