PB4Y

Lt Graham Squires reduced power to avoid overshooting the flying boat, but as he was about to cross over the H8K, its pilot pulled his aircraft up sharply in an attempt to crash into the PB4Y

During World War II, air combats between large, four-engined aircraft were a comparatively rare occurrence. Allied and Axis bombers had few opportunities for such encounters, but there were clashes between maritime patrol aircraft. These aerial engagements are unique in the annals of air warfare. Patrol aircraft most often faced enemy single- and twin-engined fighters, but there were occasions when rival maritime machines encountered each other during their patrols.

According to Edward M. Young’s narrative in his book H6K “Mavis”/H8K “Emily” vs. PB4Y-1/2 Liberator/Privateer Pacific Theater 1943-45, the majority of these clashes occurred over the wide Pacific Ocean. Aggressive PB4Y Liberators, the US Navy’s name for the B-24, shot down 15 Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force (IJNAF) Kawanishi H6K “Mavis” and H8K “Emily” flying boats without losing a single one between August 1943 and the end of the final combat in May 1945—a remarkable record.

These amazing pictures from December 30, 1944, show a H8K crashing after it was attacked and struck by a PB4Y’s guns.

That morning, while on patrol off Formosa, Lt. Graham Squires and his crew, flying a PB4Y from a VPB-117, saw a H8K. Squires and his crew were flying at 6,000 feet on a westerly course between two layers of cloud over the South China Sea, southwest of the southern tip of Formosa. When the top turret gunner alerted the aircraft to an “Emily” flying at its “three o’clock” position, about eighteen miles to the southeast, the PB4Y was just below the upper layer of clouds.

Squires quickly climbed into the clouds to avoid being spotted by the flying boat. Making effective use of the cloud layer, Squires had closed the range to just six miles when the “Emily” crew spotted the approaching PB4Y. The flying boat immediately turned and headed back in the direction of Formosa, with Squires in pursuit, diving into the lower cloud layer to escape. The radar operator on board the PB4Y quickly found the “Emily” on his AN/APS 15 radar scope and directed Squires toward the enemy aircraft, which had descended below the lower cloud layer and dived down toward the ocean, pulling out at 150ft. Squires closed the range and leveled off above the H8K at 200ft.

Although the PB4Y was still out of 0.50 cal range, the “Emily’s” dorsal and tail 20mm turret gunners opened fire but scored no hits on the Liberator. Coming in quickly, the PB4Y’s bow turret gunner shot out the dorsal turret, then set the No. 3 engine on fire. The top turret gunner also hit the “Emily” moments later. Squires reduced power to avoid overshooting the flying boat, but as he was about to cross over the H8K, its pilot pulled his aircraft up sharply in an attempt to crash into the PB4Y. Squires slammed the throttles forward and pulled the Liberator up and over the “Emily,” missing the Japanese aircraft by just 25ft.

The mortally wounded H8K, from the 801st Kokutai, fell away to starboard and crashed into the ocean.

H6K “Mavis”/H8K “Emily” vs PB4Y-1/2 Liberator/Privateer is published by Osprey Publishing and is available to order here.

Photo by NARA