Aircraft History
Built by Mitsubishi at Nagoya No. 3 Works during February 1943. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy. Assigned to an unknown Kokutai possibly 702 Kōkūtai or 705 Kokutai. Tail number unknown.

Wartime History
Sometime before July 17, 1943, this Betty force landed on the eastern side of Ballale Airfield parallel to the runway. During the crash, the tail twisted upside down and came to rest atop the left wing, bending both. This bomber appears in an aerial photo taken on July 17, 1943 proving it crashed sometime prior to that date.

Wreckage
This bomber is abandoned on Ballale Island. Both engines remain in place. The nose gun ring is in the upward position (12 o'clock). The fuselage skin shows rippling from nearby bomb blasts.

References
Air'Tell Research Report "G4M Serial Numbers" by Jim Long
Pacific Aircraft Wrecks page 5 (top)
Charles Darby noted this aircraft as G4M1 Betty manufacture number 3617 during 1974

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Last Updated
July 15, 2022