May 2013
Recovered from Indonesia in 1991, this very rare example of a Yokosuka D4Y1 was acquired and restored to non-flying status by the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California. It was restored to represent a radial engined D4Y3, using a Pratt & Whitney R-1830 engine. These aircraft replaced the Aichi Val as the Carrier Dive bomber operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy and later used as reconnaissance aircraft as well as for kamikaze missions. One Hellcat ace, Lieutenant Alexander Vraciu, shot down six D4Ys during the engagement known as “The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot”. Nikon D7000 w/70-200mm, processed with Aperture.