G3M Nell
The predecessor to the G4M1 Betty bomber was the G3M Nell, the Japanese bomber which sank battleships Prince of Wales and Repulse near Singapore in 1941. Mitsubishi Industries was the designer and original manufacturer of the Nell, but production at Mitsubishi was halted in the spring of 1941 when Mitsubishi turned its bomber production line attention exclusively to manufacturing Bettys. Nakajima picked up production of Nells, and produced 420 between January 1941 and March 1943. Nells operated in the South-West Pacific, but rarely as bombers. As they became increasingly obsolete they were put into the roles of hacks - for transport and liaison duties - and often flew into Ballale on such duties. This example was captured at Lae in September 1943. The aircraft is a Mark II Nell, and was constructor's number 6346, assembled on 31st October 1942. This aircraft had the numbers 325 stenciled on both tails.