E13

Aichi E13 "Jake"

Topics:
Ki-15 "Babs" and E13 "Jake" over Australia.
No Step Areas
Jakes in Kamikaze roles?
936Ku Jakes
Question about Jakes in the Solomons
PH Jakes
JAKE in Rabaul
Jake Colour (New)

Ki-15 "Babs" and E13 "Jake" over Australia.

Posted By: Garth <mailto:ocky@hotmail.com?subject=Ki-15 'Babs' and E13 'Jake' over Australia.> Date: Friday, 14 July 2000, at 12:41 a.m.

Hi,
I'm after any information on the IJAAF and IJN units that operated these two important aircraft over Australia from 1942 to 1944.
Both aircraft were used heavily over Australia and to our immediate north, being based from airfields in Portuguese Timor (East Timor) and the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia).
I have Hasegawa kits of both aircraft, and I would like to make them up as the actual units that fought over and around Australia.

Thanks,
Garth :)

Re: E13 "Jake" over Australia.

Posted By: Tom Hall <mailto:hall41@ix.netcom.com?subject=Re: E13 'Jake' over Australia.> Date: Saturday, 15 July 2000, at 7:07 p.m.

In Response To: Ki-15 "Babs" and E13 "Jake" over Australia. (Garth)

Dear Garth,
I'm afraid I can't help you on the Babs, but I think the Jakes may have been from 934 Kuu. I am not aware whether they actually flew over Australia itself, though.
Do you have Coomalie Charlie's Commandos? It's about No. 31 Squadron, a Beaufighter unit that put pressure on the 934th. See also Air Enthusiast 31.

E13 "Jake" over Broome WA

Posted By: Grant Elliott <mailto:guzzi@space.net.au?subject=Re: E13 'Jake' over Broome WA> Date: Friday, 21 July 2000, at 10:01 a.m.

In Response To: Re: E13 "Jake" over Australia. (Tom Hall)

Mention of a C5M2 'Babs' is made in a pamphlet "WA's Pearl Harbor" by Mervyn W Prime. Published for Royal Australian Air force Association Aviation Museum. The aircraft flown by 1st Air Sgt Akira Hayashi [Pilot] and with 1st Air Private shinobu Nagasawa. It led in a strike force of 9 A6M2's on 3rd March 1942. Believed to be overall grey. The strike was successful destroying 23 allied a/c. Casualties were mainly Dutch refuses aboard some of the floatplanes being refueled on Roebuck Bay, The a/c were USAAF bombers B15 & B24s [4]. [One had 30 servicemen aboard from the Philippines campaign when shot down]. RAAF Hudson A16-119, QANTAS Shorts Empire G-AECU, KNILM DC2 and DC3 RNEIAF Loadstar LT 9-18, RNEIAF Dornier Do24's X-1, X3, X20, X23 & X28, Convair PBY Catalina Y59, Y60, Y67 & 70. USN PBYs 2, RAF Catalinas 2 of 205 Sqn. two Zekes failed to return with the loss of one flier. Sorry for the long winded and delayed reply.
Guzzi

No Step Areas

Posted By: Grant Goodale <mailto:grant.goodale@sympatico.ca?subject=No Step Areas> Date: Tuesday, 16 January 2001, at 11:07 a.m.

Hello world
I have a question about the painting of cruiser borne E13A Jake float planes around the time of the Pearl Harbour attack. Many other IJN a/c carried a red line around the "No Step" areas on the wings. Was this also done on the Jakes? If so, what would be the approximate location?

TIA
Grant

Re: No Step Areas

Posted By: Clark Hollis <mailto:Raidenhollis@cs.com?subject=Re: No Step Areas> Date: Tuesday, 16 January 2001, at 6:12 p.m.

In Response To: No Step Areas (Grant Goodale)

Hi Grant,
According to the FAOW No.47, the paintings on Page 7 show two Jakes painted overall gray. the upper view of FII-1 shows no markings on the wings except the hinomaru, but it does show the aim-off markings on the stabilizer. A photo on Page 64 shows four Jakes from above and none of them appear to have the questioned wing markings. I don't read Japanese, so I can't tell you what the captions say.
HTH, Clark

Jakes in Kamikaze roles?

Posted By: Jeff McGuire <jmcguire@j-aircraft.com>
Date: Sunday, 4 February 2001, at 2:37 p.m.

