B5N2 torpedo bomber flying above Pearl Harbor, 7 Dec 1941 at 0920; Hickam Field in foreground below and burning American ships in background [Colorized by WW2DB]

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Caption     B5N2 torpedo bomber flying above Pearl Harbor, 7 Dec 1941 at 0920; Hickam Field in foreground below and burning American ships in background [Colorized by WW2DB] ww2dbase
Colorization Note   This photograph was originally a black and white photograph; the colorized version presented here was a derivative work by WW2DB. The colors used in this version were speculative, and could be significantly different from the real colors.

Processed using Adobe Photoshop Image Processor, with default neural filter, selecting "None" as the profile.

View the original black and white photograph at its own permanent page.
Photographer    Unknown
Source    ww2dbaseUnited States National Archives
Identification Code   80-G-178985
More on...   
B5N   Main article  Photos  
Attack on Pearl Harbor   Main article  Photos  Maps  
Hickam Field   Main article  Photos  Maps  
Photo Size 1,512 x 862 pixels
Photos on Same Day 7 Dec 1941
Photos at Same Place Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
Added By David Stubblebine
Colorized Date 24 Feb 2023
Licensing  Public Domain. According to the US National Archives, as of 21 Jul 2010:
The vast majority of the digital images in the Archival Research Catalog (ARC) are in the public domain. Therefore, no written permission is required to use them. We would appreciate your crediting the National Archives and Records Administration as the original source. For the few images that remain copyrighted, please read the instructions noted in the "Access Restrictions" field of each ARC record.... In general, all government records are in the public domain and may be freely used.... Additionally, according to the United States copyright law (United States Code, Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105), in part, "[c]opyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government".

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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Commenter identity confirmed Bill says:
7 May 2010 08:46:22 PM

Nakajima B5N2 (Kate) EII-307 from Carrier
Zuikaku over Pearl Harbor.

Masato Hatakenaka: Pilot
Shuichi Ueno: Observer/Bombardier/Navigator
Kingoro Orumi: Radio Operator/Gunner
2. Commenter identity confirmed Bill says:
30 Dec 2011 05:15:41 PM

last minute order changes, of aircraft and crews B5N2, EII-307 was transferred from the
Carrier Kaga to Zuikaku.
3. Commenter identity confirmed Bill says:
9 Jan 2012 04:55:51 PM

REPLICA B5N "KATE" FOR THE 1970 MOVIE:
TORA, TORA, TORA

The "Reel B5N Kate" for the movie was a mix of two WWII training planes.
The North American SNJ/T-6 Texan and the Vultee BT-13 were used to construct the replicas.
The rear monocoque and tail from the BT-13 was grafted to the rear fuselage of the T-6 and the fuselage was stretched to resemble the three-seat Japanese bomber.
Modified canopy, wingtips, and new wingroot fairing from a profile this approximated the look of the "Real Kate".
Aircraft was powered by 600hp P&W R-1340
air-cooled radial engine driving a three bladed propeller. A total of nine "Kates" were built for the movie.

MONOCOQUE:
Type of construction as a fuselage in which
the outer aluminum skin carries all or a major part of the stresses
4. Commenter identity confirmed Bill says:
4 Oct 2015 07:31:12 PM

JAPANESE BOMBS USED AT: PEARL HARBOR

The Japanese used different types of bombs for
the Pearl Harbor raid on 7,Dec. 1941. Here is a list of bombs used.

Type 91 Model 2 Torpedo, weight 838 kg/1847lb First wave carried by Nakajima B5N (Kate) torpedo bombers.

Type 99 Model 5 Anti-ship bomb 800kg/1,763lbs
First wave carried by Nakajima B5N (Kate)

Type 98 land-bomb 250kg/551lbs carried by Aichi D3A (Val) Dive Bomber and Nakajima B5N
(Kate) bombers in first and second wave attack.

Type 97 land-bomb 250kg/551lbs carried by Aichi D3A(Val) Dive Bombers First wave

Type 99 Model 1 Anti-ship bomb 250kg/551lbs carried by Aichi D3A (Val) Dive Bombers in the Second wave.

A6M2, Model 21 Zero Fighter provided escort and strafed ground targets.

SECRET WEAPON: SHALLOW-WATER TORPEDOES

Before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, its intelligence of the area included the depth of the harbor was 40 feet/12.193m. Conventional torpedoes were test and modified with wooden fins to help stabilize the weapon once dropped from the B5N (Kate) Torpedo Bomber.

Eighty-nine (89) Kate Bombers in the first wave and Forty (40) in the second wave carried the Type 91, Model Torpedo...

The other Forty-nine (49) Kates carried multiple Type 91, Model 5 bombs that weighted 1,762lbs.

Fifty-One (51) Aichi D3A (Val) Dive Bombers carried 1 x 250kg/551lb bombs...
5. Commenter identity confirmed Bill says:
4 Oct 2015 07:50:59 PM

PEARL HARBOR 1st & 2nd WAVE ATTACKS:

FIRST ATTACK WAVE:

Eighty-nine Nakajima B5N Kate's armed with bombs and torpedoes.

Fifty-One Aichi D3A Val Dive Bombers armed with bombs.

Forty-three Mitsubishi A6M2, Model 21 Zero (Zeke) Fighters.

SECOND ATTACK WAVE:

Fifty-four Nakajima B5N Kate's armed with bombs.

Fifty-one Aichi D3A Val Dive Bombers armed with bombs.

Forty-three Mitsubishi A6M2, Model 21 Zero (Zeke) Fighters
6. Commenter identity confirmed Bill says:
4 Oct 2015 07:58:18 PM

OOPS! MADE A MISTAKE

In The Second Attack Wave Number Of Aircraft Should Be.

SECOND ATTACK WAVE:

Fifty-Four (54) Nakajima B5N Kate's armed w/bombs

Seventy-Eight (78) Aichi D3A Val Dive Bombers armed w/bombs

Thirty-Five Mitsubishi A6M2, Model 21 Zero (Zeke) Fighters.

Think its time to call it a day glad I was able to clear up my mistake...GOING TO GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP
7. Commenter identity confirmed Bill says:
4 Oct 2015 08:05:05 PM

A total of One Hundred and Twenty-Nine (129) Aichi D3A Val Dive Bombers were used in the Pearl Harbor raid....

I thank the editor/ww2db for bearing all this with me tonight...

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