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Aircraft History
This aircraft might have been Manufacture Number 7483 hat was observed faded on the wreckage in 2009.
Jim Long adds:
"I think I see the "83" there. My guess is that number was 7483, meaning that the true serial number would be 483 and the plane would be a D4Y1 and would have been assembled during February 1944. All I can see are the last parts of three lines of characters and/or numbers, two of which could be showing the last two digits of the aircraft manufacture number twice due to a reapplication of the fuselage stencil because of a mistake or because of a depot or field reapplication of the a new paint job. The marking in your photo shows that the original and more complex version of the character "Go" (meaning "number") was used on the stencil, and it follows each of the two lines of numbers (8X and 83). My assumption is that the fuselage stencil was applied more than once and in slightly different positions in the vertical plane. Now that all of the paint is worn off, the two applications make it appear that two lines with MNs on them were there, whereas a second application of the stencil, positioned about one line lower covered the first application when the paint was still there. These two lines do not seem to be an example of the two-MN application that appeared on later models of the D4Y, mainly on the D4Y3s and D4Y4s."
Jim Lansdale adds:
"I agree with the double stencil application suggested by Jim Long. Looking again at the scale of the stencil markings and their relative positions, I believe it is more likely to have been an early model of the Suisei. Staring at these shadows figures, I have convinced myself the the lower level number is "x483 go" and the upper level ended with "xx81 go." For whatever reason one of these two serials was reapplied at the factory and it may be that the aircraft was either Aichi s/n 7483 or 9481."
Wartime History
Abandoned at Babo Airfield.
Standing on its landing gear, the engine was removed, possibly to prevent strafing or for servicing.
An Aichi Atsuta liquid cooled V-12 was located in the
grass nearby.
Recovery & Storage
Recovered in 1991 by Bruce
Fenstermaker, to the United States for the Santa
Monica Museum of Flight. Later it was purchased by the Planes
of Fame Museum, and is displayed unrestored at Planes of Fame Arizona in three sections, tail, main section and engine.
Edward Maloney adds:
"We would like to one day restore the Judy but there are so few parts
and we have so many other projects currently."
In 2009, this aircraft was moved to Planes of Fame / Fighter Rebuilders and was undergoing preparatory steps for restoration.
References
Pacific Aircraft Wrecks page 14 (top)
Thanks to Bruce
Fenstermaker, Jim Lansdale and Jim Long for additional information.
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Last Updated
October 6, 2009
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