Yokosuka D4Y

TheYokosuka D4YSuisei(Sao chổi,Suisei,"Comet";Allied reporting name"Judy")is a two-seatcarrier-baseddive bomberdeveloped by theYokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenaland operated by theImperial Japanese Navyfrom 1942 to 1945 duringWorld War II.Development of the aircraft began in 1938. The first D4Y1 was complete in November 1940 and made its maiden flight at Yokosuka the following month.

D4YSuisei
Yokosuka D4Y3 Model 33 "Suisei"
General information
Type	Dive bomber,reconnaissance,night fighter
National origin	Japan
Manufacturer	Yokosuka
Status	Retired
Primary user	Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
Number built	2,038
History
Manufactured	1942–1945
Introduction date	1942
First flight	December 1940
Retired	1945

While the aircraft was originally conceived as a dive bomber, the D4Y was used in other roles includingreconnaissance,night fighterand special attack (kamikaze). It made its combat debut as a reconnaissance aircraft when two pre-production D4Y1-Cs embarked aboard theSōryūto take part in theBattle of Midwayin 1942. It was not until March 1943 that it was accepted for use as a dive bomber. The early D4Y1 and D4Y2 featured the liquid-cooledAichi Atsutaengine, a licensed version of theGermanDaimler-Benz DB 601,while the later D4Y3 and D4Y4 featured theMitsubishi MK8P Kinseiradial engine.

Like many other Japanese aircraft of the time, the D4Y lacked armor andself-sealing fuel tanksand it was not until the final variant, the D4Y4, that the aircraft was givenbulletproof glassand armor protection for the crew and fuel tanks.Nevertheless, the D4Y was one of the fastest dive bombers of the war, particularly the D4Y4 whom Max Gadney said was the "fastest dive-bomber of World War II" and that it was "faster than the Zero".Only the delays in its development hindered its service while its predecessor, the slower fixed-gearAichi D3A,remained in service much longer than intended. In October 1944, an attack by a lone D4Y resulted in the sinking of light carrierUSSPrincetonin theBattle of Leyte Gulf.Similarly in March 1945, a single D4Y managed to hit the carrierUSSFranklinwith two bombs, nearly sinkingFranklinand resulting in the loss of almost 800 of her crew.Famously, a D4Y was used in one of the final kamikaze attacks in 1945, hours after thesurrender of Japan,withVice AdmiralMatome Ugakiin the rear cockpit.

Design and development

Development of the aircraft began in 1938 at theYokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenalwhen theImperial Japanese Navy Aviation Bureau(Kaigun Kōkū Hombu) issued requirements of a Navy Experimental 13-ShiCarrier Borne specification for anaircraft carrier-based divebomberto replace theAichi D3A.Its design was inspired by theHeinkel He 118which the Japanese Navy had acquired fromGermanyin early 1938.The aircraft was a single-engine, all-metal low-wingmonoplane,with a wide-track retractableundercarriageand wing-mounteddive brakes.It had a crew of two: a pilot and a navigator/radio-operator/gunner, seated under a long, glazedcanopywhich provided good all-round visibility. The pilot of bomber versions was provided with a telescopicbombsight.The aircraft was powered by anAichi Atsutaliquid-cooled invertedV12 engine,a licensed copy of the GermanDaimler-Benz DB 601,rated at 895 kW (1,200 hp). Theradiatorwas behind and below the three-blade propeller, as in theCurtiss P-40 Warhawk.

The aircraft had a slimfuselagethat enabled it to reach high speeds in horizontal flight and in dives, while it had excellent maneuverability despite highwing loading,with theSuiseihaving superior performance to contemporary dive bombers such as theCurtiss SB2C Helldiver.In order to conform with the Japanese Navy's requirement for long range, weight was minimized by not fitting the D4Y withself-sealing fuel tanksorarmour.Subsequently, the D4Y was extremely vulnerable and tended to catch fire when hit.

Bombs were fitted under the wings and in an internal fuselagebomb bay.It usually carried one 500 kg (1,100 lb) bomb but there were reports that the D4Y sometimes carried two 250 kg (550 lb) bombs.} The aircraft was armed with two 7.7 mm (.303 in)Type 97 aircraft machine gunsin the nose and a 7.92 mm (.312 in)Type 1 machine gun– selected for its high rate of fire – in the rear of thecockpit.The rear gun was replaced by a 13 mm (.51 in)Type 2 machine gun.This armament was typical for Japanese carrier-based dive-bombers, unlike "carrier attack bombers" (torpedo bombers) like theNakajima B5NandB6N,which were not given forward-firing armament until the late-warAichi B7A,which was expected to serve as both a dive-bomber and torpedo-bomber and was given a pair of 20mmType 99-2 cannon.The forward machine guns were retained in thekamikazeversion.

