This long-awaited title is #63 in the Osprey Combat Aircraft series and is certainly one to add to your collection. This softbound book contains 96 pages which are packed with English text, photos, and color illustrations which tell the history of the Aichi Type 99 “Val” from the early stages of WWII through 1942.

The Aichi Type 99 D3A Carrier Bomber was code named “Val” by the Allies. It was the most successful dive-bomber that the Japanese used during the war and it served in all areas of the Pacific until the end of the war. The Val can claim more Allied shipping tonnage sunk than any other Axis aircraft of the war.

This book contains detailed accounts which are all in English. All too often, we have books written in Japanese, which are not available in English for Western readers. Not so here!

The book’s chapters are broken down as:

1. Dive-Bombing in the IJN
2. China – First Blood
3. Prelude to Pearl Harbor
4. TO-RA, TO-RA, TO-RA
5. Southern Advantage
6. Zenith in the Indian Ocean
7. Coral Sea – The Carriers Clash
8. Midway and The Aleutians

Not only is this title a good reference book for the modeler, but it is also a good read as it contains first-hand accounts. The person looking for detailed walk-around photos may be disappointed, but there are numerous images here which I have not seen in print before. And the color profiles are very well done.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Japanese Aviation, WWII, or aircraft in general. It is well done, and you can’t beat it for the price.

Thank you to Osprey for the sample and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review it.