This aircraft is owned and flown by Col. Mike Spalding. If you would like to book this aircraft at your airshow, fly-in, or even take a scenic flight please contact Col. Mike Spalding at www.planeview.aero

This aircraft is owned and flown by Col. Mike Spalding. If you would like to book this aircraft at your airshow, fly-in, or even take a scenic flight please contact Col. Mike Spalding at www.planeview.aero

Aichi D3Ai Carrier-Based Dive Bomber (VAL) N 56867

Known as the "Type 99,"VAL was one of the three basic carrier-based aircraft in service at the beginning of the war and was influenced by the German Heinkel “Stuka” design.

In the beginning of the war the highly-maneuverable “VAL” could also double as a fighter after discharging its bomb load although after 1942 the “Val” was outclassed by most Allied fighters.

The United States used women’s names for Bomber aircraft, hence the name Valerie or Val. Other examples include “Betty, “Kate”, “Judy” etc. Men’s names were used for fighters, ex. Zero, Tony, Jack etc.

Our ‘VAL’, owned by Ken Laird of Hummelstown, PA , is painted as an aircraft of the 2nd Air Group on the carrier "Soryu" (one blue fuselage band) which participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor and later the sinking of the British cruisers H.M.S. Cornwall and H.M.S. Dorsetshire in the Indian Ocean on April 5, 1942. “Soryu” was later sunk at the battle of Midway in June, 1942.

This replica “Val” is one of nine Vultee BT 13,’s that were converted for and flown in the 1968 movie, Tora, Tora, Tora. This aircraft is one of the remaining four that survive.

The above named pilot is a member of the Commorative Air Force, Experimental Aircraft Owners Association, the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum and the National Warplane Museum. The aircraft is flown at air shows throughout the year in remembrance of the sacrifices of the many brave American and Allied soldiers and airmen who so valiantly fought to defeat the Japanese Empire during the Second World War.

If you have any information concerning the actual Japanese aircraft described, the filming of the movie "TORA, TORA, TORA", or any other similar information please contact us.

If you would like to see this aircraft at your airshow or fly-in, e-mail Col. Laird at: gunner102@msn.com .