I am thinking of Manchukuo and Thailand,
among others perhaps, which were equipped with Japanese aircraft. Any
facts on how these ended up there?

I don't know, but I suspect they were sold. Of course they weren't
front-line aircraft. The army I know provided Ki-27 "Nate" fighters to
both those satellites. (Type 97 Army Fighter

More significantly, Japan turned over a sentai (group) of Nakajima
Ki-43-IIB Hayabusa fighters to the Royal Thai air force in the spring
of 1944. Richard Bueschel says that one squadron served in China under
Japanese command.

Several countires including France used captured Hayabusas postwar.

all the best -- Dan Ford
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