Tachikawa Ki-54 Explained

The Tachikawa Ki-54 was a Japanese twin-engine advanced trainer used during World War II. The aircraft was named Hickory by the Allies.

History

The Ki-54 was developed in response to an Imperial Japanese Army requirement for a twin-engine advanced trainer, principally for crew training. The prototype first flew in summer 1940 and, on completing trials, entered production in 1941 as Army Type 1 Advanced Trainer Model A (Ki-54a). The Ki-54a was soon followed by the Ki-54b as Army Type 1 Operations Trainer Model B and Ki-54c as Army Type 1 Transport Model C. The Ki-54b and -c enjoyed successful careers until the end of the war. A few captured aircraft were flown after the war by various users.

Operators

• Imperial Japanese Army Air Force used them for training as per their design.

• Manchukuo Air Force Three were provided by Japan as VIP transports.

China-Nanjing

• Nanjing air force

• Republic of China Air Force Nationalist Chinese (captured).

• People's Liberation Army Air Force Communist Chinese (captured): Four captured Ki-54s were used, including in 1951 to train the first class of female pilots in China. They were retired in 1952.

• Armée de l'Air At least seven Ki-54 were recovered by the French in French Indochina between 1945 and 1947, after the Japanese surrender.

United Kingdom

• One aircraft operated briefly by No. 273 Squadron RAF during September and October 1945 in French Indochina.^[1]

Variants

• Ki-54a - unarmed pilot trainer
• Ki-54b - armed crew trainer
• Ki-54c - eight-passenger light transport, communications aircraft. Civil designation Y-59.
• Ki-54d - maritime reconnaissance/ASW, carried 8x 60-kg (132-lb) depth charges
• Ki-110 - one prototype Ki-54c of all-wood construction, destroyed in US bombing attack
• Ki-111 - projected fuel tanker (none built)
• Ki-114 - projected fuel tanker of all-wood construction (none built)

Surviving aircraft

• A Ki-54 fuselage is in Australia in storage at the Australian War Museum Annex. It was previously part of a playground at the RAAF Fairbairn base kindergarten.^{[2] [3]}
• Another Ki-54 fuselage is stored in China at the Chinese Aviation Museum.^[4]
• An unrestored Ki-54 is on display at the Misawa Aviation & Science Museum, Japan, it was found at the bottom of Lake Towada in Aomori Prefecture on 13 August 2010. It was recovered on 5 September 2012^[5] and has been restored for display.^[6]

References

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, .)
• Book: Mondey, David . The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II . New York . Bounty Books . 1996 . 1-85152-966-7.
• Soumille. Jean-Claude. Les avions japonais aux coleurs françaises . Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et Son Histoire . September 1999 . 78 . 6–17 . Japanese Aircraft in French Colors. French . 1243-8650.

Notes and References

1. Thomas. Andy. July 2008. Vietnam Prelude. FlyPast. Key Publishing. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. 324. 70–71.
2. Web site: Anyone got pics of the AWM Ki-54?. https://web.archive.org/web/20120412222921/http://www.warbirdz.net/forum/showthread.php?t=363. dead. 12 April 2012. Warbirdz Aviation Photography. 15 December 2013.
3. Web site: Tachikawa Ki-54c 'Hickory' fuselage: 10th Independent Air Brigade, Imperial Japanese Army Air Force . . awm.gov.au . . June 15, 2018 .
4. Web site: Aircraft database. LPH2O. April 3, 2016.
5. Web site: 旧陸軍の練習機69年ぶり地上に、青森・十和田湖で引き揚げ. Former Army training aircraft pulled out of lake for the first time in 69 years. September 5, 2012. April 2, 2016. ja.
6. Web site: 旧陸軍練習機、十和田湖で発見…戦時中に墜落. August 13, 2010. Yomiuri Online. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20100816175650/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/20100813-OYT1T00773.htm. August 16, 2010. dead.