Japanese Aircraft In Foreign Service Volume 1 

by Jacek Jackiewicz
and Severyn Fleischer

Published by Atelier Kecay

Reviewed by Sinuhe Hahn

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This is the 4th book in the Kecay series on aircraft in foreign hands during WW2, the first 3 dealing with the Messerchmitt Bf 109 and the Focke Wulf Fw 190. In this new volume, the focus is on the use of Japanese Aircraft by non-Imperial forces. Volume 2 will address the examination of captured Japanese aircraft by US, UK and Allies (New Zealand and Australia), whilst volume 3 deal with Western aircraft captured by the Japanese forces, as well as those procured by Japan prior to the break out of hostilities.

In their 130 page treatise the authors examine Japanese aircraft captured by Chinese forces prior to 1944, as well as those captured either by Nationalist or Communist forces post 1944. This includes a large number of different aircraft including familiar types such as Mitsubishi A5M2b Claude, Mitsubishi A6M Zero in various guises, Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar, Kawasaki Ki-61 Tony, but also unusual types such as the license built Nakajima/Manchu Fokker Universal. As is usual for the authors, each aircraft type is described via a number of photos, which form the basis for superb multi-view illustrations.

Other users of captured aircraft include Korea, Indonesia, Soviet Russia, the Netherlands (Dutch East Indies) and France. The latter is of particular interest, as several of these types, such as the Nakajima Oscar were used in the Indo-French conflict, but also very rare types such as a sole Nakajima Rufe.

The book does not only deal with captured or seized aircraft, but also includes foreign users who legally purchased aircraft, such as those owned by Siam, Manchuria and the Nanking government, which are of particular interest, as these are rarely, if ever, dealt with in other publications.

As I have number of books on this topic, it was a pleasure for me to see so many unknown photos and illustrations of unfamiliar schemes. The authors have obviously done their homework well!

The book can be either purchased directly from: www.kecay.com or a number of international distributors. As under $50.-, including shipping, it presents excellent value.

Review Copyright © 2012 by Sinuhe Hahn
This Page Created on 9 May, 2012
Last updated 9 May, 2012

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