Kawanishi H6K

The Kawanishi H6K was an Imperial Japanese Navy flying boat used during World War II for maritime patrol duties. The Allied reporting name for the type was "Mavis"; the US Navy's designation was "Type 97 Large Flying Boat"

The aircraft was designed in response to a Navy requirement of 1933 and incorporated knowledge gleaned by a Kawanishi team that had visited the Short Brothers factory in the UK, at that time one of the world's leading producers of flying boats. After many tests and prototypes, the final model flew on 14 July 1936 and was originally designated Navy Type 97 Flying Boat, later H6K. Eventually, 217 would be built.

Kawanishi H6K in Days of Infamy
Commander Mitsuo Fuchida, reminisced about the H6Ks before the attack on San Francisco while flying in the planes replacement, the Kawanishi H8K. Along with shorter range, and less speed, he bitterly remembered that the H6K was prone to catching fire rather rapidly when struck by enemies fire; just like the H6K's that saw combat over the Dutch East Indies and New Guinea.