×
Home Intro People Events Equipment Places Maps Books Photos Videos Other Reference FAQ About
     

World War II Database

B5N2 torpedo bomber wreckage sitting atop Indispensable Reef as it was found on 9 Jun 1942; she was lost during the Battle of Coral Sea [Colorized by WW2DB]

Show Original Black and White Photograph | Show WW2DB Colorized Version

Caption     B5N2 torpedo bomber wreckage sitting atop Indispensable Reef as it was found on 9 Jun 1942; she was lost during the Battle of Coral Sea [Colorized by WW2DB] ww2dbase
Colorization Note   This photograph was originally a black and white photograph; the colorized version presented here was a derivative work by WW2DB. The colors used in this version were speculative, and could be significantly different from the real colors.

Processed using Adobe Photoshop Image Processor, with default neural filter, selecting "None" as the profile.

View the original black and white photograph at its own permanent page.
Photographer    Unknown
Source    ww2dbaseUnited States National Archives
Identification Code   80-G-7661
More on...   
B5N   Main article  Photos  
Battle of Coral Sea   Main article  Photos  Maps  
Photos on Same Day 9 Jun 1942
Added By C. Peter Chen
Colorized Date 24 Feb 2023

This photograph has been scaled down; full resolution photograph is available here (740 by 595 pixels).

Licensing  Public Domain. According to the US National Archives, as of 21 Jul 2010:
The vast majority of the digital images in the Archival Research Catalog (ARC) are in the public domain. Therefore, no written permission is required to use them. We would appreciate your crediting the National Archives and Records Administration as the original source. For the few images that remain copyrighted, please read the instructions noted in the "Access Restrictions" field of each ARC record.... In general, all government records are in the public domain and may be freely used.... Additionally, according to the United States copyright law (United States Code, Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105), in part, "[c]opyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government".

Please contact us regarding any inaccuracies with the above information. Thank you.




Did you enjoy this photograph or find this photograph helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.

Share this photograph with your friends:

 Facebook
 Reddit
 Twitter

Stay updated with WW2DB:

 RSS Feeds


Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Commenter identity confirmed David Stubblebine says:
2 May 2009 10:04:49 PM

This aircraft had tail EI-306 and was one of two “Kate” bombers forced to land on the Middle Reef of the three Indispensible Reefs. Both aircraft had their cockpit areas burned out by their crews and both airframes were removed for study by seaplane tender USS Tangier. The Indispensible Reefs in the NE Coral Sea were used as refueling locations where Japanese submarines refueled scout float planes.
2. Commenter identity confirmed Bill says:
5 Nov 2011 03:28:58 PM

Mr. Stubblebine:

IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE:

The Japanese used French Frigate Shoals Atoll
about thirty or forty acres, in area as a refueling station for seaplanes, by submarine
Its about halfway between Midway Island and
Hawaii.
In 1942 the Japanese attempted to attack Pearl Harbor again, this time using Kawanishi
four-engine H8K Emily Flying Boats to refuel at French Frigate Shoals.

The bombing attack on Oahu Island was three months after the first Pearl Harbor attack,
was disappointing due to heavy cloud cover over the target with bombs falling short of the Harbor by miles.

LET'S TRY IT AGAIN:

When the Japanese tried to do this again, after the Battle of Midway in June 1942, they found the US Navy built a Naval Station and the plan was cancelled.

Suggested Reading:

The Second Attack On Pearl Harbor
Steve Horn
Published by Naval Institute Press(2005)
Annapolis, MD
ISBN 1-59114-388-8

3. Commenter identity confirmed Bill says:
18 Nov 2011 07:27:22 PM

AN EYE ON EMILY:

The Kawanishi H8K was the largest and best Japanese flying boats of WWII. The Allies
code named her "Emily" the aircraft was a
long-range four-engine machine armed with
5x20mm cannons and 5x7.7mm machine guns she could also carry 2x800kg/1,764lb torpedos,
or 1000kg/2,205lb of bombs or depth charges.

Emily had a crew of ten, she could carry
twenty-nine passengers or sixty-four troops
her range was 7200km/4,474 miles.
At the end of WWII four H8Ks survived one was turned over to the US Navy, the others used as parts to make one airworthy, the work was done by the Japanese, ferried to US forces aircraft was shipped to the USA for testing from 1946 to 1947.
Aircraft was later returned to Japan in 1979
of the one hundred and sixty seven built between 1941 to 1945 one has survived and is now on display at Kanoya Air Base in Japan.
The pilot who made the ferry flight to US forces later became an Admiral in the JMSDF.
Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force

one hundred and sixty seven were built between 1941 to 1945.
4. Commenter identity confirmed Bill says:
31 Jul 2012 07:42:02 PM

MORE ABOUT KATES E1-306 & E1-302:

Nakajma B5N(Kates)were assigned to Shokaku Air Group, a/c E1-306 has white vertical stripe on fuselage and horizontal stripe below tail number, camouflage color appears dark green.

Two B5Ns were launched E1-306 & E1-302 at the start of the Battle of Coral Sea.
a/c took off in search of US ships, both kates spotted the Oilier USS Neosho and its escort the Destroyer USS Sims.Kates loitered in area too long, ran low on fuel, unable to return to Shokaku, both a/c flew to area called Indispensable reef and ditched, both crews survived and made attempt to destroy a/c cockpit area was burned, crews were later rescued by Japanese Dstroyer Ariaka.

Aircraft were later spotted by PBY Catalina
flying boat. Personnal were detailed to inspect and remove aircraft, information was later sent on to ATIU-SWPA.

Air Technical Intelligence Unit-South West Pacific Area.

All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.

Posting Your Comments on this Topic

Your Name
Your Email
 Your email will not be published
Comment Type
Your Comments
 

Notes:

1. We hope that visitor conversations at WW2DB will be constructive and thought-provoking. Please refrain from using strong language. HTML tags are not allowed. Your IP address will be tracked even if you remain anonymous. WW2DB site administrators reserve the right to moderate, censor, and/or remove any comment. All comment submissions will become the property of WW2DB.

2. For inquiries about military records for members of the World War II armed forces, please see our FAQ.

Change View
Desktop View

Search WW2DB
Famous WW2 Quote
"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."

Winston Churchill, on the RAF


Support Us

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!

Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!