The first (of five)prototypeswas complete in November 1940 and made its maiden flight in December 1940.After the prototype trials, problems withflutterwere encountered, a fatal flaw for anairframesubject to the stresses of dive bombing. Until this could be resolved, early production aircraft were used asreconnaissanceaircraft, as theD4Y1-C,which took advantage of its high speed and long range while not over-stressing the airframe.Production of the D4Y1-C continued in small numbers until March 1943, when the increasing losses incurred by the D3A resulted in production switching to the D4Y1 dive-bomber, the aircraft's structural problems finally being solved.Although the D4Y could operate from the large fleet carriers that formed the core of theCombined Fleetat the start of the war, it had problems operating from the smaller and slower carriers such as theHiyōclass,which formed a large proportion of Japan's carrier fleet after the losses of theBattle of Midway.Catapult equipment was fitted, giving rise to the D4Y1Kai(or improved) model.

Yokosuka D4Y1 before takeoff

Early versions of the D4Y were difficult to keep operational because the Atsuta engines were unreliable in front-line service. From the beginning, some had argued that the D4Y should be powered by an air-cooledradial enginewhich Japanese engineers and maintenance crew had experience with, and trusted. The aircraft was re-engined with the reliableMitsubishi MK8PKinsei62,a 14-cylinder two-row radial engine as the Yokosuka D4Y3 Model 33.

Although the new engine improved ceiling and rate of climb to over 10,000 m (33,000 ft), and climb to 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 4.5 minutes, instead of 9,400 m (30,800 ft) and 5 minutes, the higher fuel consumption resulted in reduced range and cruising speed and the engine obstructed the forward and downward view of the pilot, hampering carrier operations. These problems were tolerated because of the increased availability of the new variant.

The last version was theD4Y4 Special Strike Bomber,a single-seatkamikazeaircraft, capable of carrying one 800 kg (1,800 lb) bomb, which was put into production in February 1945. It was equipped with threerocket boostersfor terminal dive acceleration.This aircraft was an almost idealkamikazemodel: it had a combination of speed (560 km/h/350 mph), range (2,500 km/1,550 mi) and payload (800 kg/1,760 lb) probably not matched by any other Japanese aircraft.

TheD4Y5 Model 54was a planned version designed in 1945. It was to be powered by theNakajima NK9CHomare12radial engine rated at 1,361 kW (1,825 hp), a new four-blade metal propeller of the constant-speed type and more armour for the crew and fuel tanks.

Ultimately, 2,038 of all variants were produced, mostly byAichi Kokuki.

Operational history

Yokosuka D4Y3 Model 33 "Suisei" in flight

Lacking armor and self-sealing fuel tanks, theSuiseisdid not fare well against Alliedfighters.They did, however, cause considerable damage to ships, including the carrierUSSFranklinwhich was nearly sunk by an assumed single D4Y and the light carrierUSSPrincetonwhich was sunk by a single D4Y.

The D4Y was operated from the following Japanese aircraft carriers:Chitose,Chiyoda,Hiyō,Junyō,Shinyo,Shōkaku,Sōryū,Taihō,Unryū,UnyōandZuikaku.

The D4Y1-C reconnaissance aircraft entered service in mid-1942, when two of these aircraft were deployed aboardSōryūat theBattle of Midway,one of which was lost whenSōryūwas bombed.The other had been launched on a scouting mission and returned toHiryū;it was then lost whenHiryūwas bombed.

Marianas

During theBattle of the Marianas,the D4Ys were engaged by U.S. Navy fighters and shot down in large numbers. It was faster than theGrumman F4F Wildcat,but not the newGrumman F6F Hellcat,which entered combat in September 1943. The Japanese aircraft were adequate for 1943, but the rapid advances in Americanmaterielin 1944 (among them, the introduction in large numbers of theEssex-class aircraft carrier) left the Japanese behind. Another disadvantage suffered by the Japanese was their inexperienced pilots.

The U.S.Task Force 58struck the Philippine airfields and destroyed the land air forces first before engaging Japanese naval aircraft. The result was what the Americans called "The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot",with 400 Japanese aircraft shot down in a single day. A single Hellcat pilot, LieutenantAlexander Vraciu,shot down six D4Ys within a few minutes.

