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Japan's Mitsubishi G4M bomber^1,2,3
Allied Name: "Betty"^1,2,3

Mitsubishi G4M bomber with a Baka under the fuselage:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:
Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:
Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:
Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:
Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:
Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:
Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M Type 1 bomber with a Baka under the fuselage:
Mitsubishi G4M bombers surrounding a Nakajima J1N:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:	Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber:
Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber carrying a Baka under the fuselage:

Design

The Mitsubishi G4M was designed by Kiro Honjo in 1937 to meet a requirement for a long range bomber.^1,2

To save weight for the addition of fuel, the G4M had no armor to protect it's fuel tanks.³

Cockpit

The pilots sat next to each other in the cockpit and had an escape hatch in the roof.¹ The navigator was below and to the rear of them.¹

Prototype

The Mitsubishi G4M1 prototype was first flown on October 23, 1939.^1,2,3

Production

Production ended in August 1945.³

• Prototypes: 2³
• G6M1: 30³
  • Constructed in 1940³
• G4M1: 1,200^2,3
• G4M2: 1,154^2,3
• G4M3: 60^2,3
• Total: 2,446³

Variants

• G6M1: Heavy escort fighter.³
• G6M1-K: Trainer.³ Converted G6M1s.³
• G6M1-L2: Paratroop transports.³ Converted G6M1s.³
• G4M1: Prototype.² Production.³ Deliveries started in April 1941.³
• G4M2: Increased armament and fuel.² Used Mitsubishi Kasei radial engines (1,800 HP).²
• G4M3: Had increased protection for the crew.²
• G4M3 Model 34: New tail turret.³ Fuselage shorter.³ Dihedral tailplane.³ Protection for crew and fuel.³ First appeared in early 1944.³
• ???: Transport version.¹
• ???: Trainer version.¹

Usage

The Mitsubishi G4Ms became operational in 1940.¹

Due to the ease at which the G4Ms blew up, American pilots nicknamed them the "flying cigarette lighter."^1,3

Early War

During the first year of World War II the G4M was able to have success against the Allies.³ But soon it was outmatched by the Allied fighters coming to the front lines.³

Prince of Wales and Repulse Sunk

Mitsubishi G4Ms helped in the destruction of the British HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse on December 10, 1941.^1,2

The End of Admiral Yamamoto

The mastermind behind the early success in World War II of the Japanese was shot down by P-38s while being flown in a Mitsubishi G4M.^1,2

G4Ms with Ohka

The very first mission of the G4M with Ohkas attached ended with all the planes being shot down before the Ohkas were released.¹

Surrender

The G4Ms were used at the end of the war to carry the surrender delegation to Io Shima on August 19, 1945.^2,3

	Mitsubishi G4M1,3	Mitsubishi G4M33
Type	Medium bomber3
Crew	73
Engine (Type)	Kasei 211	2: Mitsubishi Kasei 213
OR		2: Mitsubishi Kasei 25/25b3
Cylinders
Cooling
Net HP		21: 1,800 each3 25/25b: 1,825 each3
Propeller blades
Fuel capacity - wings
Fuel capacity - drop tank
Dimensions
Span	82' 0.25"3 25 m3	82' 0.25"3 25 m3
Length		63' 11.75"3 19.5 m3
Height	19' 8.25"3 6 m3	19' 8.25"3 6 m3
Wing area
Weight
Empty
Loaded
Performance
Speed
Climb to 9,800' / 3,000 m
Service ceiling
Range
Armament
Tail	20 mm Type 991 60 rounds1
Bombs

Sources:

1. Aircraft of World War II, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
2. Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
3. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998

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