A video I recently discovered from NARA features Aichi D3A2 "Val" in action somewhere in the Pacific. Unfortunately the tail markings are not visible (they could be in red with very thin white border or they could be censored) and I know nothing about the unit the where or the when.
In any case, I believe it's an extremely rare video showing land-based "Val" units in action.
Michael Claringbould commented:
Model 22s definitely at Buin (have walked the former airfield and see the familiar mountain backdrop). Unit confirmed as 582 Ku, likely mid-1943. This is when it became known as the “Inoue Butai” after Lt Inoue Buntou. The kokutai's Zero component was disbanded around this timeframe and 582 Ku became solely a dive-bomber unit. These land-based Vals carried one 250 Kg bomb slung under the fuselage or two to four wing-mounted two 60 Kg bombs, a common ordnance loading from Buin.
Anatoly Sklyarenko also commented:
MATSUNAMI Kiyoshi, Meirei ikka idetatsuwa:
zai Rabauru 582 kû no shito (Take off to carry
out orders: desperate struggle of the 582nd Air
Corps at Rabaul), Tokyo: Kojinsha , 1981. :
"On the morning of April 7, 1943, having completed loading our bombs and preparing for takeoff, we, the crews of the 582nd Kokutai's carrier-based bombers, gathered near the command post in Buin, chatting among ourselves and awaiting the order to take off.
While we were talking about steam, a large, clumsy Petty Officer 2nd Class, Kudo, approached with an Aimo movie camera slung over his shoulder. Apparently, after the attack on Oro Bay, while we were in Rabaul, he went to the war correspondents and borrowed the Aimo from them. I had seen him and the war correspondents several times at the crew waiting area in Rabaul, holding the Aimo camera and talking about something. It all immediately became clear to me.
"Hey, Kudo, you look serious. Are you sure you can handle the Aimo?"
"Yes, Senior Officer. I can handle the camera; I've had special training." "War correspondent training. We'll capture some amazing, real-life scenes with this camera during today's attack. I also have three spare rolls of film, so everything is covered..." Indeed, in addition to the Aimo, he was also carrying a small bag.
"Hey, Kudo, don't get carried away filming, don't forget to keep an eye on your surroundings. If the Grumman gets close, you're finished."
"Senior, don't worry. Kudo won't die that easily. I need to capture this attack and show the whole country in a newsreel"...
.... The second plane of the 5th Flight, led by Petty Officers Second Class Nishida and
Kudo, was also hit and crashed into the sea immediately after dropping its bombs."
pacificwrecks:
On April 7, 1943 took off during 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 land. A total of three Vals went down in the jungle within sight of USS Niagara (AGP-1) and USS Rail (AT-139).
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.
Michael Claringbould replied:
Many thanks to Anatoly Sklyarenko - Arawasi at its best ! Yes, the photographer was FPO2c Kudo Shigenobu (see attached), the observer/ gunner in #2 D3A2 of #2 shotai of #2 chutai, from a total of 18 582 Ku Vals which flew the mission.
Michael Claringbould added:
Looks like Matsunami's recollections are accurate too. He claims his Val turned back due to low oil pressure on the 7 April I-Go attack. He was right - here is the "return" entry due to low oil pressure with his pilot listed as Nakanishi Yoshio, exactly as described in his memoirs.
Peter Monoton also commented:
The photo caption from FAOW33 would say its a still from the opening of the clip
in the pic the tailcore T3 is visible on the tail of the second Val
Thank you, Peter, Michael and Anatoly!
No comments:
Post a Comment