Rare look at a Val dive bomber shot down at Pearl Harbor ...

Kyleb · **Posted:** Wed Jan 27, 2021 7:23 pm

p51 wrote:

The Norden was classic "stateside training thinking," where the brass get convinced that something works well in perfect stateside training conditions with plenty of time to use it right.
Same thing happened with the early M-16s in 'Nam as well, later.
I saw several things like that in my Army days, too..

Don't forget the Navy's entry in the competition for stateside thinking: the Mk 14 Torpedo.

.MAC · **Joined:** Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:59 pm **Posts:** 8

Great photos! I can't help but wonder, "where's the tail section?" Still underwater or recovered but not photographed?

Archer · **Joined:** Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:13 pm **Posts:** 433

Matt Gunsch wrote:

They are floatation bags intended to keep the plane afloat longer to allow the crew time to get out and launch their raft. The F4F had them as well, but they were removed after several inflated in flight.

Got it now, thanks. I wasn't aware of those and misread an earlier post. Always good to learn something new

The tailsection must have ended up somewhere else entirely as it was shot off.

ALOHADAVE · **Posted:** Thu Jan 28, 2021 9:09 pm

According to David Aiken, a Director: Pearl Harbor History Associates, Inc there were only five aircraft to splash harbor water on themselves.

Two D3A in Middle Loch, One B5N in Southeast Loch, and two B5N in the south channel...

1) The south channel: aft of USS Nevada and 2) just off the northern shore of Kuahua Islet.
BOTH are still there...crew of the one aft of NV was recovered, note the location shows in this strike photo (at top of photo)...plane sank, yet that bridge to Ford is quite near enuff to disturb that wreck...!

One of the two D3A in Middle Loch actually hit the bluff on the west shoreline of Middle Loch, just north of Beckoning Point, part stayed in a tree, part on top of the bluff, part in the water. One crewman was flung atop the bluff...

One B5N in Southeast Loch hit NEAR the southwest tip of Kuahua Islet, plane recovered for investigation. The pilot was beheaded in the explosion of that plane's torpedo...said the diver's correspondence.

The OTHER Middle Loch crash splashed near the west shore of Pearl City...the pilot was shot by a sailor and his flight helmet was retrieved. The radioman drowned himself and his kapok life vest recovered.

Jiggersfromsphilly · **Joined:** Fri Jun 17, 2005 3:15 pm **Posts:** 951

What has become of this plane and any others that were recovered? If they weren't recovered why not get them before they dissolve?

lucky52 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 14, 2021 4:14 pm

I bet you could find some parts where they hit the bluff.

Warbird Information Exchange

Rare look at a Val dive bomber shot down at Pearl Harbor ...

Who is online