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| IJN 4th Kōkūtai |
Pilot FPO1c Kazuhichi Inoue (survived) Co-Pilot ? Navigator ? Gunner ? Force Landed May 18, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Mitsubishi at Nagoya No. 3 Works on January 4, 1942. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as Type 1 Attack Bomber / G4M1 Model 11 Betty manufacture number 3187. Wartime History Assigned to the 4th Kōkūtai (4th Air Group). Tail code F-??? (last three digits unknown). Mission History On May 18, 1942 took off from Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul piloted by FPO1c Kazuhichi Inoue armed with 60kg bombs as one of sixteen G4M1 Betty bombers led by Lt. Commander Hatsuhiko Watanabe on a bombing mission against Port Moresby. The formation was escorted by A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kōkūta (Tainan Air Group)i. Over the target, the Bettys dropped their bombs over 7 Mile Drome hitting the northwest end of the runway and dispersal area damaging water supplies, telephone lines, tents, a mess hall and two trucks from the Australian Army 17th anti-tank regiment, C Troop. After completing the bomb run, the Bettys were intercepted by Airacobras from the 8th Fighter Group, 35th Fighter Squadron and 36th Fighter Squadron. This bomber was hit causing at least thirty-five bullet holes, damaging one engine and causing it to smoke. Aboard, four of the crew were wounded. At 10:10am this Betty force landed at Lae Airfield and was written off. Wreckage This Betty was abandoned at Lae Airfield. During late September 1943 captured by Australian Army. Afterwards, investigated by Allied Technical Intelligence Unit (ATIU) that noted the manufacture number 3187 and concluded it was written off during May 1942. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References Air'Tell Research Report "G4M Serial Numbers" by Jim Long Kodochosho, 4th Kōkūtai, May 18, 1942 Japanese Aircraft Makers Plates and Markings, Report No. 20, March 20, 1945, page 15 AWM 52-1-5-51-014 pages 6-9 Mitsubishi Type 1 Rikko 'Betty' Units of World War 2 page 41 Eagles of the Southern Sky pages 139-140 Thanks to Edward Rogers for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated May 16, 2021 |
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