Ki-44 'Tojo' Aces of World War 2
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Aircraft of the Aces 100
Author: Nicholas Millman
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-84908-440-6
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 96
While the study of aviation over Europe during the Second World War is well documented, finding good references on Japanese aviation is more challenging. This latest title in the Osprey Aircraft of the Aces series helps fill that void, covering the Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki fighter. Sadly, no Ki-44 aircraft survived the war, so we have no historical originals to examine. As such, books such as this one are all the more valuable, and the author has gone to great lengths to provide a solid reference.
The book begins with an overview of the development process that resulted in the Ki-44. Contrary to previous designs, the Ki-44 focused on speed and durability over maneuverability. As such, the Ki-44 was a formidable airplane, difficult to bring down, and helped change the way the Japanese deployed their fighter force. As a strategic point defense fighter, the Ki-44 did quite well in protecting the Japanese islands from US bombers. The author does a great job of highlighting these operations in subsequent chapters, with attention given to the Ki-44 in Southeast Asia, China, and over Japan.
Like other titles in the Osprey Aircraft of the Aces series, this book is filled with photographs. Finding good photographic references on Japanese aircraft is challenging, so it is good to see the breadth of coverage in this book. Complementing the photo record, of course, are the excellent color profile illustrations, drawn by Ronnie Olsthoorn. The same artist did the cover artwork as well as the scale drawings, making for a great all-around package.
Overall, this is a very nice addition to the Osprey Aircraft of the Aces series, and a welcome addition to the Japanese aviation historian's library. My thanks to Osprey Publishing for the review copy.