Sometime ago I came across some information about Jakes being used in Kamikaze missions. For the life of me I cannot put my finger on this material at this time. Can anyone confirm this as truth or fiction? It seems to me it was possibly at Okinawa. Also, to what extent were any other floats used in this capacity? I have also read that only 1 in 4 Kamikazes found their mark, how much worse would it have been for floatplanes?

12th Koku Sentai in 1945

Posted By: UCHIDA, Katsuhiro <katsuhiro.uchida@honeywell.com>
In Response To: Jakes in Kamikaze roles? (Jeff McGuire)

According to my poor memory, there was a special attack flying group called "Dai 12 Koku Sentai 2-za Suitei-tai (the Two-seated Floatplane Recon. Air Troops, 12th Air Division)". 12th Air Division (Radm. Jojima) belonged to 5th Air Fleet (Vadm. Ugaki).
As you know, E13A was three-seated plane, but it might had been two-seated on the Kamikaze missions. I don't know which planes they used exactly (E13A, F1M, E16A, and so on...), but it is apparent that there was an "official" floatplane Kamikaze group in 1945.
On a monument in Kanoya City, you can find the names of all the "official" seaplane Kamikaze pilots.
By the way, I guess many people know that there were many names for the special attack groups, for example, Kamikaze (Shinpuu), Shikishima, Yamato, Asahi, Yamazakura, Kikusui, Jinrai, MItate, Chihaya, Kongo, and so on...

Model art #458 (translation anyone?)

Posted By: Dan Salamone <heroncreek@qwest.net>
Date: Sunday, 4 February 2001, at 6:40 p.m.

In Response To: Jakes in Kamikaze roles? (Jeff McGuire)

Model Art #458, IJN Special Attack units, has photos and side profiles of floatplanes (and boats) used as Special Attack weapons.
The profiles include Some Jakes, Alfs (radial engine version) and Petes. Boats include Emily and Mavis.
As for photos, page 71 shows crews embarking on some Emilies (sp?). Page 89 has a photo of IJN YAHAGI with two Jakes onboard. The text appears to speak of the planes on this ship?
Pages 124 to 127 show Jakes and Alfs with crews, and Petes are shown on pages 133, 138 and 147

936Ku Jakes

Posted By: Mike Yeo <mailto:mikeyeo@bigpond.com?subject=936Ku Jakes> Date: Sunday, 20 May 2001, at 11:34 a.m.

Hi all,
my questions relates to whether Jakes of the 936th Ku were based in Singapore during their operational history. I seem to recall a post sometime back stating this, but my memory fails me. If they were, I would be interested in their strength, location, date based in Singapore and finally, if pictures of 936Ku unit aircraft are available. Thanks for any help rendered/questions answered,

Mike Yeo

Re: 936Ku Jakes *PIC*

Posted By: James F. Lansdale <mailto:LRAJIM@aol.com?subject=Re: 936Ku Jakes *PIC*> Date: Sunday, 20 May 2001, at 4:54 p.m.

In Response To: 936Ku Jakes (Mike Yeo)

Hi Mike
Adding to what Allen has posted, No.40 Kokutai was redesignated No.936 Kaigun Kokutai on 11 November 1942. Prior to the redesignation, the unit code was [40-]. After November 1942 the unit code was [P4-], and by 1944 it was [936-] (See below).

IHTH
Jim Lansdale

Re: 936Ku Jakes

Posted By: Allan <mailto:Wildcat42@AOL.com?subject=Re: 936Ku Jakes> Date: Sunday, 20 May 2001, at 12:51 p.m.

In Response To: 936Ku Jakes (Mike Yeo)

11/ 1-'42 to 11/ 9-'43 - Singapore 11/ 9-'43 to 1/15-'44 - Mergui 1/15-'44 to 8/15-'45 - Singapore 11/ 1-'42 to 12/30-'42 - Detachment to Nha Trang, Indo-China 12/10-'42 to 8/28-'43 - Detachment to Sabang 12/14-'42 to 12/23-'42 - Detachment to Padang 1/13-'43 to 1/21-'43 - Detachment to Labuan 2/ 8-'43 to 2/21-'43 - Detachment to Labuan 3/ 5-'43 to 4/25-'44 - Detachment to Penang 8/15-'43 to 4/25-'44 - Detachment to Labuan 11/ 9-'43 to 1/15-'44 - Detachment to Mergui 12/17-'43 to 12/30-'43 - Detachment to Pinkyan 1/28-'44 to 4/25-'44 - Detachment to Victoria Point
IIRC, the authorized strength was 12 Type 0's and 8 Type 97 Carrier Attack aircraft.

