Advanced search  
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Recovering Japanese aircraft in Jaluit Lagoon  (Read 89475 times)

Vahe Demirjian

  • T1
  • *
  • Posts: 28
Recovering Japanese aircraft in Jaluit Lagoon
« on: December 25, 2012, 02:29:17 PM »

To all members of TIGHAR:

While TIGHAR still wants to retrieve the two Devastators from Jaluit Atoll in cooperation with the US Navy, it might also be logical to retrieve the two Kawanishi H8K flying boats from the lagoon (if inspection indicates that the Japanese aircraft are in good condition to be recovered). When the H8Ks are recovered, the US Navy should loan them to a museum in Japan.
Logged

Ric Gillespie

  • Executive Director
  • Administrator
  • *
  • Posts: 6098
  • "Do not try. Do or do not. There is no try" Yoda
Re: Recovering Japanese aircraft in Jaluit Lagoon
« Reply #1 on: December 25, 2012, 04:00:20 PM »

TIGHAR's plan is to recover only one of the Devastators in Jaluit lagoon.  The H8Ks are not candidates for recovery.
Logged

Chris Johnson

  • T5
  • *****
  • Posts: 1069
  • Trying to give a fig but would settle for $100,000
Re: Recovering Japanese aircraft in Jaluit Lagoon
« Reply #2 on: December 26, 2012, 08:07:57 AM »

TIGHAR's plan is to recover only one of the Devastators in Jaluit lagoon.  The H8Ks are not candidates for recovery.

Ric is this due to their condition or the fact that the plan is only to recover one of the Devastators?
Logged

Russ Matthews

  • Administrator
  • *
  • Posts: 79
Re: Recovering Japanese aircraft in Jaluit Lagoon
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2013, 05:38:39 PM »

Of the two submerged H8Ks wrecked at Jaluit, one is substantially intact (though inverted), while the other is very badly broken up and scattered over a wide area. 

Recovering an enormous four engine maritime patrol bomber like the "Emily" would be extremely daunting .. even more so than the already challenging TBD-1 effort.

And, while extremely rare, the Kawanishi H8K Type 2 (unlike the Devastator) is actually represented by a fine preserved example that was sent to the US for evaluation immediately post WWII and then later returned to Japan (in 1979).  Today that aircraft can be seen on the grounds of the Kanoya Naval Airbase Museum.

http://www.kamikazeimages.net/museums/kanoya/index.htm
« Last Edit: January 17, 2013, 05:40:20 PM by Russ Matthews »
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
 

Copyright 2024 by TIGHAR, a non-profit foundation. No portion of the TIGHAR Website may be reproduced by xerographic, photographic, digital or any other means for any purpose. No portion of the TIGHAR Website may be stored in a retrieval system, copied, transmitted or transferred in any form or by any means, whether electronic, mechanical, digital, photographic, magnetic or otherwise, for any purpose without the express, written permission of TIGHAR. All rights reserved.

Contact us at: info@tighar.org • Phone: 610-467-1937 • Membership formwebmaster@tighar.org

Powered by MySQL SMF 2.0.18 | SMF © 2021, Simple Machines Powered by PHP