Mitsubishi G4M1 Model 11, 1280
History
Built by Mitsubishi at Nagoya No. 3 Works on April 16, 1942.
Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as Type 1 Attack Bomber / G4M1 Model 11 Betty manufacture number 1280. Assigned to an unknown Kōkūtai (Air Group). Possibly, assigned to the 761 Kōkūtai (761 Air Group). Tail code "370" and later "-321". This Betty operated from western New Guinea. The precise wartime history of this aircraft is unknown, possibly it was used as transport plane. By 1944, force landed wheels up at Babo Airfield with the left engine feathered. After the landing, the nose was crushed and likely was written off.
This Betty was abandoned at the edge of the runway at Babo Airfield. Afterwards, both wings were removed and placed near the fuselage, possibly in an attempt to repair the bomber or for spare parts. During 1944, this Betty was photographed by B-25 Mitchell from the 3rd Bomb Group during a low level strike against the airfield.
During 1991, this Betty as removed by Bruce Fenstermaker. Inside the wreckage, he found an ink pen from one of the crew members, a gift for a martial arts competition. Also recovered was A6M3 Zero 3869, A6M2 Zero Tail 33, D4Y1 July 7483 and Ki-61 Tony 7?? plus other aircraft wreckage were placed into shipping containers and exported to Los Angeles.
The salvaged aircraft were originally intended for the Santa Monica Museum of Flight. Unsold, this Betty was purchased by Planes of Fame Museum and transported to Chino Airfield.
Since the early 1990s, displayed at Planes of Fame Museum unrestored in a jungle diorama in their World War II hanger.
In November 2015, this aircraft was sold to Paul Allen / Flying Heritage Collection (FHC) and likely owned by his holding company, Vulcan Warbirds, Inc. This Betty was trucked from Chino, California to an unknown storage facility, likely in the Everett, Washington area