Nakajima Ki-43-II Hayabusa 'Oscar': Mainplane/cockpit: Access Hatch

Access hatch from the mainplane/cockpit section of a Nakajima Ki-43-II Hayabusa (Peregrine Falcon) all metal single engine low wing monoplane fighter aircraft. This machine is believed to have been constructed in 1943 and has the serial no. 5465. This access hatch from the mainplane consists of a rectangular alloy sheet. Around the edge are recessed points for mounting screws. In the centre of the panel is a reinforcing section of alloy extrusion and a smaller alloy frame for an access hatch.

The Nakajima Ki. 43 was the principle type of fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Forces (IJAAF) during the Pacific conflict. Together with fighter aircraft of the Navy, machines of this type participated in all the significant Japanese land actions of the Second World War from 8 December 1941, and the Ki-43 (Allied code-name "Oscar") was used extensively in New Guinea against Australian forces. In September 1984 a combined Australian War Memorial/ RAAF team recovered this damaged airframe from Sek fighter airstrip at Alexishafen near Madang, New Guinea. An engine with cowling and propeller was also recovered from the same location. The machine bears evidence of extensive straffing damage and the probable impact of a para-fragmentation bomb. It is believed this aircraft was abandoned at the airstrip after suffering a landing accident. The fin bears the faded remains of a yellow V with red edges, which may be the insignia of the 63rd Air Combat Regiment, 3rd Company. The machine also bears a white combat stripe around the rear fuselage. The serial no. 5465 is applied on the port side just below the tail plane. The aircraft was originally camouflaged with an irregular pattern of sprayed patches of Japanese Army Airforce medium green. The airframe has been conserved following immersion in a chemical bath and the conversion of corrosion products into a stable form using electro-chemical techniques.