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| Wrecked Mitsubishi Ki-46. |
The Mitsubishi Ki-46
was a twin-engine reconnaissance aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army in
World War II. Its Army Shiki designation was Type 100 Command Reconnaissance
Aircraft; the Allied nickname was “Dinah.”
On 12 December 1937,
the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force issued a specification to Mitsubishi for a
long-range strategic reconnaissance aircraft to replace the Mitsubishi Ki-15.
The specification demanded an endurance of six hours and sufficient speed to
evade interception by any fighter in existence or development, but otherwise
did not constrain the design by a team led by Tomio Kubo (a 1931 graduate from
the Aeronautical Section of the Faculty of Engineering at Tokyo Imperial
University) whose aesthetics are densely infused to this elegant aircraft.
The resulting design
was a twin-engined, low-winged monoplane with a retractable tailwheel
undercarriage. It had a small diameter oval fuselage which accommodated a crew
of two, with the pilot and observer situated in individual cockpits separated
by a large fuel tank. Further fuel tanks were situated in the thin wings both
inboard and outboard of the engines, giving a total fuel capacity of 1,490 L
(328 imperial gallons). The engines, two Mitsubishi Ha-26s, were housed in
close fitting cowlings developed by the Aeronautical Research Institute of the
Tokyo Imperial University to reduce drag and improve pilot view.
The first prototype
aircraft, with the designation Ki-46, flew in November 1939 from the Mitsubishi
factory at Kakamigahara, Gifu, north of Nagoya. Tests showed that the Ki-46 was
underpowered, and slower than required, only reaching 540 km/h (336 mph) rather
than the specified 600 km/h (373 mph). Otherwise, the aircraft tests were successful.
As the type was still faster than the Army’s latest fighter, the Nakajima
Ki-43, as well as the Navy’s new A6M2, an initial production batch was ordered
as the Army Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Plane Model 1 (Ki-41-I).
To solve the
performance problems, Mitsubishi fitted Ha-102 engines, which were Ha-26s
fitted with a two-stage supercharger, while increasing fuel capacity and
reducing empty weight to give the Ki-46-II, flying in March 1941. This met the
speed requirements of the original specification, and was ordered into
full-scale production, with deliveries starting in July.
Although at first the
Ki-46 proved almost immune from interception, the Imperial Japanese Army Air
Force realized that improved Allied fighters such as the Supermarine Spitfire
and P-38 Lightning could challenge this superiority, and in July 1942, it
instructed Mitsubishi to produce a further improved version, the Ki-46-III.
This had more powerful, fuel-injected Mitsubishi Ha-112 engines, and a
redesigned nose, with a fuel tank ahead of the pilot and a new canopy, smoothly
faired from the extreme nose of the aircraft, eliminating the “step” of the
earlier versions. The single defensive machine gun of the earlier aircraft was
also omitted. The new version first flew in December 1942, demonstrating
significantly higher speed (630 km/h (391 mph) at 6,000 m (19,700 ft). The
performance of the Ki-46-III, proved superior to that of the aircraft intended
to replace it (the Tachikawa Ki-70), which as a result did not enter
production.
In an attempt to yet
further improve the altitude performance of the Ki-46, two prototypes were
fitted with exhaust driven turbosupercharged Ha-112-II-Ru engines, flying in
February 1944, but only two prototypes of this version were built.
Mitsubishi factories
made a total of 1,742 examples of all versions (34 units Ki-46-I, 1093 units
Ki-46-II, 613 units Ki-46-III, 4 units Ki-46-IV) during 1941-44.
This aircraft was first
used by the Japanese Army in Manchukuo and China, where seven units were
equipped with it, and also at times by the Japanese Imperial Navy in certain
reconnaissance missions over the northern coasts of Australia and New Guinea.
