Aircraft History
Built by Aichi, completed on August 15, 1943. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN).

Wartime History
Assigned to the 582 Kōkūtai (582 Air Group). Tail code 82-248. Sometime before the middle of 1943, this Val force landed or was disabled on the ground at Gasmata Airfield in West New Britain.

Wreckage
By 1973, only the rear fusealge and tail section remained. Tail number "82-248" was visible on the tail, the upper portion of the first digit was cut out and the tail hook was present.

Recovery
Recovered in middle of 1973 by Douglas Hubbard, Jr. for the Nimitz Museum. Locals felt the wreck was stolen from them without permission. The Val was taken from Gasmata by landing craft, and transferred to HMAS Melbourne and then across the Pacific to Long Beach Naval Base. Transported to the Nimitz Museum.

Display
The recovered tail section is displayed at National Museum of the Pacific War indoors in the Guadalcanal exhibit.

References
"Serial Number & Production Sequence D3A2 Carrier Bombers" by Jim Long
Thanks to Brian Bennett for tail number

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Last Updated
November 9, 2019