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| IJN Yokosuka Kōkūtai |
Aircraft History Built by Mitsubishi at Nagoya No. 3 Works. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as Type 1 Attack Bomber / G4M1 Betty manufacture number unknown. Assigned to the Yokosuka Kokutai (Yokosuka Air Group) at Yokosuka Airfield. No known tail code or markings. Wartime History On August 15, 1945 after the surrender of Japan, General MacArthur instructed the Japanese to send emissaries to Manila for a meeting scheduled for August 17, 1945 to arrange the official surrender of Japan and bring all defensive plans. Japanese Army Chief of Staff Yoshijirō Umezu refused to participate and delegated the task to Lt. General Torashirō Kawabe who then picked fifteen of his staff staff to accompany him. Due to delays, the meeting was rescheduled to August 19, 1945. After the capitulation of Japan, this aircraft was painted in accordance with the terms of surrender for aircraft overall white with green crosses. Initially, larger crosses were painted on the upper surfaces of the wings and each side of the tail, mistakenly painted too large. These were over painted (but visible through the white paint). Two slightly smaller green crosses were painted over top on the upper wings and tail. On August 19, 1945 took off from Yokosuka Airfield for a brief flight to the northeast landing at Kisarazu Airfield where it embarked the Japanese surrender delegation and took off again with G6M1-L Betty"Bataan 1" with the pair flying southwest to Ie Shima Airfield. The pair were to rendezvoused with U.S. aircraft at 11:00am over Sata Misaki on the southern tip of Kyūshū between 6,000' to 9,000'. The Americans used the call sign "Bataan" for the surrender delegation planes with G6M1-L Betty "Bataan 1" and G4M1 Betty "Bataan 2". Meanwhile, at Ie Shima Airfield six B-25J Mitchells from the 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) "Air Apaches" took off in pairs to to locate and escort the surrender delegation. The lead pair included B-25J pilot Lt. Col. Doolittle and B-25J pilot Major Thomas R. Bazzel but failed to spot them. The next pair B-25J Mitchell 43-28115 pilot Major Jack C. McClure, Jr. and B-25J "Betty's Dream" 44-30934 pilot Major Wendell D. Decker loitered over Suwanosejima and were the spot the Bettys. The last pair B-25J pilot Major Robert F. Todd and B-25J pilot Major Thomas D. Giese remained over Ie Shima. Flying top cover were P-38L Lightnings from 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS) "The Headhunters". The B-25s were able to established radio contact with the Bettys but reception was poor then made visual contact and joined formation. Top cover was provided by P-38L Lightnings from 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS) "The Headhunters". At one point, the Bettys were flying slightly off course and B-25J pilot Major Jack C. McClure, Jr. took the lead to guide them back to the correct course to land at Ie Shima Airfield on Moko runway. At 12:40pm the first Betty landed at Ie Shima Airfield but had not fully lower its flaps causing it to bounce hard followed by the second Betty. On the ground, a large group of American personnel including press had gathered to witness their arrival. The Japanese delegation were escorted by Military Police (M.P.) to a waiting C-54E Skymaster 44-9045 and flown to Manila to meet with with General Douglas MacArthur's staff. Meanwhile, both Bettys were parked at Ie Shima Airfield and their air crews waited for the delegation to return. On August 20, 1945 after the meeting, the Japanese delegation returned to Ie Shima Airfield in the afternoon and boarded the Bettys for the return flight back to Japan. While taxiing, this Betty slipped off the runway damaging a wheel and required minor repairs. Five air crew with Col. Masao Matsuda remained behind to make the repairs that were completed while the other boarded G6M1-L Betty "Bataan 1" for the return flight. On August 21, 1945 at 8:00am took off from Ie Shima Airfield with the remaining air crew and were again escorted by B-25J "Betty's Dream" 44-30934 pilot Captain Walter R. Naas and B-25J pilot Captain Kenneth B. Waring northward then made the rest of the flight back to Japan without incident. The ultimate fate of this Betty is unknown. Likely, scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References The call sign of this Betty is listed as both "Bataan 2" and "Bataan II" (Roman numeral II) in some sources. Warpath Across the Pacific (1996) pages 355-358 (August 19-21, 1945 photos), 358 (August 21, 1945 photo) The Eight Ballers Eyes of the Fifth Air Force (1999) page 183 (photo) Mitsubishi Type 1 Rikko 'Betty' Units of WWII (2001) pages 98-100 Thanks to Yoji Sakaida for additional information Contribute
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