Wings of the Rising Sun by Mark Chambers

Author:Mark Chambers
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472823724
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2018-02-14T16:00:00+00:00

Built by Mitsubishi at its Nagoya No. 3 Works, this G4M2a was assigned to the 763rd Kokutai at Clark Field during the summer of 1944. Fitted with Type 3 Ku Mark 6 air-surface radar and an associated Yagi antenna array in its nose section (which had also suffered modest damage) and on the sides of the rear fuselage, the bomber was captured intact at Clark Field in February 1945. (Author collection)

As Allied fighter opposition became more organized in the defense of Port Moresby, so “Betty” losses began to mount, prompting both the IJNAF and Mitsubishi into action. Kasei 15 engines with increased power ratings at higher altitudes were fitted in an effort to allow the “Betty” to be flown above Allied light anti-aircraft guns. The underside of the wing tanks was also protected by rubber sheeting and layers of rubber sheet and sponge lined the fuselage tanks. Carbon dioxide fire extinguisher systems were also installed.

The bomber experienced a more thorough redesign with the advent of the G4M2, which first flew in prototype form in November 1942. Aside from featuring a new laminar flow wing, the aircraft was powered by 1,800hp Mitsubishi MK4P Kasai 21 engines driving four-bladed propellers. The bomber also had a larger tailplane area for improved stability, rounded wing and tail tips and increased nose glazing (including a new window for the bomb-aimer). An additional flexible 7.7mm machine gun was fitted in the nose and the dorsal gun blister was replaced by a hydraulically operated turret, housing a 20mm cannon. Operable bomb-bay doors were installed from the 65th G4M2 onward, production of this model having commenced in July 1943 – G4M1s continued to be built in the same Nagoya plant until January 1944. The final version built in substantial quantities was the G4M2a, which was powered by two 1,850hp Mitsubishi MK4T Kasai 25s. It had bulged bomb-bay doors and a variety of defensive armament depending on the sub-type, with the 20mm cannon replacing the 7.7mm machine gun in most versions. The G4M2 could carry a 1,764lb Navy Type 91 Kai-7 aerial torpedo or one 1,800lb, two 1,100lb or 12 130lb bombs.

A number of G4M2as were converted into parent aircraft for the MXY7 Navy Suicide Attacker, known as the Ohka, in early 1945, these bombers being re-designated G4M2es. In order to carry the piloted missiles, the aircraft had their bomb-bay doors removed and shackles installed to hold the Ohka in place until launch. When carrying an MXY7 the “Betty” was close to its maximum weight, making the bomber hard to maneuver when attacked by Allied fighters. Accordingly, units equipped with G4M2es suffered heavy losses following the aircraft’s combat debut in March 1945. Conventional “Betty” bombers had also been decimated during attacks on Allied shipping off the Philippines and Formosa and the Mariana and Ryuku archipelagos in 1944–45.

The final “Betty” variant to enter production, from October 1944, was the G4M3. Featuring self-sealing rubber fuel tanks, armor plating in all the crew areas and a modified tail turret similar in design

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