MITSUBISHIMitsubishi Ki.67/Ki.109 HIRYU In Japanese Army Air Force Service by Richard M. Bueschel ‘Schiffer Military/Aviation History Atgien, PACover artwork by Steve Ferguson, Colorado Springs, CO ‘TEETH OF THE DRAGON - Mitsubishi Ki-67 PEGGY - The Mitsubishi Type 4 heavy bomber was proof positive of the adage “too little, too late,” owing that the Hiryu (Dragon Slayer) was the most adaptive attack bomber to serve both Imperial Army and Navy units. In the final desperate sea battles in their home waters, the PEGGY crews met their fate in the jaws of the American Navy dreadnaught. Assigned to naval operations, the JAAF 98th Regiment was the first to employ their torpedo-armed Ki-67s against the American fleet raiding Formosa (Taiwan) in October or 1944. lliustrated is a flight of ist Chutai PEGGY’s, the subject aircraft having just released its weapon within the withering anti-aircraft barrage of the enemy taskrorce. Acknowledgments Thanks are due to the photo sources cited, with special thanks to Richard L. Seely of Aero Literature for permission to reproduce the photographs from the R. L. Seely Collection; James F. Lansdale for proofing and editing of the original edition for historical accuracy, and James |. Long for enhancing and bringing the text up to date with current practice nomenclature, model and unit identification. ‘Book Design by lan Robertson. Copyright © 1997 by Richard M. Bueschel. Library of Congress Catalog Number: 97-66914 {All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or used in any forms or by any. ‘means ~ graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or information storage {and retrieval systems — without writen permission from the copyright holder. Printed in the United States of America. ISBN: 0-7643-0950-3, \We are interested in hearing from authors with book ideas on related topics. Published by Schifer Publishing Lid. 4880 Lower Valey oad “Agen, PA. 19310. Phone: (610) 598-1777 AX. (610) 590-2002 E-mail: Shierbk@aol.com Please wna ora re catalog “This book may be purchased from the publisher. Please neue $3.95 postage “Try your bookstore fst