Nakajima Aircraft Utsunomiya Plant

The Nakajima Aircraft Company Utsunomiya Plant (中島飛行機宇都宮製作所) was established in January 1944 as a dedicated assembly facility for Imperial Japanese Army fighter aircraft. Located in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture — a major garrison town for the Imperial Japanese Army — the plant was Nakajima's newest and most modern production facility, featuring two completely independent production lines capable of handling the entire manufacturing process from sheet metal cutting and forming through to final assembly.

The Utsunomiya Plant's primary mission was mass production of the Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (四式戦闘機「疾風」), designated the Army Type 4 Fighter and codenamed 'Frank' by the Allies. The Ki-84 was generally regarded as the finest Japanese fighter aircraft to see large-scale combat operations, combining high speed, excellent maneuverability, heavy armament (two 20mm cannons and two 12.7mm machine guns in the Ki-84-Ia variant), and the ability to intercept high-flying B-29 Superfortress bombers. Production at Utsunomiya began in May 1944 with just 3 aircraft and steadily increased, reaching a peak of 115 aircraft in May 1945. By July 1945, the plant had delivered a total of 727 Hayate fighters, though this fell short of the planned production targets.

Some accounts state that the plant also contributed to production of the Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (一式戦闘機「隼」), the Army Type 1 Fighter codenamed 'Oscar' by the Allies. The Ki-43 was the most numerous fighter in the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service, known for its exceptional maneuverability and lightweight construction. Together with the main Ota Plant in Gunma Prefecture, Utsunomiya formed the backbone of Nakajima's army fighter production network.

During the devastating Utsunomiya air raids of July 1945, when 133 B-29 bombers were dispatched (115 of which bombed the city, according to the US mission report) and dropped over 800 tons of incendiary bombs on the night of July 12-13, the plant itself largely escaped direct B-29 strikes. However, the plant's airfield and facilities suffered repeated attacks from carrier-based aircraft and P-51 Mustang fighters, causing damage to hangars and completed aircraft. On April 1, 1945, Nakajima Aircraft was nationalized as part of the First Munitions Arsenal (第一軍需工廠), effectively placing the plant under direct government control for the remainder of the war.

Following Japan's surrender on August 15, 1945, Nakajima Aircraft was renamed Fuji Sangyo (富士産業) on August 17. The former Nakajima airstrip at Utsunomiya was occupied by American military forces during the occupation period. In 1953, five successor companies merged to form Fuji Heavy Industries (富士重工業), which inherited the Utsunomiya site. The facility continued its aviation heritage, manufacturing helicopters and aircraft components. In 2017, Fuji Heavy Industries rebranded as Subaru Corporation. Today, SUBARU's Aerospace Company operates at the same Utsunomiya location, manufacturing military helicopters including the UH-2 for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, with a cumulative production record of over 3,000 aircraft — a direct continuation of the wartime Nakajima legacy.