Aircraft History
Built by Aichi.Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). Assigned to the 582 Kōkūtai or 552 Kōkūtai.

Mission History
This aircraft crashed on Angap Island near Arawe. Likely shot down by anti-aircraft fire or American fighters and crashed between December 15-31, 1943 during Japanese air raids against the U. S. Army beachead and U. S. Navy vessels supporting the American landing at Arawe (Cape Merkus).

Wreckage
During 2007, only scattered wreckage remained at the crash site.

Mark Reichman adds:
"It had been stripped of everything, wings, fuselage were totally gone leaving only the engine and struts. There were also 3 small oxygen tanks there the locals probably thought were bombs so didn't bother with. To our utter surprise, there was a machine gun laying there 30 feet from the engine. Of the 7 Vals we've now seen, this is the first one that had a gun still in the area. We still have 2 more rumors to check out in the Arawes and possibly come December I'll get back out there." 

References
Thanks to Mark Reichman for additional information

References
After The Battle Number 133 "Aichi D3A 'Val' Recovery
Thanks to Rod Pearce and Mark Reichman for additional information
Kodochosho, 552nd Kōkūtai, December 17-31, 1942
Kodochosho, 582nd Kōkūtai, December 15-31, 1942

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Last Updated
December 27, 2018