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| IJN 751 Kōkūtai Former Assignment Kanoya Kōkūtai |
Aircraft History Built by Mitsubishi at Nagoya No. 3 Works. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as Type 1 Attack Bomber Hamaki / G4M1 Model 11 Betty manufacture number unknown. Wartime History Assigned to Kanoya Kōkūtai (Kanoya Air Group) with tail code K-393. This bomber was painted with green and brown disperse camouflage pattern with gray lower surfaces. During December 1941 at the start of the Pacific War, this bomber was likely based in the Saigon area of French Indochina (Vietnam) and participated in the Malay campaign. Afterwards, converted into a transport version and operated in the South Pacific. If this bomber remained in service after November 1, 1942 redesignated 751 Kōkūtai (751 Air Group). Mission History During 1942 or 1943, this Betty crashed on Buka Island north of Buka Airfield. After impact, the bomber burned, leaving only the tail section intact. Wreckage During 1974, the prewar green and brown disperse camouflage pattern was still visible and tail code K-393. Reportedly, this wreckage was a day's trek north of Buka Airfield. According to Josh Mcdade in 1999: "On maps is a Betty at this airfield. It is supposed to be approximately 200 meters from the SW end in a linear line with the runway from the SNW corner. A number of Peace Monitoring Group members have made attempts to search this area which is highly overgrown with no luck. The overgrowth is thick and commonly up to six meters high. Viewing from overhead helicopter flights have not been helpful." Justin Taylan adds: "In September 2003, I attempted to locate this wreck. Locals took me to the north side of the strip, where there were a few small pieces of a Japanese aircraft. I believe this was just wreckage or bits from another aircraft. The Betty, no one knew about and it would take further investigations to locate, or it has been scrapped it seems." References Pacific Aircraft Wrecks (1979) page 28 "There is some reason to believe that this aircraft could have been as one of the 30 G6M1 heavy escort fighter and subsequently converted to a transport, but the remainder of the aircraft was too badly burned for any conclusive evidence to remain." Contribute
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