Japanese Mitsubishi G4M 'Betty' Bomber Wreck-Yap Island
October 2005

Click to Enlarge Image used with permission from diggerhistory.info

Few would know it by its official designation, the Navy Type 1 Attack Bomber. The Allies called it the BETTY but to the men that flew the airplane, it was popularly, but unofficially, the 'Hamaki,' Japanese for cigar, in honour of the airplane's rotund, cigar-shaped fuselage. The Japanese built more of them than any other bomber during World War II. From the first day of war until after the surrender, BETTY bombers saw service throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Like its stable mate, Mitsubishi's Zero Fighter the Hamaki soldiered on long after it became obsolete, even dangerous, to fly wherever Allied interceptors prowled. For more information about the Mitsubishi G4M 'Betty' Bomber please visit: www.diggerhistory.info

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Revisiting the Japanese Mitsubishi G4M Betty Bomber Wreck Site
September 2006

We returned to the Betty Bomber wreck site to show others the site and to see if the site had changed since last year. I was pleased to see the site had not been altered and the wreckage seemed to be intact. The plane was likely hit by an American air strike since the wreckage is scattered between bomb craters. The site has been scavenged for parts over the years, however, it's interesting to walk the site and still see a majority of the plane at the site. This is a very interesting wreck site to visit but it is also one of the most common tourist attractions since it is easy to locate off the old runway.

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