Kawasaki Ki-10 Type 95 “Perry”

The Kawasaki Ki-10 was designed in response to an IJAAF requirement for a new type of fighter to replace a number of outdated types in service. In contrast to the monoplane Nakajima Ki-11, which was the main competition, the Ki-10 was a staggerwing biplane. The design was more manoeuvrable than the Ki-11 and, after changes to improve its speed, the Ki-10 was accepted into service as the Type 95 fighter.

The Type 95 was powered by an 850hp Kawasaki Ha9 engine, which could drive the aircraft at up to 250mph. It carried the usual Japanese fighter armament of two 7.7mm machine guns. The plane was built with a metal frame covered by fabric, one of the last Japanese aircraft to be so constructed.

Type 95s carried out the bulk of fighter missions over Northern China during the first months of the ‘China Incident’, escorting bombers on raids against Chinese airfields and other targets. It was during these raids that Type 95 pilots recorded the first victory claims against enemy aircraft, claims that were the first in the history of the IJAAF. Later, Type 95s moved south to operate from Shanghai alongside IJNAF units.

A few months into the Sino-Japanese War the Ki-27 Type 97 fighter began to replace the Type 95. By the time of Pearl Harbor, Type 95s were out of active service altogether, apart from a brief stint operating as a reconnaissance aircraft. The Allies, believing that the type was still in service, assigned the reporting name “Perry” to the fighter in 1942.