Mitsubishi
G6M1
The Mitsubishi G6M1 was a Japanese twin‑engined, long‑range bomber developed in the early 1940s as a successor to the famed G4M “Betty”. Initiated in 1942, the project aimed to address the G4M’s vulnerability to enemy fighters by incorporating stronger wing structures, self‑sealing fuel tanks, and improved defensive armament. Two Mitsubishi Kasei 23 radial engines, each delivering 1,850 hp, powered the aircraft, granting a maximum speed of 520 km/h and a combat radius of roughly 5,500 km with a 2,500‑kg bomb load. Its sleek, low‑drag fuselage featured a pressurised crew compartment for up to seven members, enabling high‑altitude operations up to 9,500 meters. Although a prototype flew in late 1943, the G6M1 never entered mass production; shifting war priorities and material shortages forced Mitsubishi to suspend the programme in early 1945. Nonetheless, the G6M1 contributed valuable lessons on structural reinforcement and fuel‑system protection that influenced post‑war Japanese designs such as the YS‑11 transport. Aviation historians regard the G6M1 as a transitional step that highlighted the evolution from vulnerable, wood‑laden bombers to more robust, metal‑stressed airframes, marking an important, though brief, chapter in Japan’s aeronautical development.
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 30
- First Flight
- 1940