Does anyone know of any real evidence for black finishes for Ki-44's? Profile #255 and Aircam #25 have illustrations of black upper and natural metal lower a/c. Francillon's Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War p.66 illustrates an all black a/c and Thorpe's Japanese Army Air Force Camouflage and Markings World War II describes an S5 scheme as black (A24)upper and nmf lower. Has anyone ever seen any photo's or documented descriptions of such scheme's?
Black Ki-44's?
Oct 28, 2003
1 Replies
My bet is that they weren't black, but either (a) the dark green seen from some distance, (b) bad paint quality control, (c) odd paint weathering (like the "purple" or "lilac" Rufes) or (d) a combination of the previous.
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