The Mitsubishi G4M Bomber, was codenamed “Betty” by the Americans. It was a land-based bomber built with speed and long-range in mind. Consequently weight was critical, and it was stripped of any equipment not deemed essential. One example was that its fuel tanks were not self-sealing, making it highly vulnerable. Its tendency to catch fire led to it being nicknamed “The Flying Cigar”. This was a particular problem when it was used in a torpedo bombing role, as a high altitude bomber it was less of an issue.
Betty Bombers were apparently involved in the sinking of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse off Malaysia. And it was a G4M that was shot down in 1943 while carrying Admiral Yamamoto.
This particular Betty Bomber failed to make the runway at Eten island and crashed into the sea, where it now lies upright at about 18 metres. The propellors were still spinning when it hit the water, and they seem to have dragged both of the engines off the wings, as they are now found about 50-60 metres in front of the rest of the aircraft. They are about the same distance apart as they would have been when they were attached. Previously I’d not been up to the engines, so it was interesting to see them.
The main section of the aircraft is also quite interesting. The front has been damaged and the cockpit is at an angle to the fuselage. There is a hatch on top which is wide enough to get in and out of. Similarly the waist gun ports are large enough to swim into, and with care you can get out via the tail section. There were masses of glassfish inside. Quite a lot of artefacts have been put on the seabed on the port side.
We saw a massive napoleon wrasse hanging around one of the wings, as well as a blue fin trevally that seemed to be out hunting. There were also some nice coral shrimp hiding in the exposed wing struts on the starboard wing.
Trevor and I were a little reluctant to do this dive, as we didn’t recall the Betty Bomber being that inspiring. But Rita and Andreas had never done it, so we got talked into it. And I’m glad we did as it was far better than I remember it being. Although the Napoleon wrasse might have had something to do with that.
Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” Bomber
- Length: 66 ft
- Wingspan: 85 ft
- Height 55 ft
- Engines: 2
- Armament: 4 x 12.7mm machine guns, 20mm cannon (now resting on starboard tailplane, approx 1700 lbs of bombs, or torpedo. This particular one apparently had 38 incendiary bombs removed from it
Our Dive:
- Depth: 25.1 metres
- Time: 59 minutes
- Gas: Air
Photos courtesy of Lau Wing Kee. (“Model”: Catheryn Chu)
Graphic courtesy of Captain Lance Higgs of S.S. Thorfinn.
