Kyushu D3Y Myōjō
Kyushu Aircraft · Japan · first flew 1945 · bomber
The Kyushu D3Y Myōjō ('Venus') was a late-war Japanese wooden trainer-turned-kamikaze aircraft designed to be flown as a suicide weapon against Allied warships as Japan's situation grew desperate in 1945.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.1 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- trainer-size airframe adapted from D3A Val lineage
- fixed spatted undercarriage
- intended as a kamikaze suicide aircraft
Resembles a simplified, small-scale D3A Val: low-wing monoplane with fixed, spatted undercarriage and a round cowling. The wooden construction and trainer proportions distinguish it from the all-metal Val.
Specifications
- The Kyushu D3Y Myōjō has a length of 8.1 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.2 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 340 km/h (211 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed in 1944–45 as a simplified, wood-and-fabric training derivative related to the Aichi D3A Val, the Myōjō was intended to serve a dual training and tokko (special attack) role. The use of non-strategic materials reduced demands on Japan's dwindling metal stocks. Development was cut short by the end of the war before significant numbers entered service.
Variants
A single prototype series was built; no distinct sub-variants were fielded.
Where you'll see it
Saw no meaningful operational service; the aircraft arrived too late and the war ended before mass deployment could occur.
Related aircraft
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