Nakajima Ki-43-II, 5465
History
The Nakajima Ki-43-II Hayabusa (Allied reporting name: "Oscar") with serial number 5465 was a Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) fighter aircraft constructed in May 1943. It was delivered to the JAAF and ferried from Japan to New Guinea. Assigned to an unknown Sentai, possibly the 13th or 26th, the aircraft bore no known markings or tail code. By late 1943 or early 1944, it was abandoned at Alexishafen Airfield, likely after suffering a landing accident. The Japanese may have stripped it for usable parts before abandonment, and it was further damaged by Allied bombing and strafing attacks.
On April 26, 1944, the Australian Army's 30th Battalion captured the wreckage when they occupied Alexishafen Airfield.A team from the Air Technical Intelligence Unit (ATIU) noted the aircraft's manufacture number as 5465 on May 1, 1944.Subsequently, the aircraft was abandoned, and due to its location on land owned by the Catholic Church, the wreckage was not removed. By the early 1960s, parts such as the propeller, engine cowling, and nose access panels had been removed, and the cockpit canopy was missing. The tail section showed signs of damage, likely from local people or Allied personnel taking souvenirs.
In 1984, a team from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), on behalf of the Australian War Memorial (AWM), recovered the aircraft. It was transported to Madang, then shipped to Australia. At the AWM Annex, the aircraft underwent conservation, including immersion in a chemical bath and electro-chemical stabilization of corrosion products.Since 2000, the rear fuselage and engine have been displayed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, while the wings and center section are stored at the AWM Annex.
The aircraft was originally camouflaged with an irregular pattern of sprayed patches of Japanese Army Air Force medium green. The fin bears the faded remains of a yellow "V" with red edges, possibly the insignia of the 63rd Air Combat Regiment, 3rd Company. A white combat stripe is visible around the rear fuselage. The serial number 5465 is applied on the port side just below the tailplane.
The Ki-43 Hayabusa was the primary fighter aircraft used by the JAAF during the Pacific conflict. It was renowned for its maneuverability but lacked armor and self-sealing fuel tanks, making it vulnerable to enemy fire.