Commemorating the crew of the RAAF Bristol Beaufort A9-317, lost on September 9, 1943
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos and documentation by Pamela Harrison www.ww2wrecks.com has previously featured a story on The WW2 “flying coffin” that never returned: The search for the lost Beaufort Mrs. Pamela Harrison has dedicated her time and efforts to help locate the doomed aircraft and the final resting place of its crew members. On September 9, 2020, 77 […]
Mitsubishi F1M “Pete” and Nakajima B5N2 “Kate” by Andrew Hamilton
By Pierre Kosmidis The Nakajima B5N2 “Kate” in Kavieng, Papua New Guinea PHOTO: Andrew Hamilton Australian underwater photographer Andrew Hamilton recently shot images of theMitsubishi F1M “Pete” and Nakajima B5N2 “Kate” aircraft wrecks in Kavieng, Papua New Guinea. Kavieng peninsula and airstrip The Mitsubishi F1M “Pete”in Kavieng, Papua New Guinea PHOTO: Andrew Hamilton Andrew Hamilton plans to visit […]
“Pete” the Japanese nearly intact reconnaissance floatplane of Rabaul
By Pierre Kosmidis The Mitsubishi F1M (Allied reporting name “Pete”) was a Japanese reconnaissance floatplane of World War II. It was the last biplane type of the Imperial Japanese Navy, with 1,118 built between 1936 and 1944. The Navy designation was “Type Zero Observation Seaplane” (零式水上観測機), not to be confused with the Type Zero Carrier […]
Yosegaki Hinomaru 日の丸寄せ書き: Returning the flags of their fathers
By Pierre Kosmidis The nation of Japan experienced nearly 2,000,000 lost soldiers during the war for the Pacific. Of these, approximately 1,140,000 are still Missing In Action. That is, they were killed but no trace of their bodies was ever recovered. The Good Luck Flag, known as hinomaru yosegaki (日の丸寄せ書き) in the Japanese language, was […]
The last battle of Sergeant Taichi Ito 伊藤太市 and his Type 97 “Shinhoto Chi-Ha” tank on Shumshu
By Pierre Kosmidis Source of photos Japanese medium tank Type 97 “Shinhoto Chi-Ha” (an improved version of Type 97 “Chi-Ha”, where “shinhoto” means “new turret”), from the 11th Tank Regiment, stationed on Shumshu still lies where it was knocked out on August 18th 1945 during a counter-attack against advance units of Soviet paratroopers in the […]
The WW2 Pacific Treasures of Kwajalein Lagoon by Dan Farnham PART 5- The F1M2 ‘Pete’ wreck at the Shoei Maru
By Pierre Kosmidis Text, photos and additional information by Dan Farnhham, used by permission CLICK THE LINKS BELOW TO READ THE FOLLOWING STORIES The WW2 Pacific Treasures of Kwajalein Lagoon by Dan Farnham PART 1 – Exploring aircraft wrecks The WW2 Pacific Treasures of Kwajalein Lagoon by Dan Farnham PART 2 – Warrant Officer […]
The WW2 Pacific Treasures of Kwajalein Lagoon by Dan Farnham Part 20: The SBD Dauntless wrecks of Kwajalein lagoon
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos, text and research submitted by Dan Farnham, used by permission Designed in 1938, the SBD ‘Dauntless’ became one of the best-known US naval aircraft of World War II. Considered obsolete when American entered World War II in late 1941, the SBD ended up sinking more enemy ships in the Pacific than any […]
The WW2 Pacific Treasures of Kwajalein Lagoon by Dan Farnham PART 2 – Warrant Officer Nobuo Fujita, the only man who has bombed the continental US and the story of the E14Y1 floatplanes found in a shipwreck
By Pierre Kosmidis Text, photos and additional information by Dan Farnhham, used by permission ADDITIONAL RESOURCES The WW2 Pacific Treasures of Kwajalein Lagoon by Dan Farnham PART 1 – Exploring aircraft wrecks Locating and identifying WW2 aircraft wrecks: The Kwajalein Missing in Action (MIA) Project An E14Y1 submarine-launched seaplane, code named “Glen” […]
The WW2 Pacific Treasures of Kwajalein Lagoon by Dan Farnham PART 1 – Exploring aircraft wrecks
By Pierre Kosmidis Additional info and photographs by Dan Farnham, used by permission Dan Farnham has been living on Kwajalein, working as a civilian contractor for the US Army, since December 2005. Dan, along with a group of fellow history enthusiasts, is spearheading “The Kwajalein Missing in Action (MIA) Project” an all-volunteer team which is made up of […]
The WW2 Pacific Treasures of Kwajalein Lagoon by Dan Farnham Part 17: The mystery of the lost Wildcats at the aircraft graveyard
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos, text and research submitted by Dan Farnham, used by permission Manufactured by Grumman Aviation, the F4F Wildcat fighter was one of the most well-known American carrier aircraft of World War II. The Wildcat was the U.S. Navy’s first monoplane fighter, replacing biplane fighters that had been in service in the U.S. fleet […]