The Japanese Army used
this aircraft for the same type of missions (which were not authorized) over
present-day Malaysia during the months before the Pacific War. Later, it was
used for high altitude reconnaissance over Burma, Indochina, Thailand, and the
Indian Ocean. The Ki-46 was regarded by the British RAF in Burma as a difficult
aircraft to counter, only occasionally intercepting them successfully. On
September 25, 1944, Flying Officer Wittridge shot down a Ki-46, using a
personally modified Spitfire Mk. 8. Wittridge had removed two machine guns and
the seat armor, and also polished the wing leading edges to gain extra speed.
In 1944-45, during the
last days of the war, it was modified as a high-altitude interceptor, with two
20 mm cannon in the nose and one 37 mm (1.46 in) cannon in an “upwards-and-forwards”
position - almost like the Luftwaffe ’s Schräge Musik night fighter cannon
emplacements - for fighting USAAF B-29 Superfortresses over the metropolitan
Japanese islands. It lacked stability for sustained shooting of the 37 mm (1.46
in) weapon, had only a thin layer of armor plating, lacked self-sealing fuel
tanks, and was slow to climb.
The Ki-46 was also
assigned to two whole Sentai (wings/groups), as well as individual Chutaicho
(junior operational commanders) in the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service,
during the Pacific War.
The Allies captured
some examples during the conflict which were then repaired and flown for
evaluation purposes.
Details
Role:
Twin-engine reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer:
Mitsubishi
First
flight: November 1939
Introduction:
July 1941
Retired:
September 1945
Primary
user: Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
Number
built: 1,742
Variants
The Shiki designations
must be used in full, as written below, because the Type number only refers to
the year of the designs inception.
Army
Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Plane: The Shiki designation
for the Ki-46 Command Reconnaissance Plane
Army
Type 100 Air Defense Fighter: The Shiki designation
for the Ki-46 Interceptor Fighter
Army
Type 100 Assault Plane: The Shiki designation for the Ki-46
Assault Plane
Ki-46:
Prototype.
Ki-46
I: Reconnaissance
version of the Ki-46.
Ki-46
II: The
first operational model of the series.
Crew:
two (pilot and observer)
Length:
11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)
Wingspan:
14.70 m (48 ft 2¾ in)
Height:
3.88 m (12 ft 8¾ in)
Wing
area: 32.0 m² (344 ft²)
Empty
weight: 3,263 kg (7,194 lb)
Loaded
weight: 5,050 kg (11,133 lb)
Maximum
takeoff weight: 5,800 kg (12,787 lb)
Maximum
speed: 604 km/h (326 knots, 375 mph) at 5,800 m (19,000
ft)
Cruise
speed: 400 km/h (217 knots, 249 mph)
Range:
2,474 km (1,337 nmi, 1,537 mi)
Service
ceiling: 10,720 m (35,200 ft)
Wing
loading: 157.8 kg/m² (32.3 lb/ft²)
Climb
to 8,000 m (26,250 ft): 17 min 58 sec
Guns:
1× rearward-firing 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 89 machine gun
Ki-46 II KAI: Three-seat
training version of the Ki-46. Used for radio and navigation training, with a
redesigned cabin, dorsal echeloned extension. Conversions of the Ki-46 II.
Ki-46 III: ‘Traditional’
stepped windshield replaced with a smooth, curved, glazed panel extended over
the pilot’s seat giving an aerodynamic nose. Engine power increased to 1,500 hp
(Ha-112-II), extra fuel tank added in the nose.
Ki-46 III-KAI: Defense
interceptor/night fighter version of the Ki-46. Equipped with two 20 mm cannon
in the nose and one 37 mm (1.46 in) cannon in the “Schräge Musik”-style
upwards-aimed dorsal frontal position.
Crew:
two (pilot and observer)
Length:
11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)
Wingspan:
14.70 m (48 ft 2¾ in)
Height:
3.88 m (12 ft 8¾ in)
Wing
area: 32.0 m² (344 ft²)
Empty
weight: 3,831 kg (8,446 lb)
Loaded
weight: 5,722 kg (12,619 lb)
Maximum
takeoff weight: 6,230 kg (13,735 lb)
Maximum
speed: 630 km/h (340 knots, 391 mph) at 5,800 m (19,000
ft)
Cruise
speed: 400 km/h (217 knots, 249 mph)
Service
ceiling: 10,500 m (34,450 ft)
Rate
of climb: 8,000 m (26,245 ft)
Wing
loading: 157.8 kg/m² (32.3 lb/ft²)
Climb
to 8,000 m (26,250 ft): 17 min 58 sec
Guns:
1× oblique firing 37mm
(1.45 in)Ho-203
or Ho-204 cannons in
central fuselage
2x 20mm Ho-5 (0.8 in)
cannons in nose
Ki-46
III: Land strike version of the Ki-46, without 37 mm
(1.46 in) cannon armament.
