E7K Alf

Posted By: Garth <mailto:garth.o'connell@awm.gov.au?subject=E7K 'Alf' in the South West Pacific?>
Date: Thursday, 9 November 2000, at 8:35 p.m.

Can anybody please help me with finding some references to the E7K1 or 2 "Alf" reconnaisance floatplane being used operationally in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) during the Pacific War?

Particular cruisers, land bases or so on would be appreciated - as with book/print/online references. I am considering buying the Hasegawa E7k1 1/72 scale kit and the SWPA being a major modelling interest of mine, I naturally want to have a relevant aircraft added to my collection :)

P.S. Anyone who has built or has an unbuilt E7K could you let me know the decal options in the kit? Are there after market decals for them for example?

P.S.S. AWM collection image of ALF : negative number 129731 in online photo collection database.

Posted By: Allan <mailto:Wildcat42@AOL.com?subject=Re: E7K 'Alf' and CruDiv 6>
Date: Saturday, 11 November 2000, at 9:39 p.m.

Cruiser Division 6 was thus;
First Section was - Aoba(F) - Furutaka
2nd Section was Kako - Kinugasa
Tail Codes for CruDiv 6 were:
Aoba - GI-
Furutaka - GII-
Kako - GIII-
Kinugasa - GIV-

According to "Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War" these cruisers carried two Type 94 #2 or one Type 94 #2 and one Type 95 #2. So, the odds are that 2 "Alf's" were carried, which would make Aoba (GI-1 or GI-2) and so on. These 8 E7K2 were used in conjunction with Kamikawa Maru at Deboyne, flying sector searches that would discover one of the U. S. Task Forces in the Coral Sea. John Lundstrom's "First Team" covers that part very throughly.

Only Aoba, during her refit after her damage during the Battle of Cape Esperance, received the newer aircraft (E13A1). The other 3 were casualties before their aircraft could be upgraded.

Posted By: Garth <mailto:goconnell@dingoblue.net.au?subject=Re: E7K 'Alf' in the South West Pacific?>
Date: Saturday, 11 November 2000, at 10:47 a.m.

Thanks for the info :) Would you know what specific ships were in Cruiser Division 6? Any idea of markings? Looks like I'll get the Alf and do her up in appropriate CD6 markings. . .Coral Sea was one of our nation's most significant battles.