Kawanishi Aircraft

H6K4-L Unit: 801st Kokutai, 27th Koku Sentai
Serial: 801-902
After November 1, 1942. The first '801st Kokutai' was exterminated at Tulagi Island (Solomon Islands) on August 7, 1942

Japanese airframe manufacturer. Kawanishi Kokuki K.K. was formed in 1928 after taking over the assets of Kawanishi Engineering Works. During World War II, Kawanishi was the sixth largest producer of combat aircraft in Japan. Kawanishi produced only airframes, with engines being provided by outside sources.

Kawanishi had a total of four plants. Three—Himeji northwest of Kobe, Naruo near Osaka, and Konsan between Osaka and Kobe—produced airframes. The fourth plant (Takarazuka, located north of the Naruo plant) was a component plant that supplied parts to the others.

During World War II, Kawanishi produced three primary aircraft. The N1K Kyofu (Allied code name “Rex”) was the first Japanese floatplane fighter specifically designed for that purpose.

The N1K1/2-J Shiden (Allied code name “George”) was a land-based design developed from the Rex. From December 1942 to early 1945, some 1,000 aircraft of this type were produced. The highly maneuverable George was one of the few fighters at the end of the war that was a good match for the Allied F6F Hellcats and F4U Corsairs.

The H8K (Allied code name “Emily”) was probably the best flying boat of the war serving any nation. The Emily was the largest of all naval aircraft and the fastest and most maneuverable flying boat in the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Emily carried out a variety of missions: reconnaissance, torpedo attacks, bombing, patrol, and transport. Approximately 160 Emilys were produced by the end of the war.