Aircraft History
Built by Kawanishi Kokuki K. K. at Naruo. This flying boat was either model H6K4 or H6K5.

Wartime History
Assigned to either that Yokusuka Kokutai or Yokohama Kokutai, operating from Tulagi Seaplane Base.

Sunk off Gavutu Island on August 7, 1942 by American aircraft prior to the US Marines landings at Gavutu and Tulagi.

Wreckage
Rests upright nearly completely intact on a sandy, silt covered bottom. The right wing is broken off an missing beyond the no. 3 engine, which hangs from its mount pointed downward. The fuselage is in excellent condition, the nose slightly bent, likely from impacting the bottom. The fuselage and tail are intact, with some portions of the outer skin corroded away to allow divers to view inside. The left wing is well preserved. Silt in the area reduced dive visibility. All the machine guns were present at the wreck until 2000, when they were removed by an unknown diver.

Justin Taylan reports:
"I dove this Mavis on February 11, 2006 with Tulagi Dive. There was moderate silt, and visibility was average. Still, this massive aircraft was a breath taking site."

References
Thanks to Tulagi Dive and Howard Sawyer for additional information

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

Mavis

27-34m

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