The Ki-84 Hayate (gale) or 'Frank' is considered the best Japanese fighter available in large numbers during WWII - some 3400 examples were produced from late 1943. This aircraft, captured in the Philippines, was shipped to America in 1945 and later flew as a warbird, N3385G. Sold to Japan in 1973. The only surviving Ki-84, it has been preserved in a museum in Chiran, near Kagoshima, since 1997. Photo from: US Navy - National Naval Aviation Museum

The Shiden or 'George' was unusually developed from a floatplane fighter, the N1K Kyofu or 'Rex'. It was a formidable dogfighting aircraft, despite technical issues that were solved in the N1K2-J Shiden Kai with low-set wing. This is assumed to be c/n 5511, Imperial Japanese Navy tail code 201-53, which was captured in the Philippines in January 1945 and given identification number S7 by TAIU-SWPA at Clark Field. It only flew once as such as the undercarriage collapsed on landing. Note that US insignia are a bit off, with old-fashioned rudder striping serving as a warning to Allied pilots. Photo from: US Navy - National Naval Aviation Museum

First flown in August 1940, the Ki-44 Shoki interceptor fighter was named for a Taoist deity who fights ghosts and evil beings. Powered by Nakajima's bulky Ha-41 radial engine, it had good climb speed, but was not outstanding. 1223 airframes were built for the Japanese army and given the reporting name 'Tojo' by the Allies. This one is listed as a 'Ki-43-Ia', but by its July 1944 manufacture date and c;/n 2068 it should be a Ki-44-IIc. It was captured at Clark Field in Mach 1945 and flown by TAIU-SWPA, a joint USAAF/USN/RAAF intelligence unit, until a crash in June. Photo from: US Navy - National Naval Aviation Museum