Re: 936Ku Jakes

Posted By: Mike Yeo <mailto:mikeyeo@bigpond.com?subject=Re: 936Ku Jakes> Date: Sunday, 20 May 2001, at 7:54 p.m.

In Response To: Re: 936Ku Jakes (Allan)

Thanks James and Allan,
the information you haave provided is very comprehensive, thanks a bunch! Just another question, what was the 936th Ku's main role? Anti submarine patrols?and finally, do you guys have any idea which base in Singapore did they operate from? Seletar?

Thanks again, Mike

Re: 936 Ku: Bases

Posted By: James F. Lansdale <mailto:LRAJIM@aol.com?subject=Re: 936 Ku: Bases> Date: Monday, 21 May 2001, at 4:57 a.m.

In Response To: Re: 936Ku Jakes (Mike Yeo)

Hi Mike
Thanks Allan!
Fellows, according to "OB IJNAF 1 October 1945," bases for No.936 Ku were as follows:
Late '44/early '45; Saigon, Camran, Penang, Victoria Point, Catlai, Port Blair, Quinhon, Kota Bharu, and Tourane.
April-August '45; Planes ordered to Surabaya as a training base for magnetic detector planes. No.936 Ku then also absorbed aircraft of No.22 Special Base Force and No.5 CruDiv.

IHTH
Jim Lansdale

Re: 936Ku Jakes

Posted By: Allan <mailto:Wildcat42@AOL.com?subject=Re: 936Ku Jakes> Date: Monday, 21 May 2001, at 3:43 a.m.

In Response To: Re: 936Ku Jakes (Mike Yeo)

Hello Mike,
936 Ku's main responsibility was anti-submarine patrol and convoy patrol. It was responsible for the sinking of Grenadier in Malacca Strait on September 14th, 1943. Could have been responsible for a British sinking also. The unit was assigned to the 1st Southern Expeditionary Fleet until January 1st, 1945, then the 1st Escort Fleet, and lastly the 13th Air Fleet on May 15th, 1945. If memory serves me, Seletar was their base in Singapore, it had all the facilities there to operate out of. Perhaps Jim can give you a definitive on the exact location.

HTH - Al
Question about Jakes in the Solomons

Posted By: Mike Goodwin <mailto:Mike.Goodwin@iname.com?subject=Question about Jakes in the Solomons> Date: Sunday, 6 May 2001, at 5:07 p.m.

Hello everybody,
A few days ago, a lady by the name of Emma Rolfe asked on the General message board about Rufe operations in the Solomons. This was for a BBC television documentary about a submerged aircraft wreck that has been found there.

The wreck has now been identified as that of a Jake. She would therefore be very interested in any information we can find about Jake operations in the Solomons, especially records of reminiscences from Japanese airmen, and information about what units might have been active there.
If any of us has such information and could post it here, I will draw her attention to it. Many thanks!

Cheers,
Mike

Re: Question about Jakes in the Solomons

Posted By: Allan Alsleben <mailto:Wildcat42@AOL.com?subject=Re: Question about Jakes in the Solomons> Date: Sunday, 6 May 2001, at 10:38 p.m.

In Response To: Question about Jakes in the Solomons (Mike Goodwin)

Hello Mike,
Bill Bourke of New Zealand has been in touch with Ms. Rolfe and Bill has put together a very informative piece of work regarding "Jake" units in the Solomons. While I'm not at liberty to devulge the location, it appears that this "Jake" made a hard landing, flipped over, lost it's propeller and tail section but still came down in an upright position on floor. BBC's concern is with marine life and not so much with war activities. I am of the opinion that the aircraft should remain where it is, undisturbed unless of course someone would have a positive purpose to bring it to the surface. There are many relics throughout the Pacific that are not disturbed, notably at Truk Atoll. I feel this should be left alone.

Rick has mentioned 938 Ku, but 958 Kokutai was there also, along with Jakes belonging to cruisers. As a matter of fact, 958 Ku was never disbanded as 938 Ku merged with it in December 1944. Night harassment was the order of the day for the Float Types as well as intruder missions to Manus, Green Island late in the war, I believe that this aircraft was one of those.

