Mitsubishi Ki-51 Captured by Australia
A ‘Sonia’ of the Japanese 73rd Independent Air Squadron was captured by members of No. 4 Squadron, RAAF at Keningau and flown to Labuan Island. The aircraft had its armament disabled and was painted army green on the upper surfaces and light grey on the lower surfaces, with large green ‘surrender’ crosses on both sides of the fuselage, above and below the wings, and on each side of the tail. The squadron code QE-? was painted in white on the fin. A number of No 4 Squadron personnel flew the aircraft before it was transferred to No 1 Squadron at Labuan in north-west Borneo. It was eventually written off after a landing accident.
Photos of Japanese operated Ki-43s can be found here.
