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KIYOSUMI MARU 450’ (87m), 8,614-ton Passenger-Cargo Ship was ed to the atoll. The Zukai Maru and the Tatsiha Maru, both car-
built in 1934 and provided service to New York from Kobe, Ja- rying men and equipment of the 52nd Army Division were sunk,
pan. In 1941 she was converted into an armed auxiliary cruiser, with heavy casualties. A third ship, the Ryko Maru was damaged,
with eight anti-aircraft guns and a pair of torpedo launchers. but escaped, struggling to arrive in Truk on Feb. 19, 1944.
US Submarine Balao attacked Kiyosumi Maru with a half dozen
topedoes, three of which nailed her, but she didn’t go down. A Imperial Japanese Navy Aircraft Sunk In Truk Lagoon
sister cruiser Oyodo towed her To Truk Lagoon, where she was
being repaired at the time of Operation Hailstone. Douglas dive JUDY - Yokosuka D4Y Navy Carrier Bomber “Suisei” (qty. 1)
bombers from USS Yorktown CV10 and USS Enterprise did her in.
43 crewmen died in the attacks. JILL - Nakajima B6N Carrier Attack Bomber “Tenzan” (qty. 2)
HANAKAWA MARU 368’ (112m), 4,739-ton Passenger-Cargo Ship ZERO - Mitsubishi A6M Carrier Fighter “Reisen” (qty. 3)
was built in 1942 and carried troops and aviation gasoline drums.
On February 18, 1944 a foursome of attack aircraft from USS Bun- B0ETTY - Mitsubishi G4M3 Navy Type 1 Attack Bomber This Japa-
ker Hill and USS Monterey circled Truk Lagoon and came up on nese Navy tactical bomber first took to the air in 1939, with mass
Tol Island from the south with the Hanakawa Maru in their sites. production starting in 1940. Her shape gave her the name “Fly-
The first torpedo hit her midships and ignited her aviation fuel ing Cigar”, but she would also light up when shot, because of her
into a massive explosion. In a moment there was nothing left unprotected fuel tanks. This aircraft could also carry torpedoes.
except burning fuel. Two more torpedoes were expended on her, It appears that the BETTY was landing at the Eten Island airstrip,
although they weren’t needed, and a fourth torpedo missed and but went down just a few hundred meters short, breaking off her
hit the island, burning a fuel dock and a church. Fortunately, the nose, starboard wingtip, and engines, which were tossed forward
priest was being held captive on Udot Island and escaped the nearly 100 meters off the port side. No one knows whether she
inferno. 216 crewmen and soldiers were killed aboard the ship. was shot down or if her demise was a result of the American
Operation Hailstone assault of 17-18 Feb., 1944.
JAPANESE CONVOY Hellcat’s Dive Bombers from the USS Intrepid
hit a Japanese convoy 90 miles west of Truk Lagoon as they head-
