Mitsubishi Type 1 Rikko 'Betty' Units of World War 2 (Osprey Combat Aircraft 22) [Paperback]

Osamu Tagaya (Author), Mark Styling (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Combat Aircraft | Publication Date: April 25, 2001

The most produced Japanese bomber of the World War II (1939-1945), 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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If the "Zero" is the best known Japanese fighter of WWII, it is the "Betty" that gets that distinction in the bomber category. Despite this fame, little is published in english about the stories of the aircrews and missions they preformed. Readers learn about its design, operations, and stories of its crews, from the first days of the Pacific war, until the very end of the Japanese empire... For anyone interested in greater detail into the Japanese side of the Betty bomber story, and details on its crews and operations through WWII, this book is sure to impress and inform." -www.pacificwrecks.com

From the Publisher

Osprey's Combat series combines the best archival photography available with specially commissioned artworks and first hand accounts, making these books favourites amongst historians, modellers and aviation enthusiasts everywhere.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing; 1 edition (April 25, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 184176082X
• ISBN-13: 978-1841760827
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,492,698 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mitsubishi Type I Rikko Betty (G4M) Units of World War II, August 6, 2001

By 

"rstewart508" (Santa Maria, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mitsubishi Type 1 Rikko 'Betty' Units of World War 2 (Osprey Combat Aircraft 22) (Paperback)

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 this gentleman (D3A Val Units) as a result of my satisfaction with this fine piece of research. A great deal of insight from various and numerous Japanese sources is very much in evidence here. Readers are exposed to the G4M Betty and the hardships of the aircrews/units that flew it to be sure, but as an added benefit Mr. Tagaya's research sheds light on the chasm of differences between Japanese and American air campaign theory and management in WW 2. Anyone with a more than casual interest in the subject will quickly realize its value and want to keep this reference readily available. Worth every cent you'll pay, and more!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another good book of the Combat Serie, June 21, 2001

By 

Jacopo Porreca (Ascoli Piceno, Italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mitsubishi Type 1 Rikko 'Betty' Units of World War 2 (Osprey Combat Aircraft 22) (Paperback)

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 aircrw are also well detailed. The action against the Force Z on december 10, 1941 and the use versus US Navy ships in the Guadalcanal campaign, is enriched with day by day account of the mission. I found the book in some way better than others in the same serie, with a particular attention toward new informations on the "Betty".

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Superb, August 9, 2004

By 

Jonathan Parshall (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mitsubishi Type 1 Rikko 'Betty' Units of World War 2 (Osprey Combat Aircraft 22) (Paperback)

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