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| IJN 5th Naval Air Wing "Kikusui Force" Takuma Kōkūtai Former Assignments 802 Kōkūtai 801 Kōkūtai |
Aircraft History Built by Kawanishi at Konan Plant in Kobe completed March 1943. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as Type 2 Flying Boat / H8K2 Emily manufacture number 426. Wartime History Assigned to the 802 Kōkūtai (802 Air Group) with tail code N1-26 until the unit was disbanded. On April 1, 1944 assigned to the 801 Kōkūtai (801 Air Group) on Saipan and was over painted with tail code 801-86 until that unit disbanded. On April 25, 1945 assigned to the 5th Naval Air Wing "Kikusui Force" to the Takuma Kōkūtai (Takuma Air Group) with tail code T-31. While based at Takuma Seaplane Base on Shikoku the flyingboat sustained minor damage during a U.S. air raid. Postwar During early September 1945, surrendered to American occupation forces. This largely intact Emily was selected for or technical evaluation and repaired by Japanese mechanics from Takuma Kōkūtai (Takuma Air Group) then flown to Yokohama. By December 1945, loaded onto the flight deck of USS Anzio (CVE-57) and departed January 18, 1946 across the Pacific via the Panama Canal to Norfolk. This Emily underwent technical evaluation in Maryland. Painted with a U.S. Star and bar insignia, the Emily was flight tested in the United States and Alaska until returning to Norfolk. During the 1970s, installed as a gate guard at gate 4 at Norfolk Naval Base. Afterwards, placed into storage. In 1976 due to budgetary cuts, the aircraft was slated for disposal. Bruce Sheppard adds: "i first saw the Emily in 1964 when my Dad was stationed in Norfolk. It remained displayed at gate 4 through some of the 1970s, i believe the plan was to send it to the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, before the Japanese wanted it back." Return to Japan During 1978, Tokyo Maritime Museum curator Ryoichi Sasagawa proposed to transport the aircraft to Japan for restoration and display. The US military agreed, but the transfer required legislation from the U.S. House of Representatives to be returned. Display In 1979, shipped to Tokyo and restored for outdoor display. The interior was sealed with a protective coating. On July 21, 1980 the restored aircraft was unveiled at Tokyo Maritime Museum outdoors next to the museum. Justin Taylan visited in January 2004: "I visited the Emily in January 2004, just before it was disassembled and removed. Even by today's standards, the flying boat is enormous, and the multi-level museum and nearby subway station allow for excellent views of the aircraft from nearly every angle." In late January 2004 after 23 years at the Tokyo Maritime Museum, the Emily was shipped to the Kanoya Museum Kanoya Museum (Kanoya Naval Air Base Museum) and placed on display outdoors and maintained by the Japanese Self-Defense Force (JSDF). The interior remains sealed and air conditioned for preservation. Tom Burchill, visited in March 2004 "Seeing this airplane was a nice surprise for me as I had been in Tokyo on a earlier occasions and had not had an opportunity to visit the Maritime Museum. While the Kanoya Museum is off the beaten track for the average tourist, it is befitting that this great aircraft was moved to its new venue which I feel is more appropriate from a historical perspective. With the Chiran Kamikaze Museum located across Kagoshima Bay, this move will help make southern Kyushu a mecca for students of the Pacific war." References Aero Detail 31: H8K Emily Type 2 Flying Boat is the definitive book on this single airplane, covering photos of its restoration, color plates and other details. Thanks to Bruce Sheppard, Justin Taylan, Tom Burchill and Yoji Sakaida for additional information Contribute
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