!!!Jake Seaplane Wreck, Palau

Photos by [Oleg Gaponyuk|https://www.airpano.ru/gallery.php?gallery=334],
member of the [AirPano Team|Geography/About/Consortium/AirPano,_Team] that is a member of the [global-geography Consortium|Geography/About/Consortium]. \\

14 May 2021

with kind permission of [AirPano|http://www.AirPano.com]

The Palau archipelago is a genuine paradise for divers which is famous
not only for its beautiful nature. In this place, ships and seaplanes
that sank during the Second World War are hidden under the water! Let's
take a look at one of these wrecks, a crashed Japanese seaplane.

In preparation for World War II, Japan established two seaplane bases in
Palau. One of them served the long-range four-engined amphibious
aircraft Kawanishi H8K (codename Emily). It was housed where the Palau
Pacific Resort stands today, and a snorkelling shop has been built on
its former taxiway. To the south of this base, there was the second
depot: Meyuns Sea Plane Ramp Resort. The seaplanes Aichi E13A (Jake)
were based here.

It was Jake which found its last refuge in the waters of Palau. This
all-metal hydroplane had been in production from 1938 to 1945 and was
intended for long-range reconnaissance. It was 11.3 m long with a
wingspan of 14.5 m. An engine with a capacity of 1,080 HP allowed it to
reach a speed of up to 375 km/h. Its rear cockpit housed a machine gun
used for self-defence, and in addition, it could carry on board a crew
of three men and 250 kg of bombs.

Now it lies on a "carpet" of corals, at a depth of 15 meters next to the
Palau Pacific Resort. Most likely, it fell into the water at the time of
landing approach or during takeoff due to an engine stop. This is
evidenced by the state of the propellers: if they worked, they would
lose their original shape upon impact with the water.

[{Image src='01_Palau.jpg' caption='Jake Seaplane wreck, Palau\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false'}]

When hitting the bottom, the tail part and one of the pontoons fell off:
they were thrown to a distance of about 6 meters, but now they are
densely covered with algae and are barely distinguishable. In the same
way, the engine broke away from the aircraft and the wing bent, but
otherwise, it is still well preserved.

Over the years, corals have continued to grow around the plane. There
are several types of them: both rocky and soft. Octopuses and
cuttlefish, nudibranchs and colourful tropical fish are everywhere. Due
to its shallow water depth and transparency, this place is a great spot
for diving and photography.

And this is what allowed the plane to be discovered: in 1994, when
diving in Palau was not yet so popular, the plane was spotted from the
surface of the water by a local fisherman. He informed the owners of the
Neco Marine store, they invited the journalists from the Skin Diver
magazine and together they were the first to dive and photograph Jake.

[{Image src='02_Palau.jpg' caption='Jake Seaplane wreck, Palau\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false'}]

Now anyone can approach it, but divers are asked not to pick up any
artefacts that can be found nearby. Even live ammunition has remained
under the water, and despite the humid environment, they are still
dangerous.

Let's dive into the waters of Palau, looking at the sunken seaplane!

\\ \\
[5 panoramas of 360° panoramas of underwater wreck of plane|Geography/Australia/Palau/Pictures/sea_plane]

[{SET customtitle='360° panoramas of underwater wreck of plane (AP)'}]












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