|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| IJN Shōkaku |
Aircraft History Built by Aichi in early January 1943. Uncoded serial number 92. At the factory, this aircraft was painted with dark green upper surfaces and light gray lower surfaces. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as Type 99 Dive Bomber Ku Ku Kamba (Kanbaku) / D3A2 Model 22 Val manufacture number 3092. Wartime History Assigned to Shōkaku. Tail code A1-1-208 was painted in yellow on both sides of the tail. Wartime History During early April 1943 this aircraft was operating land based from Ballale Airfield. Likely, this Val participated in the Operation I-Go Sakusen April 7, 1943 mission against Tulagi and afterwards landed with damage and was parked on the west side of the runway with damage or was disabled by bombing raids against Ballale Island. While parked, a nearby bomb blast blew the aircraft forward onto its nose and set fire to the center fuel. Likely, usable parts were removed by the Japanese during 1943 including both tail stabilizers, armament and the engine. Wreckage This Val remained in situ on Ballale Island. Until the middle 1970s, this aircraft remained in situ with the nose pointed downward and tail elevated upward. Since the 1970s, a large rectangular piece of the left side of the fuselage was cut onward and removed. Sometime later, it came to rest flat on the ground. References Note, some sources incorrectly claim this aircraft participated in the December 7, 1941 attack on attack on Pearl Harbor and Oahu. This is incorrect and impossible as this aircraft was not built until early January 1943. "Serial Number & Production Sequence D3A2 Carrier Bombers" by Jim Long Pacific Aircraft Wrecks page 27 (upper), 55 (upper & middle) Hostages To Freedom page 445-446 Thanks to William Bartsch, Charles Darby and Jim Long for additional information Contribute
Information Last Updated
|
 Val  Photo Archive |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