One D4Y was said to have damaged the battleshipUSSSouth Dakota.

Leyte and Philippines

Lt. Yoshinori Yamaguchi's D4Y3 in thesuicide diveagainstUSSEssex,1256 hours, 25 November 1944. Air brake flaps are extended, the burning port wing tank is trailing smoke. The lack of self-sealing fuel tanks made the D4Y easy to ignite with a few rounds of incendiary tracers, so a strickenSuiseioften developed a fiery tail reminiscent of its namesake. Note white "17" on the vertical tail fin.

The D4Y was relegated to land operations where both the liquid-cooled engine D4Y2, and the radial engine D4Y3 fought against the U.S. fleet, scoring some successes. An unseen D4Y bombed and sank thePrincetonon 24 October 1944. D4Ys hit other carriers as well, by both conventional attacks andkamikazeactions. In the Philippines air battles, the Japanese usedkamikazesfor the first time, and they scored heavily. D4Ys from 761Kōkūtaimay have hit theescort carrierUSSKalinin Bayon 25 October 1944, and the next day,USSSuwannee.Both were badly damaged, especiallySuwannee,with heavy casualties and many aircraft destroyed. A month later on 25 November,USSEssex,Hancock,IntrepidandCabotwere hit bykamikazes,almost exclusivelyA6M Zerofighters and D4Ys, with much more damage. D4Ys also made conventional attacks. All these D4Ys were from 601 and 653Kōkūtai.

In defense of the homeland

Task Force 58 approached southern Japan in March 1945 to strike military objectives in support of theinvasion of Okinawa.The Japanese responded with massivekamikazeattacks, codenamedKikusui,in which many D4Ys were used. A dedicatedkamikazeversion of the D4Y3, the D4Y4, with a non-detachable 800 kg bomb attached in a semi-recessed manner, was developed. The Japanese had begun installing rocket boosters on some Kamikazes, including the D4Y4, in order to increase speed near the target. As the D4Y4 was virtually identical in the air to the D4Y3, it was difficult to determine the sorties of each type.

The carriersUSSEnterpriseandYorktownwere damaged by D4Ys of 701 Wing on 18 March. On 19 March, the carrierUSSFranklinwas hit with two bombs from a single D4Y.Franklinwas so heavily damaged that she was retired until the end of the war. Another D4Y hit the carrierUSSWasp.

On 12 April 1945, another D4Y, part ofKikusuimission N.2, struckEnterprise,causing some damage.

DuringKikusuiN.6, on 11 May 1945,USSBunker Hillwas hit and put out of action by twokamikazesthat some sources identify as D4Ys. This was the thirdEssex-class carrier forced to retire to the United States to repair.

Night fighter

The D4Y was faster than the A6M Zero, and some were employed asD4Y2-Snight fightersagainstBoeing B-29 Superfortressbombers late in the war. The night fighter conversions were made at the 11th Naval Aviation Arsenal at Hiro. Each D4Y2-S had its bombing systems and equipment removed and replaced by a 20 mmType 99 cannoninstalled in the rear cockpit, with the barrel slanted up and forwards in a similar manner to the GermanSchräge Musikarmament fitting (pioneered by theIJNASin May 1943 on theNakajima J1N). Some examples also carried two or four 10 cm air-to-air rockets under the wings; lack ofradarfor night interceptions, inadequate climb rate and the B-29's high ceiling limited the D4Y2-S effectiveness as a night fighter. Little is known of their operations.

Last action

At the end of the war, D4Ys were still being used operationally against the U.S. Navy. Among the last of these were 11 aircraft led byVice AdmiralMatome Ugakion a suicide mission on 15 August 1945, of which all but three were lost.

Operators

A D4Y3 (Type 33) at NAS Anacostia is tested by U.S. Navy personnel of the Technical Air Intelligence Center after the war.

