Japanese Betty Bomber/ Battle for Saipan

The Japanese Betty bomber, made by Mitsubishi was a Japanese stalwart in WWII. They were medium bombers used from land bases in the Pacific. There were 2435 of these built as production continued until the end of the war. They were used to sink U.S. ships throughout the Pacific theater. They were heavily used in the defense of the Mariana Islands.

The shot below is a Japanese plane shot down in the battle for Saipan. I believe it is a Betty bomber.

The Japanese lost 30,000 soldiers and civilians in the battle for Saipan and lost between 450 and 600 planes. The operation became known as the Marianas turkey shoot.

USS Bunker Hill narrowly missed by a Japanese bomb during the battle for Saipan.

Grumman F6F lands aboard the USS Lexington operating off Saipan.