World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
12 May 2013 03:07:35 PM

LOST OVER PEARL:

Naval personnel salvage Val dive bomber AII-251 assigned to the carrier Kaga. Tail section was broken away. Aircraft crashed near the Pan American Airways Landing at Pearl City.
The Japanese used a total of 54 D3As in the 1st wave, and 81 D3A's in the 2dn wave.

Crew KIA assigned to AII-251 were PO3c Noboru Sakaguchi (Pilot) and PO3c Nagaaki Asahi who was the (Gunner/Radioman)

DEATH BEFORE SURRENDER:

One of the crew committed suicide by drowning himself, the other rather than face capture went for his pistol and was shot by naval personnel.

RELIC OF WAR:

Aircraft was later sent to the Naval Aircraft Factory, Philadelphia, Penn for examination and lLater on to Curtiss Aircraft, Buffalo N.Y.
During the war, chunks of wreckage were sent to various exhibits and war bond drives...

2.  Bill says:
14 May 2013 05:26:20 PM

VAL DIVE BOMBER LOSSES OVER PEARL:

The Imperial Navy sent a total of 135 Aichi D3As in both attack waves. Fifteen D3As were lost with 30 aviators KIA.
Did you know that over one hundred Japanese a/c were damaged in the attack, some ditched at sea on their way back to the carriers, with another twenty a/c written-off as damaged beyond repair.
Did you know that the Japanese lacked effective radios and had to send information via wireless communication. Once over the target, they were on their own.

BEST OF THE BEST AVIATORS:

Japanese Naval Aviators were the best trained in the world at that time. Carrier pilots had over hundreds of flying hours, and were experienced in carrier operations.
Some were veterans that flew in China, did you know not all Japanese naval pilots were carrier qualified the Imperial Navy had both land-based and carrier-based pilots.
However, many of the pilots and crews were not as experienced as assumed, this could explain why US fighter pilots that got airborne achieved a 4:1 kill ratio over Pearl Harbor. This of course is only my personal view based on the many books I've read about the Pearl Harbor attack. Any added
comments are welcomed.

3.  Bill says:
29 Jun 2015 01:02:31 PM

COMBAT LOSSES:

Carrier Kaga lost six Aichi D3A Val Dive Bombers over Pearl Harbor, with twelve aircrew KIA. Aircraft AII-251 lost to anti-aircraft fire. Aircraft is much intact, but has lost its tail assigned to the carrier Kaga.

AII-251 crashed in Middle Loch a/c was raised by naval salvage crew, and later transported to Ford Island for investigation.

KIA's: DEATH BEFORE CAPTURE

PILOT:
Both crewmen survived the crash, the pilot was in the water and could have been taken prisoner but was seen armed with a pistol before he could use it, he was shot by navy crewmen.

Radio/Gunner:
Committed suicide by drowning himself rather than be taken prisoner.