Figure 1.--Here a Japanese dive bomber is being shot down We think the Japanese dive bomber was attacking the U.S. carrier task force assaulting the Japanese base at Truk Lagoon. It looks to be a Yokosuka D4Y Suisei, a carrier dive bomber, but we are not yet suyre. When the Imperial Navy withdrew after the Gudalcanal campaign, some carrier aircraft and pilots operated from both Rbaul and Truk. The Allies naned it 'Judy'. The D4Y was one of the fastest dive-bombers of the war. Its effectiveness was compromised by the introduction of improved American fighters, especially the Grumman F6F Hellcat. The photograph captures the last seconds before the plane impacts the water. You can see the rear gunner trying to see what is happening, but is not bailing out.

Here a Japanese dive bomber is being shot down We think the Japanese dive bomber was attacking the U.S. carrier task force assaulting the Japanese base at Truk Lagoon. It looks to be a Yokosuka D4Y Suisei, a carrier dive bomber, but we are not yet sure. When the Imperial Navy withdrew after the Gudalcanal campaign, some carrier aircraft and pilots operated from both Rabaul and Truk. The Allies naned it 'Judy'. The D4Y was one of the fastest dive-bombers of the war. Its effectiveness was compromised by the introduction of improved American fighters, especially the Grumman F6F Hellcat. The photograph captures the last seconds before the plane impacts the water. You can see the rear gunner trying to see what is happening, but is not bailing out.

Chronology

Here a Japanese dive bomber is being shot down some time in 1944. We know it was taken in 1944, but am not entirely sure about just when. We think the Japanese dive bomber was attacking the U.S. carrier task force assaulting the Japanese base at Truk Lagoon. Truk and Rabaul to the south were both formidabke bases which were key to Japanese operations in the South and Central Pacific. These carrier attacks occurred mostly in February-May 1944, before the Marianasa campaign (June-July 1944). It is possible that a small carrier force returned in Juky, but we are not tet sure about this.

Aircraft

The Japanese aurcraft here looks to be a Yokosuka D4Y Suisei, a carrier dive bomber, but we are not yet sure. The Allies naned it 'Judy'. The D4Y was one of the fastest dive-bombers of the war. Its effectiveness was compromised by the introduction of improved American fighters, especially the Grumman F6F Hellcat. AHBC reader writes, "To me it looks more like the Kate torpedo bomber that was also used as a low altitude level bomber on ground targets. The Val dive bomber had a more eliptical shaped wing similar to the Spitfire and most Vals had an aiming device for the dive bomb attack in front of pilot attached to top of fuselage ( but not all). It is too bad that we can not see the belly in the pic because that would decide the issue for sure because the Val had fixed landing gear while the Kate's gear was retractable. The reason for the fixed gear on the Val was that the Japs copied part of the design of the German Stuka dive bomber. Sorry but that is all I can write about the pic and can not give a 100 percent correct reply but I am still going with the Kate. Yes it could be the Judy. I had forgotten about that plane. But the Japanese had a few different designs of the Judy one of which had an in line engine instead of the radial as seen here but the early models of the Judy did have the radial. When they changed to the in line that is what helped make it faster by a more stream lined body. I am not up on the horse power differences between many engines, too mechanical for me. But I am still thinking Kate by the shape of the wing."

Dive Bombers

Dive mombers proved to be very importnt in the early years of the War. The Germans used the tuka a aerial artillery to great effect in a ground support role. Dove bombers like torpedo planes were, however, slow and vulnerable. They could only be used when a country had achieved air superority as the Germans did in the early phase of the war. When they did not have air superority such as the Battle of Britain, the Stuka had to be withdrawn as it was savaged by Britih fighters. The only important example of dive bomber success without air superority was the success of the Enterprise and Yorktown dive bombers at Midway. but this was only beause the Japanese air cover was drawn down to the surfave to del with the American torpedo attack. Dive bombers dclined as the war progrssed. The Allies gained air superoity meaning the Axid dive bombers could not be effectively used. And the Allies for their part developed horizontal bombing technique for close air support. Here new weapons like napalm and rockets rendered horizontal bombing as effective or more effective than dive bombing.

Japanese Naval Aviation

When the Imperial Navy withdrew after the Gudalcanal campaign, some carrier aircraft and pilots operated from both Rabaul and Truk. Quite a number of carrier crews survived the Midway disaster. And when the Imperial Fleet withdrew, many of the air crews were transferred to Rabaul and Truk to continue the air war there even if the Imperial Fleet was withdrawn. This proved to be a terrible mistake. Most of these throughly trained air crews were gradually lost in the subsequent fighting as the Americans moved up the Solomon Chain. Carrier pilots are some of the most skilled individuals fighting the War. It takes a great deal of time and effort to train carrier pilots. And experienced pilots also have a great deal of experience and wisdom to pass on to the trainees and new crews. The Americans rotated experienced pilotsstate-side to help in the trainong of air crews. The loss of experienced Japanese air crews meant that when the Imperial Fleet finally emerged to do battle and stop the Americans from seizing the Marianas, they fought the Battle of the Philippines Sea with inexperienced, poorly trined air crews. The Americans by this time had better planes, but the catasrophe now known as the Marianas Turkey Shoot also resulted from poorly trained and led air crews.

Parachuttes

We note various comments about Japanese parashutes during Workd war II. Some authors claim that the Japanese pilots did not have parchutes. This is not the case. The photographic record clearly shows air crews wearingb parachutes. Every Japanese pilot, except Kamikaze pilots, were issued parachutes. And the Japanese had access to silk, unlike American, British, and German pilots. After all, a trained and experienced pilot was a valuable assett. Many of the pilots, however, decided not to use them. This was an individual choice. Many complained that they restricted movement in the cockpit. Also the polots often operating over enemy territory did not want to be captuted. Most commanders allowed the pilots to decide. Some base commanders insisted that parachutes be used. In this case, the pilots often put them on. but just used them as aseat cushion. Therec is some indication that usage increased as air combst shifted to the Home Islands in the final months of the War.

Sources

Saburo, Sakai. With Martin Caidin and Fred Saito. Samurai!. (1957). Sburo's book was reprinted as part of the Classics of Naval Literature series with a new introduction (Naval Institute Press, 2001).

Created: 1:11 AM 4/12/2008
Last updated: 9:48 PM 5/18/2012