Warbird Information Exchange

The State’s most significant aircraft wreck site is arguably that of the Japanese floatplane used to ‘spot’ fleet dispositions within Sydney harbour prior to the notorious Japanese midget submarine raid of 31 May 1942. This aircraft, a two-seater Yokosuka E.14Y1 “Glen” floatplane, was launched from the carrier submarine, I-22, when stationed north-east of Sydney. The still unlocated aircraft capsized when returning from its mission, the crew rescued but the plane scuttled. This incident represents the only Axis aircraft lost in combat in NSW. It, with the still missing third Japanese midget submarine, remain as unique reminders of this infamous raid.

Japanese Yokosuka E14Y1 ‘Glen’, off Sydney, 1942
Arguably the most historic aircraft loss in New South Wales, the capsizing of this aircraft on 30 May 1942, is closely associated with the Japanese midget submarine raid at Sydney on 31 May 1942. Piloted by Flying Warrant Officer Susumo Ito and with Iwasaki as navigator, the two-seater single wing aircraft was carried aboard the submarine 1-21.
Of the five 108 metre long I-15 class (Type B1) submarines in the Eastern (Sydney) Attack Group (Hervieux, 1978 a & b), three carried midget submarines, I-22, I-24 and I-27. I-21 and I-29 carried single float planes in a hangar forward of the conning tower. I–29 had earlier fatally damaged its plane during a flight over Sydney on 23 May 1942 (Jenkins, 1992:18).


Ito launched his dark green aircraft from I-21 (built 1939 at Kobe) approximately 35 nautical miles north east of Sydney (Clarke, 1966:71). After completing his reconnaissance survey for the impending raid (at one stage just 30 meters above the water adjacent to the heavy cruiser USS Chicago and the Harbour Bridge), Ito attempted to relocate the mother submarine offshore. The early morning darkness caused difficulties as he crossed seaward over North Head at 5am. Failing to find the submarine, the plane returned to Sydney, took bearings from the Macquarie Lighthouse on South Head and continued north east. A short radio message led to the submarine signalling its position. However, the Glen overturned as it landed beside I-21. Safely rescued with their vital information, the Japanese were faced with a dilemma – the sun was soon to rise but the upside-down floatplane refused to sink because of its still buoyant floats. It took the combined efforts of sailors with a hammer and small arms, to sufficiently pierce the floats. The aircraft was reported to have “sunk” (Jenkins, 1992:37).


The final resting place of this historic aircraft has attracted interest over the years. A concerted effort to locate the wreck site was made during the 1990’s by a team led by Mr Phil Dulhunty. Then President of the Seaplane Pilots Association of Australia, Mr Dulhunty was responding to reports by spearfisherman, George Davies, who reported seeing aircraft remains near shore at Pelican Point, Norah Head (Davies,1993). First sighted in the 1950’s, the wreckage was located in a sand gutter and variously exposed or covered until at least the 1970’s (Dulhunty, 1994). It consisted of a mass of cables and wires, while others allegedly reported a radial engine nearby.

The presence of these relics has never been confirmed, nor their similarity to Glen floatplane construction. The association was made because the reported wreckage lay inshore from the approximate meeting place of the floatplane with its submarine carrier, some 35 miles north east of Sydney. The theory required the floatplane to have remained partially buoyant and to have drifted some 20-30 miles inshore to wreck. This is contrary to Ito’s report that the plane was seen to visibly sink, probably in water depths up to 200 meters (Jenkins, 1992: 37). With only the floats keeping the plane on the surface, their eventual holing would have more likely led to the flooded plane dropping vertically through the water column.
The ‘Glen’ was powered by a single 340hp Hitachi Tempu 12, 9-cylinder radial air-cooled engine, with a wing span of 11 metres (32 feet, 9 inches) and fuselage length of 8.54 metres (28-feet). The fuselage was constructed from welded steel tube covered in sheet metal forward and fabric aft. The wings were composed of light metal spars, wooden ribs and fabric covered. A total of 126 aircraft were built (Green, 1962:138ff).

if it's their, doubtful it's in good or semi good condition as the glen was built pretty light, & i think it had a number of wood components as well.

I know this is an old topic by now, but I just thought I'd throw that info in there. I think the biggest issue with finding the 'Glen' wreck off Sydney is of course the smallness of the plane, and the area needing searched.

Maybe time to call in Bob Ballard? (the guy who found the Titanic and the Bismarck)

Cheers all,

Dan

JDK- I'd heard about the Sydney, but not the other ones! Great news!

If a 'Glen' was dumped off Sydney in 200 meters of water, or 656 feet, I think it would still be in semi-good shape because the water there would of course be deeper and therefore much colder.

Amazing to think they flew over here unchecked, not that surprised though. Would be interesting to read pilot accounts but they'd be long gone no doubt