Mitsubishi Ki-57, foreign users

 

The Mitsubishi Ki-57 was a Japanese transport aircraft that was developed from the Ki-21 bomber. It was used by Japan but also by many other countries, like the following ones:

• People's Republic of China: After World War II and the subsequent follow-up of the Chinese Civil War, the Red Army of China took over many Ki-57 transports, left over by the Japanese, mostly in Manchuria, left overs at Changchun airfield. They were employed during the last part of the conflict in the mainland, mainly as trainers, in the flight academy that the Red Army of China (forerunner of the People's Liberation Army) had set in that region. After the war ended, in 1949, they were still being used as trainers until 1952, when they were written off due to their age.
• Republic of China: Just like their Communist foes, the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) used some captured MC-20s (the civilian version of the Ki-57 military transport) after the Japanese retreat in 1945. Those were captured mainly in the Mukden airfield, they were also used during the latest stages of the Chinese Civil War, however, they were mostly either destroyed or captured by the Red Army when the Nationalists retreated to Taiwan. 
• Reorganized National Government of the Republic of China: The Japanese collaborationist puppet government had, theoretically, one MC-20 in strength which was used as the presidential transport of Wang Jingwei (president of the collaborationist government). Further details are unknown and, as we couldn't find graphical information, the drawing should be considered as speculative.
• Dutch East Indies: In order to repatriate and liberate Allied civilian and soldiers prisoners of war the Rescue of Allied Prisoners of War and Internees (RAPWI) commission, set up a RAPWI-Air transport company. This was founded by Captain Arens, a former KNILM (the official airline of the Dutch East Indies) pilot and was composed of dozens of left-over Japanese airplanes, among them four Ki-57 machines as well as Japanese airmen. A number of those repatriation flights were conducted by Japanese pilots, often accompanied by Dutch soldiers. For example, one of those service repatriation flights was set up between the cities of Bali and Bandung.
• Manchukuo: The Manchukuo National Airways, more known by its Japanese acronym MKKK (a paramilitary organization working for the Japanese Kwantung Army), had in inventory a total of 20 MC-20 machines. These were supplied by Japan and were used as transport and VIP aircraft. During the last stages of World War II, they were taken over by the Manchukuo Imperial Air Force and flew with Japanese markings, though they kept their Manchurian numbers and pilots. Most of them were either destroyed during the Soviet Invasion of Manchuria or captured and given to the Chinese Red Army.
• Second Philippine Republic: The Japanese puppet government set up in the Philippines had one MC-20 which was used as the presidential transport of José P. Laurel (the president of that republic). As we couldn't find further info nor pics of this aircraft, the drawing should be considered as speculative.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Ki-57

2. http://cwlam2000.epizy.com/manchu_x.htm#6、三菱陸軍百式運輸機_/_MC-20_（1945）（Mitsubishi_Ki-57_,_MC-20）(M-600,_601,602,_603,_604,_605...) (translated as much as we could)

3. https://www.ipms.nl/artikelen/nedmil-luchtvaart/vliegtuigen-m/vliegtuigen-m-mitsubishi-ki57 (translated)

4. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/gy/reg_M-.html