Well written article, but slight correction. The Kamikaze version (To-Go Ki and Sakuradan Ki) did not have " a solid nose packed with explosive" . From the view point of center of gravity this is obvious. The To-Go Ki had 2 800KG bombs in the fuselage and a long detonating fuse stuck ut of the nose. The Sakuradan Ki had a gigantic "Sakuradan" , which emitted explosive gas in the forward direction (same principle as modern day HEAT shell) in mid fuselage.
Hal, e-mail, 10.10.2014 20:36
On my last visit to the SWAP (July 2013), I found a relatively intact Ki-67 . Have photos of it.
Mike, e-mail, 26.03.2013 01:44
About the KI-49. When I say 1 hit wonders I didn't mean she was soft, in fact the KI-49 was also with armor and was designed by the same man who designed the KI-44 Shoki, Dr. Takeo Doi. The problem with the KI-49 was her engines, she didn't have enough power and as a result traveled about 249-259 mph, depending on bomb load. What is worthwhile to note however is that the KI-49 was the first Japanese bomber to have a tail turret.......but better than the KI-67, now way!!!!!
Mike, e-mail, 26.03.2013 01:37
With out a doubt the Mitsubishi KI-67 was the best japanese bomber of the war. Where as the Mitsubishi G4M3 Bomber (Betty) has the most recognition as being the Japanese Bomber of the war......it may of been more numerical, but never better. The KI-67 was designed with the idea of crew safety and it incorporated self sealing fuel tanks right from the start and much better crew armor. She really by size and weight is a medium bomber and not a heavy bomber, oh well! The KI-67 took a long time to come into mased production cause the Koku Hombu (Air Ministry) wanted a bomber, then a tyorpedo plane, then a fighter of different calibers instead of just going forth with the bomber proposal all aslong. With all the delay the KI-67 came into service in time for the Battle of the Phillipinese in 1944 and suffered tremendous losses at tyhew hands of the american fliers. It would of been better for the Japanese to have bought the KI-67 out before the KI-49 Donryu cause all in all the KI-67 was a superior plane from any angle. Where as the Ki-49 was considered slow, and under powered it was also typical of Japanese planes....also known as 1 hit wonders!
Barry, 06.06.2012 12:36
There is no doubt that this was an extremely well designed and capable aeroplane, and that was the problem. The Japanese High Command wanted it to be developed into all sorts of models. Not just the torpedo bomber mentioned above but other considerations included: night fighter, ground attack, and escort fighter. Rather than getting on with the job in hand these vacillations resulted in a delayed entry of the Hiryu into it's original role of heavy bomber. Mind you by allied standards this was not exactly what they would call a heavy bomber. Suffice to say like so many military organisations when the top brass start interfering things can go astray.
Andiez31, 27.08.2011 17:16
Mr.Kucher, From Wikipedia(Japanese), Imperial Japanese Army ordered 100 Ki-67s with torpedo equipment at Jan/1944. After that, all Ki-67 can use torpedo (No.161-last) To be honest my English skill is very poor, but I hope my comment will help you.
K, e-mail, 12.02.2011 13:30
On 5 January 1943 Mitsubishi received an order to convert 100 Ki-49s as torpedo-bombers - does it mean Ki-67s?
