〇〇式司令部偵察機 Mitsubishi Ki-46 III ‘Dinah’ 5439
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Mitsubishi Ki-46 III ‘Dinah’ 5439 〇〇式司令部偵察機
A reconnaissance aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, built in 1943. On display at the RAF Museum at Cosford.
Not only is this the only surviving Mitsubishi Ki-46 (Dinah) it is also the only twin engined Japanese WWII aircraft anywhere in the world.
I have taken liberties with the fuselage roundel, the original paint job appeared a bit rough in this view.
History of this aircraft.
www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/collections/1989-0307-AF-M…
Nice work Ian. I didn’t know it was also the only 2 engine Japanese aircraft remaining. I wonder if the men that picked the code name "Dinah" for the type did because he liked Dinah Shore, she was popular at the time. I’m sure some one must know.
Excellent shot.. Love the lighting.
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/peacelovescoobie] Yeah I wonder….
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/nondesigner] Thanks Malcolm.
Didnt know we had one over here, great shot.
great photo ian
great looking plane
Nice shot of this very interesting airfcraft. I recall there was also an interceptor version produced, armed with a high caliber cannon.
I’m surprised there are no other Japanese twin-engine WWII aircrafts saved. No G4M, no Ki-21? They must have been produced in thousands.
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/bazylek]
they were destroyed in them too ….I suppose the conditions down in the Pacific do not promote longevity of metals or anything else for that matter so even the ones not destroyed outright in action and crashes must have soon become a sorry state .
I remember this Ian …its a great museum but difficult to get a decent view of any of the aircraft !
Gonna have to visit again with more time and on a less busy day .
Nice shot:)
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/pasujoba44] Paul, I think both you and Ian may find this set of photos interesting: http://www.pacificghosts.com/zero/
The wreck of the A6M2 flown by Lt. Yamaguchi was found in New Guinea in 2003. Here’s a short story of the mission (attack against Port Moresby) from which the IJN pilot never returned: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/a6m2/yamaguchi.html
I believe that some Japanese wrecks are yet to be discovered, hopefully some in the state which would allow a full restoration..
nice to have a touch of the Pacific in yr stream Ian 🙂
I’ve read somewhere about how the Betty got it’s name, but not the Dinah, will keep my eye out. cool having this info sharing forum and all these likewise keen folk – great work 🙂
O. this is interesting:
"The World War II Allied names for Japanese aircraft were reporting names, often described as codenames, given by Allied personnel to Imperial Japanese aircraft during the Pacific campaign of World War II. The names were used by Allied personnel to identify aircraft operated by the Japanese for reporting and descriptive purposes. Generally, Western men’s names were given to fighter aircraft, women’s names to bombers, transports, and reconnaissance aircraft, bird names to gliders, and tree names to trainer aircraft." quote from Wiki [link below, my bold].
Wiki link Allied Names for Japanese Aircraft
still doesn’t explain where Dinah came from tho’ …
aye theres a Nip in the air !
Tora tora tora……!!!
Janwillem
It is a great place to look around – need to go back!
I’ve yet to go back to Cosford since they scrapped the Boeing 707, might never forgive them for that, anyway, I remember making the Airfix kit of this aircraft in my younger years.
Oh blimey, I missed this one. A very rare plane indeed
OK, Ian… Spill it. Where’d you learn to type Japanese?! 🙂
Love the pp you did here with colours and b&w. I’m learning, learning!
I helped to restore this aircraft whilst it was at St Athan. I was on a technical course and anyone willing to crouch in the fuselage and use scotch-brite to remove corrosion, was welcome to do so in their off-duty hours.