IJN
582nd Kokutai
or 552nd Kokutai

A. Cowan 2002

Aircraft History
A component dataplate from the tail hook reads 3669.

Mission History
Crashed in Arawe Harbor with its crew. Most likely lost during the Japanese air raids between December 17-27, 1943 against the US Army beachead.

Discovery
First discovered in 2001 on advice from locals by Mark Reichman and his two sons: Jared and Micah in 7m of murky water.

Rod Pearce adds:
"About 20 years ago, a local told me about this wreck. I searched for it for about 2 days and could not find it. A missionary person there, Mark Reichman who was a keen diver found it and we dove it."

References
After The Battle Number 133 "Aichi D3A 'Val' Recovery

Contribute Information

Val

7m

Photo Archive

Discovery
by Rod Pearce