A heavy fighter derivative, the Mitsubishi G6M1, was developed in 1940 for use as a long-range escort fighter by the IJNAS; the design was never utilized in the escort role, with the roughly 30 production models instead being employed as transport aircraft.

The Mitsubishi G6M1 was a Japanese heavy fighter developed during World War II for use as an escort fighter or escort gunship (similar to the American YB-40) by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service.

The Mitsubishi G6M was a Japanese heavy fighter developed during World War II for use as an escort fighter or escort gunship (similar to the American YB-40) by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service.

The G6M1 escort fighter carried no bombs. A total of 2,446 G4Ms and G6Ms were produced between 1941 and 1945. The GM4 was flown in action from Australia to the Aleutians.

Built by Mitsubishi at Nagoya No. 3 Works. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as G6M1-L Betty manufacture number unknown. Assigned to the Yokosuka Kokutai (Yokosuka Air Group) at Yokosuka Airfield. No known tail code or markings.

On August 29, 1942 while parked at Buna Airfield (Old Strip), destroyed during an air raid by B-26 Marauders from 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG) and P-400 Airacobras. The attack burned the aircraft's center section, leaving only the engines and tail section.

Nov 2, 2018 · Lieutenant Den Sudo emerges from the cockpit of his Mitsubishi G6M1-L—a “wingtip escort” heavy fighter variant of the G4M1 “Betty” bomber converted to a transport—at Ie Shima on August 19, 1945. The white-painted airplane carried officials charged with arranging details of the Japanese surrender.

Feb 24, 2015 · In 1937 the Imperial Japanese Navy issued an incredibly difficult specification mandating production of land-based bombers with even greater range than the superb G3M. Although such performance was usually attained by four-engine designs, the new craft was restricted to only two.

Sep 3, 2015 · As a result Mitsubishi was ordered to convert the first G4Ms into the G6M1 ‘Convoy Escort Fighter’, with no bomb carrying capability but additional defensive turrets. The G6M proved a failure as it lacked the speed to maintain formation even with the G3M.

Bataan 1 and Bataan 2 were two demilitarized Japanese bomber/transport aircraft that carried the first surrender delegations from Japan to Ie Shima as part of the surrender of Japan in World War II.