Ki-46
IIIb: Ground-attack version.
Ki-46
IIIc: Unbuilt design project.
Ki-46 IV: Prototype,
equipped with two turbocharged 1,119 kW (1,500 hp) Mitsubishi Ha-112-IIru
engines, and more fuel capacity.
Ki-46
IVa/b: Series models of reconnaissance/fighter aircraft,
unbuilt design projects
Operators
France: French
Air Force: Captured aircraft.
Japan: Imperial
Japanese Army Air Force; Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
People’s Republic of China: Chinese
Communist Air Force: Two captured Ki-46s in communist Chinese hands served as a
ground-attack aircraft and a trainer respectively, and the last Ki-46 retired
in early 1950s.
Survivors
The only known survivor is a Ki-46-III
Army Type 100 example, currently on display at Royal Air Force Museum Cosford.
It was captured in Malaya and became part of the RAF St Athan collection of
historic aircraft, before passing to the RAF Museum at RAF Cosford where it is
currently (2025) on public display.
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| Ki-46-II of the 19th Hikodan Shireibu Teisatsu Chutai (Direct Command Reconnaissance Company). |
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| Ki-46-II of the 82nd Sentai. |
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| Ki-46-III, No. 24, of the 16th Dokuritsu Hikotai (Independent Wing). |
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| Ki-46-I. |
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| Ki-46-II warming up for a mission. |
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| Ki-46-III. |
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| Aircrews of Ki-46-Is preparing for a mission. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Ki-46-I. |
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| Ki-46-II warming up for take-off. |
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| Ki-46-I. |
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| Ki-46-I. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Ki-46-II warming up for take-off. |
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| Ki-46-II in flight. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 2nd Sentai, with Ki-15 “Babs” in the rear. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 3rd Chutai, 81st Sentai. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 1st Chutai, 81st Sentai. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 3rd Chutai, 81st Sentai. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 2nd Chutai, 81st Sentai. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 2nd Chutai, 81st Sentai. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 2nd Sentai. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 2nd Sentai. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 2nd Sentai. |
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| Ground crewman servicing the engine of a Ki-46-II. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Pilots of an unidentified unit pose in front of one of their Ki-46-IIs. |
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| Damaged Ki-46-II after a bad landing. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 10th Kyoiku-Hikojo (Training Airfield). |
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| Cockpit of the Ki-46-II. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 18th Dokuritsu Chutai (Independent Company). |
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| Ki-46-II of the 82nd Sentai. |
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| Ki-46-IIs of the 2nd Chutai, 15th Sentai. |
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| Pilot enters the cockpit of his Ki-46-II which has been prepped for flight by the ground crew. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 3rd Chutai, 15th Sentai. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Ground crew services a Ki-46-II prior to a mission. |
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| Ground crew servicing a Ki-46-II before a flight. |
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| Ki-46-II outside a hangar. |
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| USAAF B-25s strafe and parafrag Ki-46-IIs at Jefman-Sorong Airfield, Netherlands East Indies, 1944. |
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| Ground crewmen crank the engine of a Ki-46-II in preparation for a flight. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 17th Direct Command Reconnaissance Company. |
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| Ki-46-IIs of the 17th Direct Command Reconnaissance Company warming up before a mission. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 17th Direct Command Reconnaissance Company. |
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| Ground crewmen service a Ki-46-II of the 17th Direct Command Reconnaissance Company. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 17th Direct Command Reconnaissance Company. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 17th Direct Command Reconnaissance Company. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 17th Direct Command Reconnaissance Company. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 17th Independent Company. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 19th Direct Command Reconnaissance Company. |
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| Ki-46-II in a revetment. |
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| Wrecked Ki-46-II outside a destroyed hangar. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 16th Independent Company. |
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| Ki-46-II undergoing engine maintenance. |
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| Ki-46-III. |
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| Ki-46-II flipped over during a landing accident. |
