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  D3A2 Model 22 Val Manufacture Number 3014  
IJN
1st Carrier Division
Zuikaku

Aircraft History
Built by Aichi during early October 1942. Uncoded serial number 14. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as Type 99 Model 22 Dive Bomber Kanbaku / D3A2 Model 22 Val manufacture number 3014.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 1st Carrier Division aboard Zuikaku. Tail number unknown, likely 1-2-??? (three digits).

Mission History
On April 7, 1943 took off as part of Operation I-Go Sakusen on a dive bombing mission against American shipping in Tulagi Harbor off Tulagi. Over the target, shot down and crashed on Sambini Island. A total of three Vals went down in the jungle within sight of USS Niagara (AGP-1) and USS Rail (AT-139).

Wreckage
Later, the crash sites were investigated by American forces. The wrecks of three dive bombers were found: this aircraft, D3A2 Val 3041 and D3A2 Val 3018. One of the dive bombers had two rolls of exposed 35mm film. These contained numerous views of the new Type 99 Model 22 Dive Bomber dive bomber and allowed the U.S. to make a detailed visual comparison with the earlier Type 99 Model 11.

References
"Serial Number & Production Sequence D3A2 Carrier Bombers" by Jim Long
X Attack of I-Operation by Richard Dunn

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Last Updated
November 21, 2023

 

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