World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
12 Aug 2013 07:30:46 AM

FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY:

When US Forces captured Clark Field in the Philippines, the Japanese abandoned many different
types of combat aircraft that were used by both the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy. Some of those fighters and bombers were airworthy while others were in need of repair for TAIU-SWPA to test and evaluate.
The Nakajima Ki44(Tojo)S-11 in file photo, was one of several that were captured and operated by the 29th Sentai was repaired and tested stripped
of its camouflage with US marking applied during
test flights, captured Japanese aircraft flew with escort aircraft, so not to be mistaken for an enemy aircraft.

SWORDS INTO PLOWSHEARS:

After WWII Clark Field became a major base for the disposal of wartime aircraft. Allied fighters and Bombers were bulldozed into junk and buried in pits.
Surviving Japanese aircraft shared the same fate. A few of the Japanese aircraft were shipped back to the United States for further evaluation some were later scrapped others went to museums or static display and left in the open, for decades, where they fell into despair, those aircraft were later saved and restored by the National Air & Space Museum, Washington D.C.
Today not one Nakajima Ki44(Tojo)survives they were destroyed in the great scrapping frenzy after WWII.

CLARK FIELD:

Clark Field was named after Major Harold M. Clark
a pioneering army aviator, who was killed in a seaplane accident in Panama in 1919.
Major Clark is buried at Arlington Cemetery USA

2.  Bill says:
2 Dec 2016 07:02:58 PM

TESTING & EVALUATION: FOREIGN EQUIPMENT

File photos shows a captured Nakajima Ki-44-IIc evaluated by TAIU-SWPA February 14, 1945
Aircraft given identification S-11 on tail Nakajima s/n 2068. US Forces captured a treasure trove of abandoned Imperial Army and Navy aircraft plus support equipment. Many were made airworthy and test flown by US pilots...

What was TAIU-SWPA (Technical Air Intelligence Unit-South West Pacific Area) this unit was responsible for salvage, repair and the testing of Japanese aircraft during WWII.

3.  Bill says:
3 Dec 2016 06:00:18 PM

EAGLE FARM HANGAR 7: XJ FOR EXPERIMENTAL JAPANESE

TAIU-SWPA salvaged, rebuilt and tested captured Japanese aircraft, at Eagle Farm, Australia.
One flyable A6M3, Model 32 Hamp was rebuilt from five other A6M airframes, flown and evaluated.
One KI-43 Oscar was rebuilt, flown and tested from three other airframes.
One KI-61 Tony was also flown and tested at Eagle Farm.
Official records state, that no KI-44 Tojo were tested and evaluated at Eagle Farm, this could be confused with several KI-44's that were captured, at Clark Field, Philippines Islands by advancing US Forces, one S-11 shown in file photo, was tested by TAIU-SWPA along with other types of aircraft left behind by the retreating Japanese...

I thank the editor/ww2db for allowing me to leave my comments and to share my knowledge of WWII