|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| IJN 25th Air Flotilla Yokusuka Kōkūtai or Yokohama Kōkūtai |
Aircraft History Built by Kawanishi Kokuki K. K. at Naruo. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as Type 97 Large Flying Boat / H6K Mavis manufacture number unknown. This flying boat was either model H6K4 or H6K5. Wartime History Assigned to the 25th Air Flotilla to either that Yokusuka Kōkūtai (Yokusuka Air Group) or Yokohama Kōkūtai (Yokohama Air Group) operating from Tulagi Seaplane Base (Gavutu / Tanambogo). Most likely, this plane was assigned to the Yokohama Kōkūtai. No known markings. On August 7, 1942 this flying boat moored north of Tanambogo Island. likely to mooring M3. At 6:00am, U.S. Navy (USN) F4F Wildcats from Fighting Squadron 71 (VF-71), 2nd Division including Lt. S. Down Wright (claimed 3 VP) and Ensign Roland H. Kenton (claimed 3 VP) strafed moored flying boats, causing them to burn and sink. Wreckage This Mavis is on the seafloor at a depth of 42 meters near mooring M3. The wreckage is broken and the fuselage is laying on its right side. The struts that connected the wing to the fuselage are still partially intact. The bottom is covered with silt. Michael Mcfadyen adds: "On 11 August 1992 I dived a Mavis that sat on the bottom at 42 metres with its wing broken off. From the tip of its nose to the tail, things to see include the cockpit, inside the fuselage, the wings and scattered bits and pieces like ammunition canisters. The visibility on this dive is not real good, probably only two to three metres. A lot of very fine silt covers the plane and it is very easily stirred up whereupon it can virtually totally block out all visibility. Extremely good buoyancy is required on this dive. When I dived it the viz was about two metres. Hence my problems in identifying the plane." Kevin Denlay adds: "[This] deepest one is not dived much anymore because it is often dark (i.e. no/low ambient light) and it is very silty." References Kawanishi H6K "Mavis" by Michael Mcfadyen J-Aircraft Message Board "Mavis's off Tanambogo / Gavutu" The First Team And the Guadalcanal Campaign (1994) pages 36-37 "To the east Wright discovered the other nest of four flying boats anchored in a semicircle around Tanambogo's north coast. On the first pass he and Roland Kenton set on fire four targets: a mixture of flying boats, lighters, and fuel barges gray and indistinct in the darkness except for the dazzling flames again, Wright sank a silver rubber boat full of flight personnel who bravely set out northeast from Gavutu. In the meantime, Kenton burned two more floating object. Together they tallied six flying boats, but in fact they destroyed all four remaining Type 97s." Thanks to Ewan Stevenson, Kevin Denlay, Neil Yates / Tulagi Dive and Howard Sawyer for additional information Contribute
Information Last Updated
|
 Mavis  42m |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
