IJN
582nd Kokutai
or 552nd Kokutai
Hiteoshi November 2003
Aircraft History
Built by Aichi in early November 1943. Uncoded serial number 487.
Wartime
History
Took off from Rabaul area on a bombing mission against Arawe. Shot down and crashed on land, most likely lost between December 17-27, 1943.
Wreckage
Eninge and pieces of wreckage are present. The manufacure number 3487 is visible at three locations in the wreckage.
Mark Reichman adds:
"To find any remains would be quiet a task as the plane is scattered all over an area of 75 feet radius. I told Rod about it hoping with that and the Val in the water the Japanese would want to come get the remains. The site is just a tourist attraction now but no tourist come here and when they do the locals are suspicious like I've said before. The locals do try to sell the aluminum but don't get near as much what they are hoping so that practice has stopped for now particularly when timber companies are paying out royalties. Propellers are popular though cause they are heavy. Fortunately, they are pretty hard to cut off but any that are broken off in the crash are carried away."
References
"Serial Number & Production Sequence D3A2 Carrier Bombers" by Jim Long, page B. Thanks to Mark Reichman for additional information
Val
Dataplate
Photo Archive
