1/144 Atlas Editions DieCast Mitsubishi Ki-21 Sally

The Mitsubishi Ki-21, Allied codename "Sally"/ "Gwen", was a WWII Japanese ‘heavy’ bomber. It began operations during the Second Sino-Japanese War participating in the Nomonhan Incident, and in the first stages of the Pacific War, including the Malayan , Burmese, Dutch East Indies and New Guinea Campaigns. It was used to attack targets as far-flung as western China, India and northern Australia!

The initial success of the Ki-21 diminished with stiffening Allied aerial opposition, a trend not reversed by the introduction of a new variant, the Ki-21 IIb with the upper turret rotated by pedals. In spite of its failures, it was maintained in service until the end of the war, being utilized as transport (along with the civil transport version MC-21), bomber crew and paratrooper trainer, for liaison and communications, special commando and secret agents missions, and suicide operations.

Nine Ki-21 Ia/b (under the name Nagoya) were sent by Japan to Thailand, and were used by the Thai Air force against Vichy French forces in Indochina. By the end of the war, the Ki-21 was used by Giretsu Special Forces in strikes against American Forces in Okinawa, Iwo Jima, and the Marianas. This was part of a last-ditch attempt, which also made use of Army Kamikaze forces, to delay or stop the USAAF air strikes from Okinawa against Japan proper.