Kyushu D3Y Myōjō

Yokosuka (built by Matsushita) · Japan · first flew 1945 · bomber

The Yokosuka D3Y Myojo ('Venus') was a Japanese wooden dive bomber and trainer derived from the Aichi D3A. The Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal designed it, and Matsushita built it.

Recognition (WEFT)

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Spot it by:

• Mostly wooden derivative of the Aichi D3A dive bomber, with straight tapered wings in place of the D3A's elliptical ones
• Fixed tailwheel undercarriage and an enclosed cockpit
• Single Mitsubishi Kinsei 62 radial engine driving a three-blade propeller

A low-wing monoplane with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage and a round radial cowling, much like the D3A Val but with straight tapered wings and tail surfaces. Its crew was one or two, in an enclosed cockpit.

Specifications

• The Kyushu D3Y Myōjō has a length of 11.515 m (38 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 14 m (46 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 470 km/h (292 mph).
• Typical crew: 1-2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Work began in late 1943 as the Y-50, a wooden version of the D3A designed to save strategic materials and to be built by semi-skilled workers. The elliptical wing and rounded tail of the D3A were replaced with simpler straight tapered surfaces, and the fuselage was lengthened. Two prototypes flew in 1944 but were heavier than planned.

Variants

The D3Y1 was the dive-bomber trainer. A single-seat D3Y2 Myojo Kai kamikaze version was designed in 1945, but its prototype was not completed.

Where you'll see it

Matsushita completed only three production aircraft in summer 1945, designated Navy Type 99 Bomber Trainer Myojo Model 22. Work ended with Japan's surrender.

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