Al

E13A1 Jakes in the Solomons

Posted By: Andrew Obluski <mailto:aoba41@yahoo.com?subject=E13A1 Jakes in the Solomons> Date: Tuesday, 8 May 2001, at 2:16 a.m.

In Response To: Re: Question about Jakes in the Solomons (Allan Alsleben)

Hello, Al
Very interesting issue. I've checked Lex McAuley [Rabaul] and Juergen Rohwer [Marine Rundschau] to discover that they state both floatplane air groups were on the IJN roster on VJ-Day. The Southeast Area Fleet [Vice Adm Jinichi Kusaka] had two JNAF units under its command in August 1945. 11 Air Fleet [Adm Kusaka] had 958 Kokutai in Rabaul with one E13A1. 8 Fleet [Vice Adm Tomoshige Samejima] had 938 Kokutai in Buin with one E13A1 Jake. 938 and 958 Ku were the last JNAF units left in the Southeast Area Fleet.

To add some details about ASW successes of Jakes in the Solomons. USS AMBERJACK was probably sunk by combined effort of 958 Ku floatplane, torpedo boat HIYODORI and submarine chaser CH-18 [14 Feb 1943 - off Cape St George]. USS GRAMPUS was probably victim of 958 Ku floatplanes [19 Feb 1943 - SE of New Britain].

Regards Andrew

Re: E13A1 Jakes in the Solomons

Posted By: Allan Alsleben <mailto:Wildcat42@AOL.com?subject=Re: E13A1 Jakes in the Solomons> Date: Tuesday, 8 May 2001, at 5:34 p.m.

In Response To: E13A1 Jakes in the Solomons (Andrew Obluski)

Greetings Andrew,
958 Ku was activated on November 1st 1942 and assigned to the 8th Fleet (Page 20 of JN #116), then on May 1 1944, it was reassigned to the 11th Air Fleet until the end of hostilities (Page 56 of JN #116).

938 Ku was activated on April 15th 1943 and assigned to the 8th Fleet (Page 20 of JN #116). These two units were never assigned to an Area Fleet.
958 Ku was based in the Shortland Area with Detachments to Rabaul and Kavieng (Until 1/ 1-'43) until it was pulled back to Rabaul on February 14th 1943 (Page 162 of JN #116).

938 Ku was activated (Page 160 of JN #116) on April 15th 1943 also at Shortland's with a Detachment to Rekata Bay (Until 7/28-'43?). Then on or about October 1st 1943 they were at Buka (Queen Carola Bay) with Detachments at Shortlands and Rabaul, the shifted to Rabaul on/or December 1st 1943 with detachments at Shortlands and Buka. Sometime after February 1944, the unit to Buin until its Deactivation on December 10th 1944. They had no aircraft from the sources or monographs I have. It's true that there was a "Jake" recovered there, but it is believed to belong to 958 Ku. I can not verify that of course. There was a raid on Shortlands in March 1943 that really put a dent into 938's operations, and from what I've learned never really recovered from it. All of the cruiser floats had been expended and replacement aircraft was in short supply. They had less that 6 aircraft during 1943 and only two were operational at any given time. When they went to Buin (Some time in Fb 1944), it wasn't for air operations.

IMHO, Al

Re: E13A1 Jakes in the Solomons

Posted By: rick dunn <mailto:rdunn@rhsmith.umd.edu?subject=Re: E13A1 Jakes in the Solomons> Date: Tuesday, 8 May 2001, at 5:59 p.m.

In Response To: Re: E13A1 Jakes in the Solomons (Allan Alsleben)

Al
You say the late March raid on Poporang put a dent in 938's ops after you say they didn't exist until 15 April 43?
Poporang was well strafed by P-38s on March 29th and by F4Us on August 5th and other lesser attacks.
They lost heavily with 958 during the Rendova invasion on June 30th. Army pilots claimed 11 float planes.
On July 1st 936 had 13 Jakes with 5 operational having lost 3 in the preceeding 2 weeks. Petes 2/6 and 1 lost. 956 had no operational Jakes of 7 on hand with 4 lost in the preceeding 2 weeks. Two of its 5 Petes were ops. None lost. I suspect most if not all the losses came on June 30th. That was their biggest hit.

