The most produced Japanese bomber of the war 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.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
One of the best Osprey aviation series:
Rikko was a very imporatant part of the Japanese Imperial navy's offensive tactic and type 1 bomber along with type 96 (presicely speaking , "Land based Attack plane") was one of the most produced Japanese airplanes during the world war II. HOwever, it has been largely neglected and even condescendingly remarked with such an humiliated ephithet "flying Cigar". There are several volumes that covers this interesing speciman and cheery blossom like career of Type 1 Rikkoin Japan ,however Mr. Tagaya's volume is... more info
Simply Superb:
Osamu Tagaya is one of the world's foremost researchers on Japanese naval air forces. His superb command of the subject material is evident on every page of this volume. The illustrations are excellent as well. A valued part of my personal library. -jon parshall-
Imperial Japanese Navy Homepage
http://www.combinedfleet.com
Mitsubishi Type I Rikko Betty (G4M) Units of World War II:
Osprey has again come through with the goods with this 22nd volume addition to its series. It is filled with the same highly detailed aircraft and unit data readers have come to expect, and receive, from Osprey publications. It has this and a great deal more. I found it insightful and hard to put down. If this volume has any shortcomings it would be that it is so readable that it will be quickly digested by the reader! Mr. Tagaya held my interest through every chapter. I eagerly await the next volume by... more info
Another good book of the Combat Serie:
The Betty is a famous japanese ww2 bomber, but on his operative are until today few notices. The book is the n° 22 in the growing Osprey Combat Serie; as usual is very well done, with rare photos, many colour plates, some orders of battle for the various air group and enough details on operative use. The evolution of the Sentai strenght and the appaling losses suffered from the aircrews are also well detailed. The action against the Force Z on december 10, 1941 and the use versus US Navy ships in the... more info