Japan

• Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
• Aircraft carrier
  • Sōryū,equipped prototype #2 and #3.
  • Shōkaku,supplied from601st Kōkūtai.
  • Zuikaku,supplied from 601st Kōkūtai.
  • Taihō,supplied from 601st Kōkūtai.
  • Jun'yō,supplied from 652nd Kōkūtai.
• Battleship
  • Ise,supplied from634th Kōkūtai.
  • Hyūga,supplied from 634th Kōkūtai.
• Naval Air Group
  • Himeji Kōkūtai
  • Hyakurihara Kōkūtai
  • Kaikō Kōkūtai
  • Kanoya Kōkūtai
  • Kantō Kōkūtai
  • Kinki Kōkūtai
  • Kyūshū Kōkūtai
  • Nagoya Kōkūtai
  • Nansei-Shotō Kōkūtai
  • Ōryū Kōkūtai
  • Tainan Kōkūtai
  • Taiwan Kōkūtai
  • Tōkai Kōkūtai
  • Tsuiki Kōkūtai
  • Yokosuka Kōkūtai
  • 12th Kōkūtai
  • 121st Kōkūtai
  • 131st Kōkūtai
  • 132nd Kōkūtai
  • 141st Kōkūtai
  • 151st Kōkūtai
  • 153rd Kōkūtai
  • 201st Kōkūtai
  • 210th Kōkūtai
  • 252nd Kōkūtai
  • 302nd Kōkūtai
  • 352nd Kōkūtai
  • 501st Kōkūtai
  • 502nd Kōkūtai
  • 503rd Kōkūtai
  • 521st Kōkūtai
  • 523rd Kōkūtai
  • 531st Kōkūtai
  • 541st Kōkūtai
  • 552nd Kōkūtai
  • 553rd Kōkūtai
  • 601st Kōkūtai
  • 634th Kōkūtai
  • 652nd Kōkūtai
  • 653rd Kōkūtai
  • 701st Kōkūtai
  • 721st Kōkūtai
  • 722nd Kōkūtai
  • 752nd Kōkūtai
  • 761st Kōkūtai
  • 762nd Kōkūtai
  • 763rd Kōkūtai
  • 765th Kōkūtai
  • 901st Kōkūtai
  • 951st Kōkūtai
  • 1001st Kōkūtai
  • 1081st Kōkūtai
• Aerial Squadron
  • Reconnaissance 3rdHikōtai
  • Reconnaissance 4th Hikōtai
  • Reconnaissance 61st Hikōtai
  • Reconnaissance 101st Hikōtai
  • Reconnaissance 102nd Hikōtai
  • Attack 1st Hikōtai
  • Attack 3rd Hikōtai
  • Attack 5th Hikōtai
  • Attack 102nd Hikōtai
  • Attack 103rd Hikōtai
  • Attack 105th Hikōtai
  • Attack 107th Hikōtai
  • Attack 161st Hikōtai
  • Attack 251st Hikōtai
  • Attack 263rd Hikōtai
• Kamikaze
  • Chūyū group (picked from Attack 5th Hikōtai)
  • Giretsu group (picked from Attack 5th Hikōtai)
  • Kasuga group (picked from Attack 5th Hikōtai)
  • Chihaya group (picked from 201st Kōkūtai)
  • Katori group (picked from Attack 3rd Hikōtai)
  • Kongō group No. 6 (picked from 201st Kōkūtai)
  • Kongō group No. 9 (picked from 201st Kōkūtai)
  • Kongō group No. 11 (picked from 201st Kōkūtai)
  • Kongō group No. 23 (picked from 201st Kōkūtai)
  • Kyokujitsu group (picked from Attack 102nd Hikōtai)
  • Suisei group (picked from Attack 105th Hikōtai)
  • Yamato group (picked from Attack 105th Hikōtai)
  • Kikusui-Suisei group (picked from Attack 103rd Hikōtai and Attack 105th Hikōtai)
  • Kikusui-Suisei group No. 2 (picked from Attack 103rd Hikōtai and Attack 105th Hikōtai)
  • Koroku-Suisei group (picked from Attack 103rd Hikōtai)
  • Chūsei group (picked from 252nd Kōkūtai and Attack 102nd Hikōtai)
  • Mitate group No. 3 (picked from Attack 1st Hikōtai and Attack 3rd Hikōtai)
  • Mitate group No. 4 (picked from Attack 1st Hikōtai)
  • 210th group (picked from 210th Kōkūtai)
  • Niitaka group (picked from Attack 102nd Hikōtai)
  • Yūbu group (picked from Attack 102nd Hikōtai)

United States

• United States Navyoperated captured aircraft for evaluation purposes.

Variants

D4Y1-C preparing for takeoff in Mariana Islands, 1944

• D4Y1Experimental Type 13 carrier dive-bomber( mười ba thí hạm thượng bạo kích cơ,13-Shi Kanjō Bakugekiki)

  5 prototypes were produced. #2 and #3 were rebuilt to reconnaissance plane and carried on aircraft carrierSōryū,and used theBattle of Midway.
  #4 was rebuilt to reconnaissance plane also, and carried on aircraft carrierShōkaku,and used theBattle of the Santa Cruz Islands.