Rick

Re: E13A1 Jakes in the Solomons

Posted By: Allan Alsleben <mailto:Wildcat42@AOL.com?subject=Re: E13A1 Jakes in the Solomons> Date: Tuesday, 8 May 2001, at 9:41 p.m.

In Response To: Re: E13A1 Jakes in the Solomons (rick dunn)

Hello Rick,
My error, #938 kaigun kokutai wasn't formed yet, those losses were "R" Area. 938 ku was formed from the remnants of AirDiv 11. Sorry about that. I was reading off the monograph without realizing what I was writing.........

Al

Re: E13A1 Jakes in the Solomons *PIC*

Posted By: James F. Lansdale <mailto:LRAJIM@aol.com?subject=Re: E13A1 Jakes in the Solomons *PIC*> Date: Tuesday, 8 May 2001, at 7:18 p.m.

In Response To: Re: E13A1 Jakes in the Solomons (rick dunn)

Rick
I am afraid that the mix-up on the floatplane losses during the 29 March 1943 raid on the Shortlands is mine!
This raid was led by Tom LANPHIER. Bob PETIT, who is closer to me than my natural father, also flew on this mission. The attack produced remarkable results (primarily among a flock of Petes which still lie about on the bottom or rotting on the shore to this day). The Petes were originally attached to the KAMIKAWA and KUNIKAWA MARU (11 Sf) air units and based at Poporang. These air units became the basis for the establishment of No.938 kaigun kokutai in April 1943.
I'll try to post the whole story of this raid this weekend along with some remarkable and unpublished photos from my "Fighters Under The Southern Cross" m/s.

Jim Lansdale

Re: Question about Jakes in the Solomons

Posted By: rick dunn <mailto:rdunn@rhsmith.umd.edu?subject=Re: Question about Jakes in the Solomons> Date: Sunday, 6 May 2001, at 6:39 p.m.

In Response To: Question about Jakes in the Solomons (Mike Goodwin)

Mike
Early in the Guadalcanal campaign "R" Area Air Force was created within the 8th Fleet from the complements of four seaplane tenders. As of 12 Sept 42 it had 9 E13A1 (Jake) a/c as well as F1M2 and A6M2-N aircraft. This strength was maintained for a number of weeks despite active operations.
In 1943 938 and 958 Air groups were the mainstay of the float plane force in the Solomons and New Britain. 938 was based on Poporang I. (Shortlands I. group) and sometimes supplemented by cruiser float planes.

An interesting US Navy study of float plane activity against PT boats states that while few PT boats were actually sunk by float planes (Jake was the primary night harrasser of PT boats) the PT boats operational effectiveness was reduced by at least 50 % because of Japanese float plane threat.
Leading Airman Takashi Takayama was shot down by a PT boat on 15 October 1943. He flew with the 938 from Poporang. At 0130 that night he sighted 4 PT boats and dived to attack. He was piloting a Jake. He dropped one bomb on the first run and then made a second attack. Both were misses but in the second attack he had dropped down to 200 meters and was hit by machine gun fire from the PT. His fuel tank burst into flames but he managed to land the aircraft and abandoned it. He swam from the aircaft but was later captured by the crew of a PT boat. He was wearing a life preserver and burned and was unable to evade capture. His two crewmen did not survive.

There's a tidbit from an important but largely untold story.

Rick

PH Jakes

Posted By: Al Kanda <mailto:alkanda@compuserve.com?subject=PH Jakes> Date: Sunday, 1 July 2001, at 7:23 p.m.

I need info on the markings that the Aichi E13A's launched by the Chikuma and Tone would have displayed. Can't seem to find anything on it. Was there a standard marking that indicated the mother ship? Any info at all would be appreciated paint schemes etc. Thanks

Re: PH Jakes

Posted By: Emmanuel <mailto:aecastro1@aol.com?subject=Re: PH Jakes> Date: Sunday, 1 July 2001, at 9:24 p.m.

In Response To: PH Jakes (Al Kanda)

Hi,
What I know that the markings for E13A JAKE aboard TONE and CHIKUMA heavy cruisers were: TONE = JI-* CHIKUMA = JII-*
For the paint schemes, it was overall grey-green with black cowlings

Hope this helps, Emmanuel

Re: PH Jakes

Posted By: Grant Goodale <mailto:grant.goodale@sympatico.ca?subject=Re: PH Jakes> Date: Monday, 2 July 2001, at 7:41 a.m.

