I will post the photos and location as a preservation of the site.
Explanation of the museum
Shiden-Kai
This Shiden Kai was lying at the bottom of the sea about 200 meters below Nagasaki-nana, Kura, Jobe-cho, Minamiuwa-gun, 41 meters below the sea floor, and was identified by a member of the Jobe Marine Club in November 1978.
Ehime Prefecture decided to raise the aircraft, offer a memorial service, and pray for lasting peace.
The “Shiden Kai” was the most outstanding local fighter of its time, the “Shiden Type 21,” and its overall dimensions are as follows
- Overall length: 9.34 meters
- Main wings 11.99 meters long
- Height 3.9 meters
- Equipped weight 4.86 tons
- Speed of 620 kilometers per hour
- Engine 2000 horsepower
- Four 20mm machine guns
It was an excellent fighter that decorated the latter half of naval aviation, equipped with four 20-millimeter machine guns and capable of making full use of its unique automatic air combat flaps.
This “Shiden Kai” was assigned to the former 343rd Naval Air Squadron, and is said to be one of the aircraft that engaged in a battle over the Bungo Channel in July 1945.
Fujita Kaiji Kogyo Co., Ltd. was commissioned by the prefecture to salvage the aircraft on July 14, 1979, with the cooperation of local fishermen and others.
The fuselage was covered in barnacles and some parts were damaged, but it retained its original shape.
The prefectural government commissioned the former Kawanishi Aircraft Company, which was responsible for the production of the Shiden Kai, and the current ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd.
The aircraft will be permanently preserved in the Nanyo Recreation No. 3 City Park, which overlooks Kura Bay, the site of the aircraft’s demise.
Photograph
Comments