Ki-84 “Frank”, Japanese Fighter

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Nakajima Ki-84-1a Hayate ("Gail") “Frank”

Specifications:

The Ki-84 Hayate (Gale), known to the Allies as "Frank", was probably the best Japanese fighter to enter production. However, by the time "Frank" went into production, quality control was so poor that the aircraft coming out of the factory were barely serviceable. In particular, there was a tendency for the landing gear, which were poorly heat-treated, to fold up. There were also persistent problems with the fuel injection system. But those that worked and were piloted well could sometimes outfly a Mustang.

The design dated to early 1942, when the Army called for a new fighter to replace the Ki-43 "Oscar". This was a matter of foresightedness rather than any disappointment with "Oscar". The new fighter was to have a long range, high speed, and improved armament and armor protection. The design team, led by Koyama T., completed a prototype by March 1943 and this proved to have unusually few bugs. Service trials production began in August 1943 and quantity production began in April 1944.

Unlike most Japanese fighters, "Frank" was properly armed and protected. The basic "Zero" pattern of cannon in the wings and machine guns in the nose cowling was retained in the Ia, but the cannon were higher velocity with a much larger ammunition loadout and the machine guns were heavy rather than rifle caliber. The Ib and Ic had powerful all-cannon armament.

The first operational use of "Frank" was with 22 Air Brigade in China in March 1944, where it operated against Chennault's 14 Air Force. The new fighter must have come as something of a rude shock to the American flyers, given the satisfaction with which the Japanese regarded the performance of the experimental unit. "Frank" subsequently flew in the Philippines, at Okinawa, and in the final defense of Japan. So great was the Japanese faith in the design that, at the time of the surrender, underground factories were being built to produce "Frank" at the rate of 200 per month.

The American command took the threat posed by "Frank" seriously enough to designate the Ota assembly plant as a priority target for strategic bombing on 11 November 1944.

Photo Gallery

Wikimedia Commons

Website with very complete photography of museum specimen

References

Craven and Cate (1952; accessed 2014-12-13)

Francillon (1979)

Gunston (1978)

Wilson (1998)

The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2007, 2009-2010, 2014 by Kent G. Budge. Index

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