Mitsubishi Type 1 Rikko 'Betty' Units of World War 2 (Osprey Combat Aircraft 22)

The most produced Japanese bomber of the World War II (1939-1945), the G4M saw action on every front from the first day of the Pacific conflict through to VJ-Day. The 'Betty's' very long range made it a key weapon during the opening year of the war. However, to achieve this, the aircraft was built with very little protective armour for its crew or fuel tanks, and Allied pilots soon exposed its extreme vulnerability. In the first in a series of volumes examining the key Japanese aircraft of WW2, Dr Osamu Tagaya details the G4M's extensive combat history, and lists all the units which operated the bomber. The most produced Japanese bomber of the war saw action on every front from the first day of the Pacific conflict through to VJ-Day. This title charts the history of the "Betty", its strengths and weaknesses, and gives information about the crews who flew them. Among the major participants of World War 2, Japan was unique in having its strategic air striking capabilities in the hands of its naval air arm rather than in those of its army (or air force) counterpart.