Following a request by a reader of our blog, we present here a selective bibliography of Japanese titles on the undoubtedly elegant Flying Boats (hikotei) of the IJNAF.
Title: "Saigo No Hikotei"
(The Last Flying Boat)
Author: Hitsuji Tsuneo
Published by: Konnichi No Wadaisha, 1988 h/b, Out-of-print
Pages: 246, Size: 14X20cm, Photos: 61 b/w
Hitsuji-san was a seaplane and flying boat specialist flying with the Tateyama, Maizuru and Sasebo Kokutai among others. During the Sino-Japanese War, he served on board Kamikawa Maru then took part in most of the major operation theatres in the Pacific. Became unit commander (hikotaicho) of the 851Ku and then of the Takuma Ku finally serving with the test team of the Naval Aviation Arsenal in Davao. After the War he flew the last surviving "Emily" from Takuma to Yokohama to be evaluated by the US Forces and later became adviser with the Sinmeiwa Co.
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Title: "Kiseki No Hikotei"
(The Miracle Flying Boat)
Author: Kitaide Daita
Published by: Kojinsha, 1969 pb, Out-of-print
Pages: 237, Size: 14X20cm, Photos: 34 b/w
Title: "Kiseki No Hikotei"
(The Last Flying Boat)
Author: Kitaide Daita
Published by: Kojinsha, 2005 pb, in-print
Pages: 388, Size: 11X15cm, Photos: 35 b/w
Kitaide-san served with the Tateyama and Yokohama Sugita Kokutai. At the time of the Sino-Japanese War he was serving with Kojo Ku becoming a test pilot with Kugisho. At the beginning of the Pacific War he was serving with the 934Ku. The end of the War found him in Jawa with 7,000 flying hours (!!!) to his credit mostly with "Mavis".
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Title: "Yokaren No Sora"
(The Skies of Yokaren)
Author: Honma Takeshi
Published by: Kojinsha, 1981 hb, out-of-print
Pages: 275, Size: 14X20cm
Title: "Yokaren No Sora"
(The Skies of Yokaren)
Author: Honma Takeshi
Published by: Kojinsha, 2002 pb, in-print
Pages: 364, Size: 11X15cm, Photos: 19
Honma-san served in the beginning with Yokosuka, Tsuchiura, Suzuka, Sasebo and Yokohama Ku. Flew "Emily" and "Mavis" in the South Pacific from Makin in the Gilbert Islands and Jaluit in the Marshalls. Became an instructor with the TakumaKu, served on the heavy Cruiser Tone flying "Jake" during the battle of Leyte, later flying "Saiun" with the 171Ku over Okinawa. Total flying time: 2,500 hours.
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Title: "Testo Pairoto"
(Test Pilot)
Author: Minamihori Eiji
Published by: Kojinsha, 2007 pb, in-print
Pages: 693, Size: 11X15cm, Photos: 35
Author Minamihori has dedicated this book in the personal history of Kawanishi test pilot Morikawa Isamu who was the main pilot of the "Emily" prototypes and had a very long and colorful career.
All the above biographies are in Japanese and none has been translated into English.
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