Mitsubishi G4M
Country of origin
Japan
Japan
ManufacturerMitsubishi Heavy Industries
The Mitsubishi G4M was a twin-engine, land-based medium bomber manufactured by the Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and operated by the Air Service (IJNAS) of the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945. Its official designation was Mitsubishi Navy Type 1 attack bomber (一式陸上攻撃機, 一式陸攻, Ichishiki rikujō kōgeki ki, Isshikirikukō) and was commonly referred to by Japanese Navy pilots as "Hamaki" (葉巻; "cigar", lit. "leaf roll") due to the cylindrical shape of its fuselage and its tendency to ignite after a hit. The Allied reporting name was "Betty".
Designed to succeed the Mitsubishi G3M in service, the G4M boasted good performance, excellent range and was considered the best land-based naval bomber of the time. This was achieved with flimsy structure and almost total lack of crew protection, with no armor plating or self-sealing fuel tanks. The G4M was introduced on 2 April 1941, but its problems would result in heavy losses; Allied fighter pilots nicknamed the G4M "The Flying Lighter", as it was prone to ignition after a few hits. It was not until later variants of the G4M2 and G4M3 that self-sealing fuel tanks, armor protection for the crew and better...
Designed to succeed the Mitsubishi G3M in service, the G4M boasted good performance, excellent range and was considered the best land-based naval bomber of the time. This was achieved with flimsy structure and almost total lack of crew protection, with no armor plating or self-sealing fuel tanks. The G4M was introduced on 2 April 1941, but its problems would result in heavy losses; Allied fighter pilots nicknamed the G4M "The Flying Lighter", as it was prone to ignition after a few hits. It was not until later variants of the G4M2 and G4M3 that self-sealing fuel tanks, armor protection for the crew and better...
