|
The great range of the H8K2, coupled with submarine refueling, could easily make any West Coast American city a potential bombing target. It was in fact Japanese Imperial Navy H8K2's which flew a long range mission from a Japanese base in the Marshall Islands to Honolulu, Hawaii on March 3, 1942 to bomb the island and act as diversion for a Japanese attack on Midway Island. The planes had been secretly refueled by Imperial submarines to extend the already great range of the H8K2 "Emily". Dropping 550 pound bombs from high altitude through clouds the big four engine seaplane bombers narrowly missed homes in Honolulu, hitting instead a forested mountainside. But the raid was still intended to mainly cause panic and divert American naval planes to chase after them. The H8K2 speed and flying range could move them away quickly (and in fact they were not caught). Japanese Navy recon seaplanes continued to fly over Hawaii through 1943, without U.S. interception. |
|
The Japanese Navy Bombed Hawaii Again? Cloud overcast caused their bomb loads to be dropped harmlessly on Honolulu's Mount Tantalus in March, 1942. |
|
Kawanishi H8K2 Japanese Naval Patrol Bomber. The Japanese Navy Bombed Hawaii Again? Cloud overcast caused their bomb loads to be dropped harmlessly on Honolulu's Mount Tantalus in March, 1942. The great range of the H8K2, coupled with submarine refueling, could easily make any West Coast American city a potential bombing target. It was in fact Japanese Imperial Navy H8K2's which flew a long range mission from a Japanese base in the Marshall Islands to Honolulu, Hawaii on March 3, 1942 to bomb the island and act as diversion for a Japanese attack on Midway Island. The planes had been secretly refueled by Imperial submarines to extend the already great range of the H8K2 "Emily". Dropping 550 pound bombs from high altitude through clouds the big four engine seaplane bombers narrowly missed homes in Honolulu, hitting instead a forested mountainside. But the raid was still intended to mainly cause panic and divert American naval planes to chase after them. The H8K2 speed and flying range could move them away quickly (and in fact they were not caught). Japanese Navy recon seaplanes continued to fly over Hawaii through 1943, without U.S. interception. |
|
Geo Hawaii Hawaii Sailor Tiki Art Pali Views Aloha 50 HawaiiN Mighty Mo Surf Girls Hawaiiwood |
|
Matson Menu Artists: |