Aichi D1A

The Aichi D1A was a carrier-based dive bomber produced by the Japanese aircraft manufacturer Aichi Kokuki. The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) designation was Navy Type 94/96 Carrier Bomber while the Allied reporting name was "Susie". In response to an Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) specification for a new dive bomber, Aichi obtained a He 66 and adapted it to suit the requirement. The result was a single-engine twin-seat biplane demonstrator, sometimes referred to as the Aichi Special Bomber, which performed its maiden flight in 1934. Following competitive trials, Aichi received a production contract for the type that same year. The D1A was produced in two variants, the D1A1 (Navy Type 94 Carrier Bomber), and the D1A2 (Navy Type 96 Carrier Bomber, sometimes referred to as the D2A). It was constructed primarily of metal and had a fabric covering, a fixed landing gear and a conventional fixed tailwheel. The D1A saw action during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was also involved in the USS Panay incident of 1937. By December 1941, when Japan entered into World War II, the type had largely been withdrawn from frontline combat roles and had been relegated to training duties alone. This was due to a combination of attrition and the availability of more capable aircraft. A small portion, totalling 68 D1A2s, continued to be operated as a second-line support until finally being retired entirely sometime in 1942.