ZERO UNDERWATER, NUKUORO ATOLL
A carrier based aircraft that ran out of fuel while being chased and made a water landing at Nukuoro Atoll. The fate of the pilot is now known. He lived on the island and had two children born to him, both have since died.
Aircraft was intact apart from a missing tail section. Dangerous stone fish lived inside the aircraft.
Featured in the John Harding documentary films “Aquarius – People and Wildlife of the Sea” (1970) “Australian Seafari” (1986)
Footnote: Who was the pilot and did he survive the crash landing on water? His name was Captain Tosiuki Hiachi and we have made contact with his grand daughter in USA (as of June 3, 2010). To be continued, hopefully. Below is a view of the island – picture taken above the aircraft wreckage.
I’m from Kapingamarangi so I have seen this picture before in the 1990s yeah some where around then when I was small. So anyway, who is that guy at the back of the plane? Did you know that there’s an airplane that landed on one of the islands in Kapingamarangi and is still there today, not the whole airplane but the plane was rusty and it crampled down into pieces so only few bits are left. I could tell you where it is now. Here it is – if you where on the two main islands where people live, get a canoe and ride to the second last island in the north on the beach, and that’s where the airplane landed.
hy there beauty ful island
it really cool diving there b-cuze da water is clear.
you should have you vacation trip there
well fyi im from thea, for more info just visit nukuoro website
youll see more photos. anyways im so proud to be from there……
ISNT IT AMAZING!!!!!!
Hi there, ii am from the isLand of nukuoro. I’m just curious about one thing. My Grandfather’s name is Hiachi, he has passed away years ago, ii never met him thou, and i’d like to know more info about this. Thank you very much
Sincerely Cora Charley
There’s a heap of former Nukuoro people using Facebook. Gilara Dunning would be a good start. I’ll pass your email address and message to her. JH