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| IJN Mihoro Kōkūtai |
Aircraft History Built by Mitsubishi, completed during late December 1940 as one of the last twenty-four built during the final three months of production. Uncoded serial number 617. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as Type 96 Land Based Attack Bomber / G3M2 Nell manufacture number 3617. Wartime History Assigned to the Mihoro Kōkūtai (Mihoro Air Group) with tail code M-905. This Nell likely operated as a transport. By late March 1943, this bomber was disabled on the north side of the runway at Gasmata Airfield. Wreckage During 1943, this bomber was repeatedly photographed during Allied missions against Gasmata Airfield and showing it has sustained damage to the right side of the nose and had weathered dark green upper surfaces. Nearby were bomb craters from Allied bombing raids. By March 1944 this bomber was surveyed by the Allies that recorded the manufacture number as 3617 and tail number as 905. Since the Pacific War, the wreckage remains in situ. In the 1970s, the tail had the "M" and '05" from the original tail code M-905. By the late 1970s, the wreckage was damaged by grass fires that removing most of the original paint. Over the years, the wreckage was degraded with damage to the nose and wings. Brian Bennett recalls from the 1970s to 1980s: "The G3M had the tail moved even further from the rear fuselage than it used to be. The nose was chopped off years ago so that tractors could get past it and a lot of the wings have been chopped about over the years." The wreckage of this bomber remains in situ near the terminal at Gasmata Airfield. References G3M production statistics, table 2, notes by Jim Long MIS (Military Intelligence Service) Japanese Aircraft Plates and Markings, notes G3M Nell with tail "-905" Pacific Aircraft Wrecks page 17 (upper), 40 (upper) Contribute
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