A fully illustrated guide to one of the finest dive-bombers produced
during World War 2, the Yokosuka D4Y Judy.
In 1938, the Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal, acting under the
requirements issued by the Kaigun Koku Hombu for a Navy Experimental
13-Shi Carrier Borne specification for a dive-bomber to replace the
venerable 'Val' aboard carriers. The resulting D4Y Suisei (Comet),
codenamed Judy by the Allies, was initially powered by a licence-built
German Daimler-Benz DB 601 inline engine as used in the Bf 109E. Despite
making an inauspicious combat debut during the Battle of Midway in June
1942, the 'Judy' eventually proved to be an important asset for the
IJNAF during battles in the latter years of the Pacific War. Its great
successes resulted in the sinking of the escort carrier USS Princeton
in an early kamikaze attack of the Philippines and the near sinking of
the fleet carrier USS Franklin in a dive-bombing attack off Japan.
While the Judy had an impressive top-speed, like its predecessor, and
many other Japanese military aircraft, it possessed design shortcomings
including inadequate armor protection for its aircrew and no
self-sealing fuel tanks. As a result, when pitted against new, advanced
US Navy fighters suffered horrendous losses.
During the final months of World War 2 it became apparent that there
would be no Japanese victory. Acting out of desperation, the IJNAF
employed the 'Judy' in the dreaded kamikaze role, in which it excelled
due to its high-speed characteristics. Most notably, the D4Y mounted one
of the last combat actions of World War 2 when a flight of 11 Judies,
personally led by the instigator of the suicide attacks, Vice Admiral
Matome Ugaki, took off on a 'search mission' on August 15, 1945. This
volume chronicles the action-packed wartime exploits of Japan's finest
dive-bomber of World War 2.
