Aichi D3A Type 99 – The “Val”

The Aichi D3A Type 99 Carrier Bomber (Allied reporting name “Val”) is a World War II carrier-borne dive bomber and was the primary dive bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

The D3A dive bombers operated from land bases during the Solomon Islands campaign, where they participated in the Guadalcanal Campaign, Operation I-Go, Operation SE and Operation RO, and during the New Guinea campaign, where they participated in the Battle of Milne Bay and Battle of Buna–Gona.

The “Val” aircraft frame is on loan to Hunter Fighter Collection Inc. and is presented as a diorama in the form of an aircraft wreck on a Pacific Island. The Aichi D3A Type 99 diorama is on display at the Hunter Warbirds Aviation Attraction at Scone NSW.