  • D4Y1-CType 2 reconnaissance aircraft Model 11( nhị thức hạm thượng trinh sát cơ nhất nhất hình,Nishiki Kanjō Teisatsuki 11-Gata)

    Reconnaissance version produced at Aichi's Nagoya factory. Developed on 7 July 1942.

  • D4Y1Suisei Model 11( sao chổi nhất nhất hình,Suisei 11-Gata)

    First batch of serial produced dive bomber aircraft. Powered by 895 kW (1,200 hp) Aichi AE1A Atsuta 12 engine. Developed in December 1943.

  • D4Y1 KAISuisei Model 21( sao chổi nhị một hình,Suisei 21-Gata)

    D4Y1 with catapult equipment for battleshipIseandHyūga.Developed on 17 March 1944.

• D4Y2Suisei Model 12( sao chổi một vài hình,Suisei 12-Gata)

  1,044 kW (1,400 hp) Aichi AE1P Atsuta 32 engine adopted. Developed in October 1944.

  • D4Y2aSuisei Model 12A( sao chổi một vài giáp hình,Suisei 12 Kō-Gata)

    D4Y2 with the rear cockpit 13 mm (.51 in) machine gun. Developed in November 1944.

  • D4Y2-SSuisei Model 12E( sao chổi một vài mậu hình,Suisei 12 Bo-Gata)

    Night fighter version of the D4Y2 with bomb equipment removed and a 20 mm upward-firing cannon installed.

  • D4Y2 KAISuisei Model 22( sao chổi nhị nhị hình,Suisei 22-Gata)

    D4Y2 with catapult equipment for battleshipIseandHyūga.

  • D4Y2a KAISuisei Model 22A( sao chổi nhị nhị giáp hình,Suisei 22 Kō-Gata)

    D4Y2 KAI with the rear cockpit 13 mm (.51 in) machine gun.

  • D4Y2-RType 2 reconnaissance aircraft Model 12( nhị thức hạm thượng trinh sát cơ một vài hình,Nishiki Kanjō Teisatsuki 12-Gata)

    Reconnaissance version of the D4Y2. Developed in October 1944.

  • D4Y2a-RType 2 reconnaissance aircraft Model 12A( nhị thức hạm thượng trinh sát cơ một vài giáp hình,Nishiki Kanjō Teisatsuki 12 Kō-Gata)

    D4Y2-R with the rear cockpit 13 mm (.51 in) machine gun.

• D4Y3Suisei Model 33( sao chổi tam tam hình,Suisei 33-Gata)

  Land-based bomber variant. 1,163 kW (1,560 hp)Mitsubishi Kinsei62 radial engine adopted. Removedtailhookalso.

  • D4Y3aSuisei Model 33A( sao chổi tam tam giáp hình,Suisei 33 Kō-Gata)

    D4Y3 with the rear cockpit 13 mm (.51 in) machine gun.

  • D4Y3Suisei Model 33 night-fighter variant( sao chổi tam tam hình cải tạo đêm chiến,Suisei 33-Gata Kaizō yasen)

    Temporary rebuilt night-fighter version. Two planes were converted from D4Y3.Equipment a 20 mm upward-firing cannon installed. This was not naval regulation equipment. Development codeD4Y3-S(orSuisei Model 33E) was not discovered in the IJN official documents.

• D4Y4Suisei Model 43( sao chổi bốn tam hình,Suisei 43-Gata)

  Final production variant. Bomb load increased to 800 kg (1,760 lb) with the main bomb semi-recessed in the bomb bay. It had 75 mm bullet-proof glass in front of the canopy, plus 5mm and 9mm thick armour plates fore and aft of the cockpit. The fuel tanks were also given added protection, and the movable rear machine gun was removed.The addition of fiveRATOboosters was considered: three in the lower-bottom part of the fuselage and two on both sides below the engine. Generally, the D4Y4 is often recognized as being purpose-built for special attack operations.

• D4Y5Suisei Model 54( sao chổi năm bốn hình,Suisei 54-Gata)

  Planned version withNakajimaHomareradial engine, four-blade propeller, and more armor protection.

