A fully illustrated study of the Nakajima Ki49 'Helen', the twin-engine bomber of the Pacific War, by Japanese aviation expert Giorgos Eleftheriou.

The Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu ('Dragon Eater'), codenamed 'Helen' by the Allies, was a twin-engine Japanese bomber designed to perform daytime attacks without the protection of escort fighters. For this reason, although officially known as the Army Type 100 Heavy Bomber, its formidable defensive armament and armor were so heavy that the load of the Ki-49 was limited to levels comparable to those of smaller medium bombers.

Although only five heavy bomber regiments were equipped with the 'Helen', the over 800 Ki-49s manufactured between 1941 and 1944 saw extensive action in Burma, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, northern India, and northern Australia.

In an act of desperation, a small number of 'Helens' were used, unsuccessfully, as kamikaze against United States Navy ships patrolling in the Philippines and Okinawa.

In this fascinating book, Giorgos Eleftheriou provides a comprehensive account of the units that saw action flying the 'Helen', based on original Japanese sources. It also includes high-quality photographs that have never been published before, specially commissioned color artworks, official unit histories, and veteran testimonies, making it indispensable for Japanese aviation enthusiasts.

Pages: 96, Year of Publication: 2023, Dimensions: 18.4x18.4cm