The project for a modern monoplane fighter denominated PE was commenced by the Japanese Nakajima. That project revealed its utility when in 1935 the Japanese Army made a valutative comparison between Kawasaki, Mitsubishi and Nakajima itself for the acquisition of a new fighter , the Ki-27, the whose project was similar to that of a majored PE. It was built in 2 prototype and 10 pre-series exemplars. Thanks to its capabilities in fact of speed and manuverability the Ki-27 resulted winner and in 1937 it was ordered for the series production as Ki-27a ( Type97 Mod.A ). Built until 1942, the Nakajima Ki-27 demonstrated to be an effective plane in the Japanese campaing of Korea, but in the Pacific war against americans the plane resulted outclassed by modern american fighters and it was transferred to the second-line where it was utilized until 1943. The Allied nicknamed it "Nate".

 

July 12, 2005

Fuentes utilizadas:

The Great Planes: A Source about World War 2 Aviation