Mitsubishi Ki-67 Hiryu "Peggy"

Mitsubishi · Japan · first flew 1942 · bomber

The Mitsubishi Ki-67 Hiryu (Flying Dragon) was Japan's most capable heavy bomber of World War II, combining good speed, range, and defensive armament in an efficient mid-wing twin-engine design.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	Japanese Army's best WWII bomber with rounded fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Japanese Army's best WWII bomber with rounded fuselage
Twin Mitsubishi Ha-104 radial engines in neat nacelles
Defensive gun positions in dorsal and tail turrets

A well-proportioned twin-radial-engine monoplane with a rounded fuselage and neatly faired engine nacelles; the broad mid-set wing and efficient defensive armament layout make it one of the cleanest-looking Japanese bombers.

Specifications

The Mitsubishi Ki-67 Hiryu has a length of 18.7 m (61 ft).
It has a wingspan of 22.5 m (74 ft).
Its maximum speed is 537 km/h (334 mph).
Typical crew: 6-8.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in December 1942 and entering service in 1944, the Ki-67 was used as a conventional bomber, torpedo bomber, and in special attack (kamikaze) roles against Allied shipping. It represented a significant advance over earlier Japanese bombers in terms of crew protection and overall performance.

Variants

The Ki-67-I Ko and Otsu were the main bomber versions; the Ki-67 was also converted as a torpedo bomber; the Ki-109 was a heavy interceptor variant with a 75mm cannon.

Where you'll see it

Served with the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service in China, the Philippines, and home defence; one of the more formidable Japanese aircraft to face Allied fighters.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.