Surviving aircraft

Yokosuka D4Y1 (serial4316) at theYūshūkanWar Museum

In 1988, a restored D4Y1 (serial4316) was donated to the Yasukuni ShrineYūshūkanMuseum in Tokyo, where it remains on display. The wreck was recovered from Colonia Airfield onYap Islandand restored atKisarazu Air Fieldfrom 1979 to 1980.

An engineless D4Y3 was recovered fromBabo Airfield,Indonesiain 1991. It was acquired and restored to non-flying status by thePlanes of Fame Air MuseuminChino, California.It was restored to represent a radial engined D4Y3, using an AmericanPratt & Whitney R-1830engine. The engine is in running condition and can be started to demonstrate ground running and taxiing of the aircraft.

Specifications (D4Y2)

Yokosuka D4Y-4 3-view drawing

Instrument panel of a Yokosuka D4Y4

Data fromThe Encyclopedia of World Aircraft

General characteristics

• Crew:2
• Length:10.22 m (33 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan:11.5 m (37 ft 9 in)
• Height:3.74 m (12 ft 3 in)
• Wing area:23.6 m²(254 sq ft)
• Empty weight:2,440 kg (5,379 lb)
• Gross weight:4,250 kg (9,370 lb)
• Powerplant:1 ×Aichi Atsuta AE1P 32V-12 inverted liquid-cooled piston engine, 1,000 kW (1,400 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed:550 km/h (340 mph, 300 kn)
• Range:1,465 km (910 mi, 791 nmi)
• Service ceiling:10,700 m (35,100 ft)
• Rate of climb:14 m/s (2,800 ft/min)
• Wing loading:180 kg/m²(37 lb/sq ft)
• Power/mass:0.25 kW/kg (0.15 hp/lb)

Armament

• Guns:
  

• 2× forward-firing 7.7 mmType 97 aircraft machine guns
• 1× rearward-firing 7.92 mmType 1 machine gun

• Bombs:
  

• 500 kg (1,100 lb) of bombs (design)
• 800 kg (1,800 lb) of bombs (suicide attacker)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Aichi D3A
• Blackburn Skua
• Breda Ba.65
• Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
• Douglas SBD Dauntless
• Vultee Vengeance

Related lists

• List of aircraft of World War II
• List of military aircraft of Japan

References

Bibliography

• Angelucci, Enzo, ed. (1981).World Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft.London: Jane's.ISBN0-7106-0148-4.
• Donald, David, ed. (1997).The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft.London: Aerospace.ISBN1-85605-375-X.
• Francillon, René J.Japanese Bombers of World War Two, Volume One.Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Hylton Lacy Publishers Ltd., 1969.ISBN0-85064-022-9.
• Friedman, Norman (1983).U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History.Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press.ISBN0-87021-739-9.OCLC8763586.
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• Gunston, Bill.The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Combat Aircraft of World War II.London: Salamander Books Ltd., 1978.ISBN0-89673-000-X
• Huggins, Mark (January–February 2002). "Falling Comet: Yokosuka's Suisei Dive-Bomber".Air Enthusiast.No. 97. pp. 66–71.ISSN0143-5450.
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• "Japan Center for Asian Historical Records (JACAR)."National Archives of Japan
  • "Aircraft, weapons, and bombs list Himeji Naval Air Base"Japan Center for Asian Historical Records(JACAR) Ref.C08011073400, Flying Corps delivery list 5/14 (National Institute for Defense Studies)
  • Reference code: C08011083500,Kyushu Flying Corps (1st Kokubu)
  • Reference code: C08011088800,Delivery articles list Osaka Naval Guard Station Office Oi Base, Tokai Naval Flying Corps (1)
  • Reference code: C08011214400,Yamato air base (2)
• Mikesh, Robert; Abe, Shorzoe (1990).Japanese Aircraft 1910–1941.London: Putnam.ISBN0-85177-840-2.
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• Model Art,Model Art Co. Ltd. (Japan)
  • No. 406, Special issueCamouflage & Markings of Imperial Japanese Navy Bombers in W.W.II,April 1993.
  • No. 595, Special issueNight fighters of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy,October 2001.
• Richards, M.C. and Donald S. Smith. "Aichi D3A ('Val') & Yokosuka D4Y ('Judy') Carrier Bombers of the IJNAF".Aircraft in Profile, Volume 13.Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1974, pp. 145–169.ISBN0-85383-022-3.
• Vaccari, Pierfrancesco (2002), "La campagna di Iwo Jima e Okinawa",RID(in Italian), no. 1

External links

• Yokosuka D4Y SuiseiatWorld War 2 Warbirdswebsite
• Combined Fleet