Aichi D3A "Val"
Aichi Aircraft Company · Japan · first flew 1938 · bomber
The Aichi D3A (Allied code name Val) was the Imperial Japanese Navy's primary carrier dive bomber at the start of the Pacific War and the first Japanese aircraft to attack American targets on 7 December 1941.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, elliptical |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.2 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Fixed spatted undercarriage with prominent streamlined wheel fairings
- Elliptical wings with large perforated dive flaps under the trailing edge
- Rounded radial cowling with a two-seat enclosed cockpit and no retractable gear
Unmistakable among Japanese carrier aircraft for its fixed, heavily spatted undercarriage and elegant elliptical wings; the large dive flaps under each wing are visible on the ground.
Specifications
- The Aichi D3A Val has a length of 10.2 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.365 m (47 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 430 km/h (267 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed in 1936 with elliptical wings influenced by the Heinkel He 70, the D3A first flew in January 1938. D3A1s participated in the Pearl Harbor attack, the Indian Ocean raid (sinking HMS Hermes, Cornwall, and Dorsetshire), and the battles of Coral Sea and Midway. The type sank more Allied warships than any other Axis aircraft. Despite a fixed undercarriage, its elliptical wings gave it a manoeuvrability that surprised opposing fighter pilots.
Variants
The D3A1 was the initial production model with a Kinsei 43 engine; the improved D3A2 with the Kinsei 54 added a more powerful engine and larger fuel capacity, remaining in production until 1944.
Where you'll see it
By 1943 the Val was increasingly used for land-based operations and kamikaze missions as its carrier force dwindled. A handful of incomplete airframes and parts are preserved in museums, with no airworthy survivors.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.