Mitsubishi Ki-51 Explained
The Mitsubishi Ki-51 (Army designation "Type 99 Assault Plane"; Allied reporting name "Sonia") was a light bomber/dive bomber in service with the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. It first flew in mid-1939. Initially deployed against Chinese forces, it proved to be too slow to hold up against the fighter aircraft of the other Allied powers. However, it performed a useful ground-attack role in the China-Burma-India theater, notably from airfields too rough for many other aircraft. As the war drew to a close, the Japanese began using them in kamikaze attacks. Total production was around 2,385 units.
On the day Hiroshima was destroyed by an atomic bomb, a single Ki-51 was responsible for the last Japanese sinking of a US warship, sinking with all hands.
Variants
- Prototypes: two built
- Service trials: 11 built
- Ki-51: 2,372 built (Manufacturers: Mitsubishi (1,462), Tachikawa Army Air Arsenal (913)) until March 1944
- Ki-51A: reconnaissance version.
- Ki-51B: assault version with armor and bomb racks to carry of bombs. It could also be fitted with an aerial camera.
- Mansyu Ki-71: three prototypes built by Mansyu with retractable landing gear, did not enter production.
Operators
Indonesia
- Indonesian Air Force - In late 1945, the Indonesian People's Security Army (TKR) captured some aircraft at Japanese bases, including Bugis Air Base in Malang. Most aircraft were destroyed during the Indonesian National Revolution of 1945–1949. Two Yokosuka K5Y "Cureng", and a Ki-51 "Guntei" carried out a bombing operation against the Dutch on July 29, 1947.
- Communist Chinese (captured): The last 4 of around 100 Ki-51s were retired in 1953.
- Following independence, transferred from the Soviet Union.
- Used by South Korean Airforce during Korean War
Bibliography
- Book: Francillon, René J.. Japanese aircraft of the Pacific War. 1979. Putnam. 0-370-30251-6. London. 6124909. (new edition 1987 by Putnam Aeronautical Books, .)
- Green. William. Swanborough. Gordon. amp . Pentagon Over the Islands: The Thirty-Year History of Indonesian Military Aviation. Air Enthusiast Quarterly . n.d. . 2 . 154–162 . 0143-5450.
- Soumille. Jean-Claude. Les avions japonais aux couleurs françaises . Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et Son Histoire . September 1999 . 78 . 6–17 . Japanese Aircraft in French Colors. French . 1243-8650.
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