Nakajima Ki-44 “Tojo”
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The Nakajima Ki-44 “Tojo” was primarily used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force as a high-speed interceptor to defend the Japanese home islands against B-29 raids. It saw significant action in the China-Burma-India (CBI) theater and was deployed in Southeast Asia (Malaya, Sumatra, Philippines) to protect vital oil fields and installations.
Key deployment areas and usage included:
- Japanese Home Islands: Used extensively in 1944–1945 for point-defense against Allied heavy bombers.
- China and Burma: Deployed against Allied bombers in these theaters.
- Malaya and Dutch East Indies: Early, limited deployment to test the aircraft in combat conditions starting in late 1941.
- Philippines: Deployed during the defense of the region.
- Special Operations: Utilized by specialized units like the 47th Sentai "Shinten" unit for anti-bomber ramming tactics near Tokyo.
The Ki-44 was designed for speed and climb rate rather than maneuverability, filling the role of a heavy interceptor.