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| Another view of a Ki-46-II flipped over during a landing accident. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 16th Independent Company. |
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| Ki-46-III. |
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| Ki-46-III. |
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| Ki-46-III possibly of the 106th Sentai. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 17th Independent Company. |
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| Ki-46-III as a torpedo bomber. |
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| Ki-46-III of the 51st Dokuritsu Dai Shijugo Chutai in a revetment in China. |
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| Ground crew take a break in front of a Ki-46-III. |
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| Wrecked Ki-46-III. |
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| Ground crew remove the wheel chocks from a Ki-46-III ready to taxi from a hangar for take-off. |
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| Ki-46-III, No. 54. |
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| Wrecked Ki-46-III, No. 37, of the 16th Independent Company. |
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| Ki-46-III of a Home Defense unit during take-off. |
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| Ki-46-III taking off. |
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| Ki-46-III. |
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| Ground crewmen await signal to remove chocks from the wheels of a Ki-46-III warming up for take-off. |
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| Ki-46-III, No. 28, of the 19th Independent Company. |
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| Wrecked Ki-46-III in a revetment. |
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| Engines of a Ki-46-III being warmed up. |
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| Ki-46-III nightfighter warming up before a flight. |
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| Ground crewmen crank the port engine of a Ki-46-III before a flight. |
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| Ki-46-III on an airstrip in China. |
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| Pilot poses on his Ki-46-III. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 17th Direct Command Reconnaissance Company. |
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| Ground crew service a Ki-46-III. |
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| Ki-46-II warming up for take-off. |
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| Ki-46-III of the 17th Independent Company. |
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| Ki-46-IV. |
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| Ki-46. |
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| Ki-46-III-KAI of the 16th Independent Company. |
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| Close-up of the nose of the wrecked Ki-46-III of the 16th Independent Company. |
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| Another view of the same wrecked Ki-46-III of the 16th Independent Company. |
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| Ground crewmen working on the starboard engine of a Ki-46-IV. |
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| Aircrew examine a Ki-46-IV before a flight. |
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| Ki-46-III of the 82nd Sentai. |
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| Ki-46-IV. |
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| Ki-46-IV of the 1st Chutai, 90th Sentai, during operational testing in 1944. |
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| Ki-46-III. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 2nd Chutai, 81st Sentai. |
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| Japanese pilot with American officer pose in front of a Ki-46. |
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| Ki-46. |
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| Ki-46. |
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| Ki-46-III. |
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| Ki-46. |
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| Ki-46. |
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| Tail of a Ki-46-II of the 2nd Sentai, at right. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 1st Chutai, 81st Sentai. |
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| Ki-46 of the ATAIU-SEA in flight during testing. |
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| Ki-46 of the 1st Chutai, 10th Sentai, 1944-45. |
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| Ki-46 of the 1st Chutai, 10th Sentai, 1944-45. |
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| Flight crews of the 15th Sentai pose in front of one of their Ki-46-IIIs, 1945. |
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| Ki-46. 76th Dokuritsu Dai Shijugo Chutai (Independent Squadron), Netherlands East Indies, 1943. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 17th Direct Command Reconnaissance Company. |
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| Ki-46-III of the 16th Independent Company. |
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| Tail of Ki-46-III of the 15th Sentai. |
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| Tail of a Ki-46-III of the 16th Independent Company. |
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| American airman inspecting a Ki-46-III of the 19th Independent Company. |
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| Pilot posing alongside the tail of his Ki-46-II of the 6th Rensei Hikotai (Fighter Operational Training Unit). |
