Aichi D3A
Sign in to saveAlso known as Aichi Carrier Bomber Type 3, Aichi Type 99 Carrier Bomber, Navy Type 99 Carrier Bomber, Val, D3A
Japanese dive bomber
Key facts
- Type
- Carrier-based dive bomber
- Manufacturer
- Aichi Kokuki KK
- Primary user
- Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
- Number built
- 1,495 , (479 D3A1), (1016 D3A2)
- First flight
- January 1938
- Developed into
- Yokosuka D3Y Myōjo
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Image
- Aichi D3A Replica Airshow.jpg
- Height
- 3.8
- Length
- 10.2
Show 6 more facts
- Commons category
- Aichi D3A
- total produced
- 1495
- service entry
- 1940-00-00
- first flight
- 1938-01-00
- service retirement
- 1945-00-00
- wingspan
- 14.37
via Wikidata · CC0
~18 min read
Article
Aichi D3A1 dive bombers prepare to take off from a Japanese aircraft carrier during the morning of 7 December 1941 to attack Pearl Harbor. Aichi D3A1 taking off from the carrier Akagi during the Indian Ocean Raid. Aichi D3A1s from the carrier Shōkaku during the Battle of the Coral Sea. Aichi D3A1 of 33rd Air Group over eastern Java in early summer 1942. Aichi D3A1s from Shōkaku return to their carrier after attacking the U.S. carrier Enterprise during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons in August 1942. Aichi D3A2 during maintenance. Note the propeller spinner, which is missing from the D3A1s in the previous photos. Aichi D3A2 with a telescopic sight, before takeoff. The Aichi D3A (Navy full designation "Type 99 Carrier Bomber"; Allied reporting name "Val") is a World War II carrier-borne dive bomber. It was the primary dive bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and was involved in almost all IJN actions, including the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The Aichi D3A was the first Japanese aircraft to bomb American targets in the war, commencing with Pearl Harbor and U.S. bases in the Philippines, such as Clark Air Force Base. The type sank more Allied warships than any other Axis aircraft.