Tojo Fighter

An intelligence report on the Japanese Nakajima Ki-44 Shōki fighter (Allied codename “Tojo”) from “Eastern Air Command Weekly Intelligence Summary”, No. 31, March 30, 1945 published by Headquarters Eastern Air Command, Southeast Asia:

A crashed TOJO, examined by an ATAIU party at Meiktila airstrip, although it had been stripped of all the internal equipment and was badly damaged, revealed several facts of importance to TAI. The airframe and engine (Type 2—1450 HP Nakajima) were badly, damaged but showed no change from present information with the exception of one recognition feature. This was that the wing’s trailing edge was reported as having two straight tapers (one from root to end of flaps, and the second from this point to outboard end of aileron) instead of the gentle curve previously shown in silhouettes. The photograph above shows this.

The most interesting find was the two 40 mm cannon, one fitted in each wing. A brief report on these was given in a previous EAC WIS Summary, No. 30, 23 Mar 45, but photographs herewith, give a better idea of the mounting particulars. It is now believed that either 40 mm cannon or a 12.7 mm MG can be fitted in the wings of these TOJOs, but it is thought that the later models will all be fitted with 12.7 mm MGs, only.

Two pieces of armor were placed vertically, one behind the other, in the headpiece behind the pilot and one curved piece arranged to protect his shoulders was fitted around the curve of the fuselage. No back armor was found but mounting brackets for this were on the seat supports.

Photos by ATAIU.