In Response To: Re: PH Jakes (Al Kanda)

Al -
The old Model Art book on Pearl Harbour showed JI-1 and JII-1. The code ranges should be:
JI-1 through JI-3 inclusive for Tone JII-1 through JII-3 inclusive for Chikuma

I do not know about the usage of all six birds but, from what I have read, the confirmed a/c were JI-1 and JII-1.
The Model Art book shows the tail codes in red. The rest of the aircraft were pale gray (?) with an anti glare panel going right to the canopy. The a/c colour and shape of the anti-glare panel are the same as those found on a Val.
From the experten of the Nats project, the best colour would be ModelMaster RLM 02 Grau with 30% white added for scale effect in 1/72.
I am building the Tone Jake for the Nats project and, if I can find it, I will send you a scan taken from the old Model Art.
Note that the new Model Art Pearl Harbour Attackers does not include the recon aircraft.

HTH
- Grant

Re: PH Jakes

Posted By: Al Kanda <mailto:alkanda@compuserve.com?subject=Re: PH Jakes> Date: Friday, 6 July 2001, at 8:55 p.m.

In Response To: Re: PH Jakes (Grant Goodale)

Grant, Another question, on the Model Art scan, I notice the props have no spinners whereas the kit I have (Nichimo 1/48) which is of the b version has a spinner. Since it is of the late "b" version guess then the spinner was an improvement that was not on the PH craft, am I correct? Also I have to remove some struts between the pontoons and fuselage.

Re: PH Jakes

Posted By: Grant Goodale <mailto:grant.goodale@sympatico.ca?subject=Re: PH Jakes> Date: Saturday, 7 July 2001, at 6:43 a.m.

In Response To: Re: PH Jakes (Al Kanda)

Al -
At Pearl Harbour, only the "a" models were in use. I believe that the "b" model was introduced later in 1942 but I could stand to be corrected.
If you are building the Hasegawa 1/72 kit, it includes parts for both "a" and "b" models. I worked up an old (20+ years) kit and the instructions were all in Japanese. I was having serious questions about the parts useage until I studied some photos in Francillon and some old Aireview books and that seemed to clear things up.
If you want any specific parts identified, e-mail me off-board.

HTH
- Grant
JAKE in Rabaul

Posted By: Rod Dickson Date: Tuesday, 21 August 2001, at 10:50 p.m.

Something I found while looking for IJN ships around Rabaul

Caption below photo reads
Negative Number: 096327 Caption: MALAGUNA MISSION, NEW BRITAIN. 1945-09-10. A JAPANESE RED CROSS SOCIETY FLOAT PLANE DRAWN ON SLIPS NEAR THE BEACH. TROOPS OF 4 INFANTRY BRIGADE NOW OCCUPY THE RABAUL AREA FOLLOWING THE SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE

http://www.awm.gov.au/database/photo.asp

Posted By: bob <mailto:bob5@home.com?subject=Re: More likely a Green Cross Plane!>
Date: Wednesday, 22 August 2001, at 6:43 p.m.
In Response To: More likely a Green Cross Plane! *No Text* (Mike Goodwin)

Hi Fellas,
Those crosses are surrender markings. The tip off is that the Jake is painted white too.

HTH
Bob
http://www.combinedfleet.com/senkan.htm

Re: More likely a Green Cross Plane!

Posted By: D J Duxbury <mailto:dduxbury@inet.net.nz?subject=Re: More likely a Green Cross Plane!> Date: Thursday, 23 August 2001, at 3:32 a.m.

In Response To: (bob)

That Jake is the one ferried by RNZAF pilot Squadron Leader R H F Hickson (actually born an Australian) of No.6 Flying Boat Sqdn (PBY-5) from Rabaul to Jacquinot Bay on 11th September 1945. Unfortunately one of the floats of this aircraft sprang a leak overnight and next morning it was noticed that it had turned turtle in the Bay. As it was considered to be of very little value at this time (it was merely a curiosity really) no justification could be found for salvaging it, so it was abandoned. I have the tail number of this aircraft; 58-095 which (naturally) indicates it had been operated by the 958th Ku. I obtained this detail from the log book of the "passenger" on this ferry flight, one Flight Sergeant J Crookshanks (correct spelling) who was a flight engineer with 6 Sqdn at the time, in Hickson's crew. Hickson and crew arrived in Rabaul Harbour from Jacquinot Bay per Catalina NZ4039 on 11th September at approx 0820 hrs local, undertook a 25 minute test flight from 1340 hours in the Jake, then at 1410 set off for the 1 hour 20 minute flight to Jacquinot Bay. The Catalina was flown to the same destination by the second pilot. These were the only flights undertaken with this aircraft by the RNZAF. There is at least one RNZAF photogrpah showing the Jake taxiing out from malaguna prior to tone of these flights, with the Beehives in the background. So yes, it IS a green cross plane.

