Kagero MON-3058 58 - Kawasaki Ki - 61 Hien/Ki-100 (English)

• Monograph No. 58 Kawasaki Ki - 61 Hien/Ki-100 Leszek A. Wieliczko
• 116 pages
• 105 black and white photos
• 19 A4 sheets with model plans (in scales 1:48, 1:72)
• 14 colour silhouettes
• Book in English

The Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien remains to this day one of Japan's most recognisable World War II fighter aircraft. It was distinguished by its propulsion system - it was the only Japanese fighter produced in series during the war with a liquid-cooled inline engine. The Ki-61 appeared in greater numbers at the front in the summer of 1943. They fought over New Guinea, the Philippines, Okinawa and in the defence of the Japanese Islands. More than 3,000 Ki-61s of various versions and variants were built. Towards the end of the war, Ki-100 aircraft, created by combining the Ki-61-II Kai airframe with the Mitsubishi Ha-112-II star engine, also entered service.

The book describes the origins and development history of all versions and variants of the aircraft, from the Ki-60, through the Ki-61-I and Ki-61-II, to the Ki-100-I and Ki-100-II. The description of combat use covers the period from its somewhat fortuitous debut at the Doolittle Rally in April 1942 to the end of the war. There is also information on the fate of Allied captured and tested examples, as well as paint and markings. The book is supplemented by numerous tables and appendices, a dozen sheets of drawings in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 scale and colour charts with silhouettes of selected aircraft.