Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor To Display Rare WWII Japanese Torpedo Plane

A rear view of the Kate's forward fuselage. This is the area of the aircraft where seats for the pilot and navigator/bombardier are located. (PRNewsFoto/Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl...)

The outer wing and forward fuselage of Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor's Nakajima Kate, shown behind a WWII torpedo. Members of Lt Ted Shealy's Restoration Shop perform preservation work on the delicate airframe. (PRNewsFoto/Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl...)

HONOLULU- The Nakajima B5N Torpedo Bomber was the pride of the Imperial Japanese Navy and was considered the most effective aircraft of its kind at the beginning of World War II. She caused most of the battleship damage during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 7, 1941. Seventy-five years later, the Type 97 Carrier Torpedo Bomber, dubbed the "Kate" by the allies, will return to the exact spot where she made aviation history and be displayed at Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor on Ford Island.

"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. "We expect it will take five years to restore the B5N for static display quality" according to DeHoff. "With this year being the 75^th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the museum is honored to be able to display the Kate where she made aviation history, sharing a legacy with thousands of visitors worldwide."

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 of infamy, including the 158-foot tall, red and white iconic Ford Island Air Field Control Tower, Hangars 37 and 79, and bullet holes that still remain. Through its preservation and restoration of World War II fighter planes and accompanying artifacts in the

Museum's historic hangars, Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor shares the story of the vital role aviation played in winning of World War II, and its continuing role in maintaining America's freedom.

Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. Its mission is to develop and maintain an internationally recognized aviation museum on Historic Ford Island that educates young and old alike, honors aviators and their support personnel who defended freedom in The Pacific Region, and to preserve Pacific aviation history. Contact: 808-441-1000.