WOW497 Kawanishi Emily

Description

The Kawanishi H8K was a flying boat used by the Japanese Navy during WW2 for maritime patrol duties. The Allied reporting name for the type was “Emily”.

The Kawanishi H8K was a large, four-engine aircraft designed for long range and extended endurance on patrols or bombing missions typically flown alone over the pacific ocean. The prototype first flew in January 1941, and H8K1s made their first combat sortie in March 1942. The robust H8K2 “Emily” flying boat was also fitted with powerful defensive armament, for which Allied pilots had substantial respect wherever this aircraft was encountered in the Pacific Theatre. Aircraft historian René Francillon called the H8K “the most outstanding water-based combat aircraft of the Second World War.”

The H8K entered production in 1941 and first saw operational use on the night of 4 March 1942 in a second raid on Pearl Harbour. Since the target lay out of range for the flying boats, this audacious plan involved a refuelling by submarine, some 900 km (560 mi) north-west of Hawaii, en route. Two Emily planes attempted to bomb Pearl Harbour but, due to poor visibility, did not accomplish any significant damage. Six days after the second Pearl Harbor raid, one of the Emilys was sent on a daylight photo-reconnaissance mission of Midway Atoll. It was intercepted by radar-directed Brewster Buffalo fighters of Marine Fighting Squadron 221 and shot down. All aboard were killed, including Lt. Hashizume Hisao, the lead pilot of the second Pearl Harbor raid.

The Emily was used for also used for troop transportation along with maritime reconnaissance

We have three 1/32 scale Emily seaplanes available priced at $2000 each plus shipping. This very large model measures approximately 117cm wide by 88cm long. Comes with two detachable trolleys for display purposes.

The figures and accessories shown are for scale comparison only and are not included.