Kokusai Ki-76

In 1940, the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force ordered the Nippon Kokusai Koku Kogyo to produce an artillery spotting and liaison aircraft. The resulting Ki-76 was inspired by, and similar to, the German Fieseler Fi 156 "Storch", although not a direct copy. Like the "Storch", it was a high-winged monoplane with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage. However, rather than the slotted flaps used by the German aircraft, the Ki-76 used Fowler flaps, while it was powered by Hitachi Ha-42 radial engine rather than the Argus As 10 inline engine of the "Storch". First flying in May 1941, the Ki-76 proved successful when evaluated against an example of the Fi-156 and was ordered into production as the Army Type 3 Command Liaison Plane in November 1942. ==Operational history==

The Ki-76 remained in service as an artillery spotter and liaison aircraft until the end of the War. Ki-76s were also used as anti-submarine aircraft, operating from the Japanese Army's escort carrier, the Akitsu Maru, being fitted with an arrestor hook and carrying two 60 kg (132 lb) depth charges. ==Operators==

; • Imperial Japanese Army Air Service ; • Royal Thai Air Force ==Specifications (Ki-76)==