The Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor in Hawaii has announced plans to display a rare Japanese Nakajima B5N Torpedo Bomber. Considered the most effective aircraft of its kind at the beginning of World War II, this type of plane caused most of the battleship damage during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 7, 1941.
"This aircraft is one of a few known to have survived the war," said Kenneth DeHoff, executive director of Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor. "An estimated 1,149 B5N's were built, and only bits and pieces survive today, except for this Kate with its intriguing history."
Work has begun on the Kate's fuselage and wings in the Museum's Lt. Ted Shealy's Restoration Shop, located in historic Hangar 79. DeHoff said the Museum expects it to take five years to restore the plane to display quality.
Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor is located on Historic Ford Island, where the first bombs fell during the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Visitors to the Museum can see remnants from that day, including the 158-foot tall, red and white Ford Island Air Field Control Tower, Hangars 37 and 79, and bullet holes that still remain.
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