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| Pilot in full flight gear poses by the tail of his Ki-46-III, No. 3. |
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| Ki-46-III of the 115th Kyoiku Hiro Rentai (Training Unit). |
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| Lineup of a Ki-46-II (right) and several Ki-46-IIIs. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 82nd Sentai. |
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| Decommissioned Ki-46 at Clark Field, 1945. |
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| Ki-46. |
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| Ki-46-II of the Sakura Shimbu-tai (Special Attack Unit). |
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| Upper view of Ki-46-II in flight. |
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| Ki-46-II of an unknown Sentai at Jefman-Sorong, Netherlands East Indies, 1944., during a parafrag bomb attack. |
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| Pilot poses by the tail of his Ki-46-III of the 16th Independent Company. |
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| Ki-46-II No. 46 of the 10th Recon Sentai at Hollandia, Netherlands East Indies, 1944. |
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| Two Marines examine a wrecked Ki-46-III on airfield on Iwo Jima, 1945. |
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| Ki-46 in natural metal finish. Note replacement panels from camouflaged aircraft on port wing. |
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| Wrecked Ki-46-II (manufacturer serial 1059) of the 70th Dokuritsu Chutai salvaged near Truscott, North Western Australia, 20 July 1944. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Ki-46 parked on an airfield. |
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| Ki-46 of a Home Defense unit. |
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| Ki-46-II No. 46 of the 10th Recon Sentai at Cyclops Airfield, Hollandia, Netherlands East Indies, 1944. |
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| Ki-46. |
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| Ki-46 during a postwar display. |
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| Ki-46-IV prototype at Tachikawa airfield, 1945. |
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| Wrecked Ki-46-III. |
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| Wrecked Ki-46 on Iwo Jima, February 1945. |
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| Ki-46-II with skull and crossbones emblem on the tail with, at right, a Ki-48 “Lily” of the 75th Sentai at Bandoeng, Java, Netherlands East Indies, 1943. |
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| Ki-46-III-Otsu of the 18th Independent Hiko-Tai, Taisho Air Base, 20 July 1945. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 10th Recon Sentai at Boram-Wewak, New Guinea, 1943. |
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| Wrecked Ki-46 at Vunakanau Airfield, Rabaul, 1943. |
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| Ki-46-II being serviced beneath camouflage netting on a New Guinea airfield, 1944. |
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| Ki-46 and Ki-48 “Lily” bombers strafed by A-20s of the Fifth Air Force, Hollandia, 1944. |
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| A camouflaged Ki-46 lies wrecked in the Philippines. |
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| Ki-46 of the 76th Dokuritsu Dai Shijugo Chutai (Independent Squadron), taking off from Rabaul, 1943. |
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| Ki-46-IIs of a Home Defense unit. |
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| American soldier examines a wrecked Ki-46 of the 76th Dokuritsu Dai Shijugo Chutai (Independent Squadron), 10th Hiko Sentai, at Hollandia, Netherlands East Indies, 1944. |
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| Ki-46-II taking off from an airstrip. |
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| Ground crewman “walking the prop” during engine maintenance on a Ki-46 prior to testing the engines. |
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| Ground crewmen performing maintenance on a Ki-46 engine. | |
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| Ki-46-II of a Home Defense unit in flight. |
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| Ki-46-III on a field in China. |
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| American soldier inspecting an abandoned Ki-46-II, No. 46. |
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| Ki-46-III. |
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| Ki-46. |
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| Ki-46-IV. |
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| Ki-46-III undergoing engine maintenance. |
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| Ground crewman working on the port engine of a Ki-46. |
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| Ki-46-I. |
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| Ki-46. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Flight crew wait while ground crewmen perform engine maintenance on a Ki-46. |
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| Ki-46. Note the aircraft inside the hangar closest to the camera is a captured B-17E and the nose of a captured A-20 can be seen at the left. |
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| Aircrew cheer another crew as they prepare to take off on a mission in their Ki-46. |
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| Pilot in the cockpit of his Ki-46. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 82nd Sentai, Manchuria, 1944. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Flight crew in full flying gear of a Ki-46-III of the 82nd Independent Company. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Ki-46. |
