Ki-61 and Ki-100 Aces (Aircraft of the Aces Book 114)

This is a long-awaited and terrific Osprey Publishing Aircraft of the Aces volume by preeminent WWII Japanese aviation historian Nicolas Millman! The Ki-61 Hien,(Flying Swallow) allied codenamed "Tony" was the only operational, in-line, liquid-cooled engine fighter in the Japanese arsenal. When ultimately equipped with a Mitsubishi radial engine, it became the Ki-100 Goshikisen (Type 5) which received no allied codename. This volume examines the Japanese aviators that achieved acedom in each configuration. The colour plates are well-executed by illustrator Ronnie Olsthoorn. This is a very valuable history, long-awaited by many aviation enthusiasts and does not disappoint. There are many unique, archival photographs that I haven't seen before! I found the defense against the B-29 Superfortress raids to be particularly enlightening!

Well written and well illustrated with as good a selection of photos as is available. Millman is a recognized expert on Japanese camouflage and paints. Here he uses his knowledge to explain in more detail than usual the probable late-war colors applied to Ki-61s and Ki-100s. Also contains much interesting information on pilots and units and the fighters' development. Especially useful for modellers who want the latest info on these planes and their markings. A valuable adjunct to specialty decal sheets.

This book tells part of the story of IJA success with new modern aircraft hoarded for surviving aces to combat USAAF & USN air in and before the anticipated invasion of Japan, i.e. the KI-61, & KI-100 fighters. These far surpassed the performance of OSCAR & enabled the aces to seriously challenge American air power over the Home Islands in the closing days of WWII.Unfortunately the story of IJA aces in the superlative KI-84 FRANK are not included in the narrative, nor are those of the IJN aces in the first class GEORGE & JACK fighters, equally modern and in the hands of aces, equally deadly.Japan's air defense in 1945 was not confined to just masses of obsolete aircraft flown on kamikaze missions by half trained young cadet aviators as this narrative proves.Indeed, had Japan's newly flown jet fighters gone into production and into the hands of aces, US B-29s & fighter aircraft would have suffered severe losses.The US jet fighter, the P-80 had neither the range to fly into Japanese air space from Okinawa, , nor the ability to launch from US carriers.

Another title in Osprey's Aircraft of the Aces series, and thankfully focusing on the often under researched and under written Imperial Japanese Air Force. (Seriously, how many more Spitfire, Me-109, and Fw-190 Aces of..... books can they write?) Good color profiles and a lot of previously unseen photos round out a well written title. Nice chapter on development of the Tony and it's licensed DB-601 engine. Can't wait for the next one!

Nick Millman has done a superb job on the Hien. Much research, and much input from Japanese sources. The color profiles are some of the best I've seen in this series with very accurate colors, markings and weathering, which is a must for modelers. I think he's also using sources from Japanese aviation literature, some of which we've collected for a few decades even though we couldn't read Japanese and just looked at the pictures! I look very much forward to further books in this series on Japanese aviation from Nick.

A short, overall history book about two interesting planes. The most interesting of the two is the Ki-100. If Japan had more experienced pilots and if it were introduced earlier in the war (with slightly better metallurgy), we'd have a serious problem. But they didn't so we won.

A great book on the Ki-61 and Ki-100. The book has general descriptions of each variant along with combat stories or the various men who flew the planes. The profile drawing and pictures are numerous. However, I gave it 4 stars becase it did not include any 3-view drawing.

Description of the fighting and events during the war in the Pacific

Great book fantastic service

Very interesting.

Very much.Just what I expectet.

Definitely reccomended, full of pictures and high quality colour profiles.

Ich sammele diese Serie(n) und kann mich stundenlang von einem Buch zum anderen hangeln - sehr zum Leidwesen meiner Frau muß man mich nicht bespaßen. Mein "SchoolEnglishYouKnow" ist für die Bewältigung des Lesestoffes so ziemlich ausreichend und man lernt dabei, nur für manche Vokabeln muß man halt die "google" anwerfen. Die Wiedergabe der Fotos ist manchmal ein wenig lütt im Format, aber das ist der Größe der Bücher als "etwas größer als das iPad Air2" geschuldet. Wie gesagt, stundenlang ... und daher kann ich keine unvoreingenommene Rezension schreiben ...