World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe Ki-49 Donryu ("Dragon Swallower") bombers were all-metal aircraft produced to replace the Japanese Army's Ki-21 bombers. After three prototype designs, production began in Mar 1941 with designation of Army Type 100 Heavy Bomber Model 1. The first WW2 combat missions they saw were in China beginning in autumn 1941. After the start of the Pacific War, they were also used in the South Pacific; they were seen over New Guinea throughout the campaign there and over Darwin, Australia on 18 Feb 1942. By spring 1942, however, it was apparently that the Ki-49 bombers were underpowered, therefore vulnerable to Allied fighters interception. Upgraded versions with more powerful engines, improved armor, and self-sealing fuel tanks were produced, but losses continued to mount. As a result, they were slowly relegated to non-combat roles as the war progressed. Near the end of the war, some of them were converted for special attack missions. Production ceased in Dec 1944, but they continued to serve until the end of the war. Between 1941 and 1944, 819 were built.

ww2dbaseThe Allied code name for Ki-49 bombers was "Helen".

SPECIFICATIONS

Ki-49-IIa

Machinery	Two Nakajima Ha-109 14-cylinder radial piston engines rated at 1,500hp each
Armament	1x20mm cannon, 5x7.7mm machine guns, 1,000kg of bombs
Crew	8
Span	20.42 m
Length	16.50 m
Height	4.25 m
Wing Area	69.05 m²
Weight, Empty	6,530 kg
Weight, Maximum	11,400 kg
Speed, Maximum	492 km/h
Speed, Cruising	350 km/h
Service Ceiling	9,300 m
Range, Normal	2,950 km

Photographs