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| Parafrags fall from a USAAF bomber towards a Ki-46-II at Hollandia, Netherlands East Indies, 1944. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Ki-46-III. |
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| Ki-46-II. |
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| Ki-46-III cockpit. |
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| Ki-46. |
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| Sighting the guns of a Ki-46 of a Home Defense unit. |
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| Close-up view of the nose during the sighting of the guns on a Ki-46. |
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| Ki-46-II of the Shimoshizu Army Flying School framed by the wing and landing gear of a Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki. |
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| The tiger design on the tail of a Ki-46 of the 82nd Sentai, Manchuria, 1944. |
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| “When fighter planes of Maj. Gen. Chennault’s U.S. Army 14th Air Force (Flying Tigers) recently shot down this Japanese photo-reconnaissance airplane of the Dinah type, they found this snaring tiger painted almost life-size on the tail assembly of the aircraft. This photo was made at an advanced air base in China.” |
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| In this series of photos from a 15 May 1945 magazine, a Ki-46 is on a photographic mission over the recently U.S. occupied Okinawa. The rear observer in a photo-taking position. He’s holding a Type 100 hand-held aerial camera, standard for the Ki-46. |
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| A rare view of the observer’s position showing the Army Type 99 Hi Mk 1 radio. The transmitter is on the top and the receiver on the bottom. |
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| A photo which according to the caption was taken after the crew had returned from their mission over Okinawa. Note that the observer is wearing a life vest, only natural for missions over water. |
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| The pilot is explaining the enemy positions to the unit commander. Note the Ki-46-III in the background. |
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| The caption says that the films are being developed although it seems unlikely. |
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| They are examining the developed film. |
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| Finally, a photo of the north airfield of Okinawa showing the various improvements the U.S. forces have done on the original strip. |
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| Ki-46-III forward fuselages in production. |
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| Ki-46-III fuselages during production. |
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| Ki-46-III starboard wings during production. |
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| Ki-46-III wings during production. |
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| Ki-46-IIs. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 17th Direct Command Reconnaissance Company. |
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| Ki-46-III. |
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| A captured Ki-46-II of the 15th Sentai undergoing maintenance at Clark Field, Philippines, May 1945. |
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| Ki-46, 10th Hiko Sentai, But Airfield, New Guinea, October 1943. |
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| An advertisement for model airplane glue from the November 1943 issue of Koku Asahi shows a Ki-46-II camouflaged with netting and palm fronds being serviced by ground crewmen. |
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| Ki-46-III. |
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| Camouflaged Ki-46 during a parafrag attack, But Aerodrome, New Guinea, 18 August 1943. |
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| Ki-46. |
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| Ki-46, 76th Dokuritsu Chutai, and Ki-51 Sonia, 4th Kokugun, wrecks, Wewak, New Guinea, 1943. |
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| Ki-46 in flight. |
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| Ki-46, 10th Hiko Sentai, Hollandia, Dutch East Indies, 1944. |
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| Captured Ki-46-III being examined by French air force officer in Indochina, 1945. |
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| Ki-46-II of the 2nd Chutai, 81st Sentai being serviced by ground crewmen. |
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| Tail of a Ki-46 of the 81st Sentai shot down over India on 16 January 1944. Pilot was Captain Kuriyama. |
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| Pilot of a Ki-46-II just returned from a mission hands his sword to a ground crewman. |
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| Ki-46 while undergoing flight testing with the Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit—SouthEast Asia. |
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| Another view of the Ki-46 of the ATAIU-SEA in flight during testing. |
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| This and next several photos show Ki-46 “TAIC 10” undergoing flight testing with the Technical Air Intelligence Center (TAIC). |
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| Another view of the Ki-46 “TAIC 10” undergoing flight testing with the Technical Air Intelligence Center (TAIC). |
