Carl_Brisgamer
01-17-2013, 22:46
My WGS project #5 for 2013 is a flight of three Mitsubishi G4M2 'Betty' bombers of the Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun Koukuu-tai (Imperial Japanese Naval Air Service). Entering operational service in April 1941, the G4M was the most numerous Japanese bomber of the war. It earned the nickname the 'Flying Cigar' on account of its shape and because the fuel tanks were unprotected and easily caught fire. The 'Betty' was also capable of carrying a torpedo, the type contributing to the sinking of the British capital ships 'Prince of Wales' and 'Repulse' off the Malaya coast on December 10, 1941. A total of 2,446 were built in several versions right up to August 1945. Its outstanding range of over 4,000 km with a full bombload revolutionised operational concepts in the Pacific.
For these AIM models I painted the upper surfaces JN green and the undersides JN grey, aluminium spinners, yellow leading edges and black engine and nose panels. Canopies are the usual mix of metallic blue and white. I also added rear 20mm cannons made from paper clip wire.
71670
I am using these 'Bettys' to represent G4M1 aircraft of the 753rd Kokutai involved in the bombing of Darwin in 1943. A very experienced unit flying out of Kendari Airfield on Sulawesi, 'Bettys' of the 753rd conducted numerous raids on this Australia port and surrounding airfields throughout that year. Here the flight is about to commence a high level bombing run on Darwin:
71667
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The images below include a Spitfire gun camera image of a G4M1 over Darwin and the wreckage of a downed 'Betty' in the northern Australian bush.
71671 71672
I have generated the following stats for the Mitsubishi G4M1 - Manouver deck XB (428 kmh), 26 damage points (little armour and no self sealing tanks), top altitude 11 (9150m) and climb rate 5 (9.1m/s). Firing arcs are front trainable 7.7mm MG (A/A), left and right waist trainable 7.7mm MG's (A/A), dorsal hatch trainable 7.7mm MG (A/A) and rear trainable 20mm cannon (C/C).
I have also finished up a management card and arc card for use with the existing bomber bases:
71673 71674
For these AIM models I painted the upper surfaces JN green and the undersides JN grey, aluminium spinners, yellow leading edges and black engine and nose panels. Canopies are the usual mix of metallic blue and white. I also added rear 20mm cannons made from paper clip wire.
71670
I am using these 'Bettys' to represent G4M1 aircraft of the 753rd Kokutai involved in the bombing of Darwin in 1943. A very experienced unit flying out of Kendari Airfield on Sulawesi, 'Bettys' of the 753rd conducted numerous raids on this Australia port and surrounding airfields throughout that year. Here the flight is about to commence a high level bombing run on Darwin:
71667
71666
71665
The images below include a Spitfire gun camera image of a G4M1 over Darwin and the wreckage of a downed 'Betty' in the northern Australian bush.
71671 71672
I have generated the following stats for the Mitsubishi G4M1 - Manouver deck XB (428 kmh), 26 damage points (little armour and no self sealing tanks), top altitude 11 (9150m) and climb rate 5 (9.1m/s). Firing arcs are front trainable 7.7mm MG (A/A), left and right waist trainable 7.7mm MG's (A/A), dorsal hatch trainable 7.7mm MG (A/A) and rear trainable 20mm cannon (C/C).
I have also finished up a management card and arc card for use with the existing bomber bases:
71673 71674