Japan's Mitsubishi Ki-67 Hiryu (flying dragon) bomber; Army Type 4
Allied code name: Peggy

Photos

Mitsubishi Ki-67, "Peggy" bomber:
Mitsubishi Ki-67, "Peggy" bomber:

Design

In 1940 a specification was put forth for a heavy strategic bomber that would be used against the Soviet Union in an anticipated war with them.¹

The Mitsubishi Ki-67 was to be a successor to the Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu as Army specifications were issued in February 1941.^2,3 The specifications called for a bomber that could carry 1,764 lbs of bombs, travel at 340 mph, operate from 13,000' - 22,750', be defended by five machine guns, and have a crew of six to eight.³ Three prototypes were ordered from Mitsubishi.³ The designers also tried to make the plane as easy to maintain as possible.³

Unusually for a Japanese design the Mitsubishi Ki-67 had armor protection and self sealing fuel tanks.¹

After the prototype flew the Army made many suggestions for changes that it delayed the project.¹

Prototype

The Ki-67 prototype first flew on December 27, 1942^1,3 / December 27, 1943². The second prototype was ready in February 1943, and the third in March 1943.³

Production

Deliveries of the Ki-67-I began in April 1944.²

Production was disrupted by an earthquake in December 1944 and American bombing.²

• Prototypes: 3³
• Mitsubishi Ki-67: 698¹
  • Manufacturers: Mitsubishi (606)², Kawasaki (91)², Tachikawa Army Air Arsenal (1)²
• Mitsubishi Ki-67-II Prototype: 2²
• Total: 698³
  • Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K.³
• Mitsubishi Ki-109: 22^2,3
  • Built between August 1944 - March 1945.²

Variants

• Mitsubishi Ki-67-I: First production model.²
• Mitsubishi Ki-67-I KAI: Suicide bomber.²
• Mitsubishi Ki-67-Ib:
• Mitsubishi Ki-67-II Prototype: Had Ha-214 radial engines (2,400 HP).²
• Yasukuni: Navy version that carried a torpedo.³
• Mitsubishi Ki-109: Heavy fighter.^2,3 Cannons in nose.² Crew of two.² Used Ha-211 Ru engines (2,200 HP).² Had a 75 mm cannon with 15 rounds installed.³

Usage

Army's First Use

In October 1944 the Ki-67 was used in combat by the 7th Sentai and 98th Sentai.¹

Navy's First Use

In October 1944 the Ki-67 was first used as a torpedo bomber by the 762nd Kokutai in a battle off of Formosa against the United States 3rd Fleet.^1,2

Okinawa Campaign

During the battle for Okinawa the Ki-67 was used to attack the American Mariana Island air force bases.²

China

The Ki-67 was used over China late in the war, but performance was hampered by inexperienced crews.²

Specifications

	Mitsubishi Ki-671,2	Mitsubishi Ki-67-I Hiryu3
Type	Bomber1, Medium bomber2, Torpedo bomber2	Bomber3
Crew	6 - 81,2	6 - 83
Engine (Type)	2: Mitsubishi Ha-104 piston1,2	2: Mitsubishi Ha-1043
Cylinders	Radial1, Radial 142	Radial 143
Cooling		Air3
Net HP	1,900 each1,2	1,900 each3
Propeller blades	42
Dimensions
Span	73' 9.75"1,2 22.5 m1,2	73' 10"3
Length	61' 4.25"1,2 18.7 m1,2	61' 4"3
Height	18' 4.5"2, 25' 3 1/8"1 5.6 m2, 7.7 m1	25' 3"3
Wing area	708.8 ft2 1 65.85 m2 1
Weight
Empty	19,068 lb1, 19,070 lb2 8,649 kg1, 8,650 kg2
Loaded	30,347 lb1,2 13,765 kg1,2	30,347 lb3
Performance
Speed @ 19,980' / 6,090 m	334 mph1,2 537 kph1,2	334 mph3
Cruising speed	249 mph2 400 kph2
Climb	1,476'/minute2 450 m/minute2
Climb to 19,685' / 6,000 m	14.5 minutes1,2
Service ceiling	31,070'1,2 9,470 m1,2	31,070'3
Range	1,740 miles1,2 2,800 km1,2	2,360 miles3
Maximum range	2,360 miles2 3,800 km2
Armament		4: MG3 1: 20 mm3
Nose	1: 12.7 mm MG2 1: 12.7 mm Type 11
Beam	1: 12.7 mm MG2 1: 12.7 mm Type 11
Tail	1: 12.7 mm MG2 1: 12.7 mm Type 11
Tail - later models	2: 12.7 mm MG2
Dorsal	1: 20 mm2 1: 20 mm He-51
Normal bomb load	1,102 lb2 500 kg2
Bombs	1,764 lb1,2 800 kg1,2	1,764 lb3
OR
Torpedo	1: 2,359 lb1 1: 1,070 kg1
OR	1: 1,764 lb2 1: 800 kg2
OR
Bombs - kamikaze	6,393 lb1 2,900 kg1