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| Another view of the Ki-46 “TAIC 10” undergoing flight testing with the Technical Air Intelligence Center (TAIC). |
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| Another view of the Ki-46 “TAIC 10” undergoing flight testing with the Technical Air Intelligence Center (TAIC). |
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| Another view of the Ki-46 “TAIC 10” undergoing flight testing with the Technical Air Intelligence Center (TAIC). |
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| Another view of the Ki-46 “TAIC 10” undergoing flight testing with the Technical Air Intelligence Center (TAIC). |
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| Another view of the Ki-46 “TAIC 10” undergoing flight testing with the Technical Air Intelligence Center (TAIC). |
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| Another view of the Ki-46 “TAIC 10” undergoing flight testing with the Technical Air Intelligence Center (TAIC). |
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| Another view of the Ki-46 “TAIC 10” undergoing flight testing with the Technical Air Intelligence Center (TAIC). |
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| Another view of the Ki-46 “TAIC 10” undergoing flight testing with the Technical Air Intelligence Center (TAIC). |
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| American ground crewmen servicing a captured Ki-46-II. |
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| Another view of the Ki-46 “TAIC 10” undergoing flight testing with the Technical Air Intelligence Center (TAIC). |
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| Another view of the Ki-46 “TAIC 10” undergoing flight testing with the Technical Air Intelligence Center (TAIC). |
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| The following photos are of the same Ki-46 “TAIC 10” undergoing flight testing with the Technical Air Intelligence Center (TAIC). Note that now there are horizontal red/white stripes added to the rudder and a vertical blue stripe on the tail fin. |
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| Another view of the same Ki-46 “TAIC 10” undergoing flight testing with the Technical Air Intelligence Center (TAIC) with the red, white and blue tail. |
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| Another view of the same Ki-46 “TAIC 10” undergoing flight testing with the Technical Air Intelligence Center (TAIC) with the red, white and blue tail. |
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| Another view of the same Ki-46 “TAIC 10” undergoing flight testing with the Technical Air Intelligence Center (TAIC) with the red, white and blue tail. |
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| Another view of the same Ki-46 “TAIC 10” undergoing flight testing with the Technical Air Intelligence Center (TAIC) with the red, white and blue tail. |
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| Ki-46 intercepting B-29s of the 29th Bomb Group, Twentieth Air Force, somewhere over the Marianas, 1945. |
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| Ki-46-II overpainted tail markings seen after the surrender at Rabaul, New Britain, 1945. |
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| Ki-46-II overpainted tail markings seen after the surrender at Rabaul, New Britain, 1945. Close-up of tail in above photo. |
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| Entire aircraft hastily over-painted in white with green crosses applied to fuselage and wings. |
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| Another view of same Ki-46-II. |
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| Ki-46-III. Menado, Celebes, 3 October 1945. Occupation by Menado Force. Lieutenant Colonel R. A. C. Muir, commander of the force, and Colonel de Rooy, Netherlands East Indies Army inspecting Japanese planes at Langowan. The planes have been painted with green crosses on a white background, the agreed surrender colors. |
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| Ki-46-III in unusual surrender markings, 1945. Only the Hinomarus have been over-painted by a square of white with a cross which appears to be in blue instead of the required green, but this could also be a color shift in the original negative or print. |
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| A captured Ki-46 is loaded aboard the U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Attu (CVE-102) in 1944. |
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| Captured Ki-46-III during testing in the Soviet Union postwar. The red of the Japanese Hinomaru has been partially painted out, leaving a red Soviet star. |
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| The surviving Ki-46-III at RAF Chivenor, 1971. |
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| The surviving Ki-46-III at RAF Chivenor, 1971. |
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| The surviving Ki-46-III at RAF Chivenor, 1971. |
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| Ki-46-III at RAF Cosford. |
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| Ki-46-III at RAF Cosford. |
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| Ki-46-III at RAF Cosford. |
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| Ki-46-III at RAF Cosford. |
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| Mitsubishi Ki.46-Hei (plan, front and side views), Ki.46-Otsu, Ki-46-Hei KAI. |
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| Mitsubishi Ki.46-II. |
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| Mitsubishi Ki.46-III. |
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| Mitsubishi Ki46-III. |
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| Mitsubishi Ki.46-IIIb-KAI. |
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| Mitsubishi Ki.46-II. |
