Aviation Artist Ronnie Olsthoorn has recently updated Profile # 22 In Osprey's Aircraft of the Aces 100 on the Ki-44 'Tojo' Aces of World War 2 in light of a newly revealed reference and very kindly shares the revised illustration above. For many years this aircraft, attributed to the Shinten Seikutai (Heaven Shaking Air Superiority Unit) air-to-air ramming flight of Hiko Dai 47 Sentai, was depicted in profiles and on box art with an all red tail based on a single and inconclusive photograph. However a photograph published in Bunrindo's Famous Aircraft of the World Special Edition Vol.8 'Pictorial History of Japanese Army 47th Flying-Sentai' reveals the full right hand side of this aircraft revealing a dark painted rudder with the lighter sentai insignia still apparent. The aircraft is captioned as belonging to the Asahi (1st) Chutai and therefore the insignia colours are presumed blue - or 'cobalt blue' as often described.
With special thanks to Ronnie for providing the revised profile. And worry not - decals for this aircraft and other 47th Sentai 'spectaculars' will shortly be available!
Image credit: © 2020 Ronnie Olsthoorn.