Re: More likely a Green Cross Plane!

Posted By: Bill Bourke <mailto:billbourke@xtra.co.nz?subject=Re: More likely a Green Cross Plane!> Date: Sunday, 26 August 2001, at 4:20 a.m.

In Response To: Re: More likely a Green Cross Plane! (D J Duxbury)

So in theory there is a pretty good Jake still at Jaquinot Bay, up side down in divable water ?

Re: More likely a Green Cross Plane!

Posted By: D J Duxbury <mailto:dduxbury@inet.net.nz?subject=Re: More likely a Green Cross Plane!> Date: Sunday, 26 August 2001, at 9:40 p.m.

In Response To: Re: More likely a Green Cross Plane! (Bill Bourke)

Hullo Bill Bourke! Yes, there could well be a nice (?) Jake sitting on the bottom at Jacquinot Bay, although chances are it might have been damaged by anchors or fishing nets by now. Incidentally the message sent to New Zealand notifying Air Department that the Jake had sunk was sent on 14th November 1945, serial number A.557. "The Japanese Jake seaplane has sunk. Port float was ruptured due to unknown cause and plane capsized. Attempts to salvage unsuccesful due to lack of equipment. Aircraft now completely unsalvagable. Full report following". Unfortunately I have never seen a copy of this "full report" (it may never have been written). So get on your flippers and see what you can find. Actually Japanese floatplanes sitting on the sea bottom around northern Solomons and New Britain are not that uncommon, and all would be pretty fragile by now - better ones to be found on land, especially Petes. Good hunting!

Jake Colour

Posted By: Jason <mailto:jason.carter@bridcres.fsnet.co.uk?subject=Jake Colour> Date: Friday, 9 August 2002, at 1:23 p.m.

I wish to build a Jake of the 41-42 period i.e. Pearl Harbour, Midway and Guadalcanal campaigns?
What colour were they painted? light grey or green?
Does anyone have pictures of one?

Re: Jake Colour

Posted By: Allan <mailto:Wildcat42@AOL.com?subject=Re: Jake Colour> Date: Tuesday, 13 August 2002, at 4:08 p.m.

In Response To: Jake Colour (Jason)

Okay Jason, Dc-'41 - Black Cowl with gray fuselage on the same order as the Zero's Ju-'42 - Capitol Ship-borne [Same as above] Ju-'42 - Tender-based = Black Cowl with dark green fuselage and these were mixed, that is, some aircraft had the gray fuselage also. Ag-'42 - By now, most were of the dark green variety, but there were still some that had the earlier paint scheme.
As to Tail Codes, who were you referring to????
Regards, Allan

Re: Jake Colour

Posted By: Chris Cowx <mailto:ccowx@shaw.ca?subject=Re: Jake Colour> Date: Monday, 12 August 2002, at 9:39 a.m.

In Response To: Jake Colour (Jason)

I am attempting to build a Guadalcanal plane myself and I have also had trouble with the schemes. The best I have been able to manage is to figure out the tail codes for a few of the seaplane tenders active in that region and make educated guesses from there. I agree with Mr Goodale that they would have been green over grey. I am likely going to have to use the standard warning stripes etc and then put on tail codes from the spares box. Sorry I can't be more specific. If my information is of any use to you let me know.

Re: Jake Colour

Posted By: Grant Goodale <mailto:grant.goodale@sympatico.ca?subject=Re: Jake Colour> Date: Friday, 9 August 2002, at 1:48 p.m.

In Response To: Jake Colour (Jason)

Jason -
The Pearl Harbour Jakes were light grey. I will send you a scan off-board from the old Model Art Pearl Harbour book. They dropped the profiles of the float planes from the newer version (Number 573) to make room for the stills from that less than stellar movie.
Without much to go on, I would hazard a guess that they would retain their light grey through Midway but green over grey could also be present. I would think that green over grey would be right ones for Guadalcanal.
HTH
- Grant

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