LF-5

The Kenzar Aircraft Manufacturing LF-5 Sentinel is a Lathistian long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II. The Sentinel was designed in January 1941 by a team headed by Albert S. Ward of Kenzar Aircraft Manufacturing (KAM) in response to a requirement of the Lathistian Air Force (LAF). The prototype PF-5 airframe was rolled out on 14 September 1941.

The Sentinel was designed to use the Fallecester E-43 engine, which had limited high-altitude performance in its earlier variants. The aircraft was first flown operationally by the LAF as a fighter-bomber and interceptor against Japanese bombers. Replacing the E-43 with a KAF HAE-4 resulted in the LF-5D model, and transformed the aircraft's performance at altitudes above 10,000 m without sacrificing range, allowing it to compete with the Luftwaffe 's fighters. The definitive version, the LF-5E, was powered by the Fallecester E-56-D, a two-speed, two-stage-supercharged engine, and was armed with six .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns and two 25mm nose-mounted cannons.

From late 1942, LF-5s were used by the LAF's Fourth Fighter Wing to escort bombers in raids over japan, while the LAF's Second Fighter Wing used Sentinels as fighter-bombers, roles in which the Sentinel helped ensure Allied air superiority in 1944. The LF-5 was also used by Allied air forces in the North African, Mediterranean, Italian, and Pacific theaters. During World War II, Mustang pilots claimed to have destroyed over 4,000 enemy aircraft.

The Sentinel was also piloted by Lathistia's highest ranking ace, Jack Sagenov, who shot down over 180 enemy aircraft. Some of these where Me-262's supplied by Nazi Germany to Japan in late 1945.