Vultee BT-13B converted to an Aichi D3A Replica for the film Tora Tora Tora in 1968. Current on the register in 2025.

Built for the USAAF as AT-6D 41-34527. Transferred to the US Navy as SNJ-5 43766. Registered as N3242G in 1963. To the Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation in 1968 and converted to a Nakajima B5N Kate replica for the filming of "Tora! Tora! Tora!". Stored at Long Beach, CA in 1969. To Tallmantz Aviation in 1971. Sold and appeared in the film Empire of the Sun in 1987. Appeared in the film Pearl Harbor in 2001. To the Commemorative Air Force in 2010.

Taking off with the canopy open (it was a very hot afternoon!)

Built for the USAAF as AT-6D 41-34527. Transferred to the US Navy as SNJ-5 43766. Registered as N3242G in 1963. To the Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation in 1968 and converted to a Nakajima B5N Kate replica for the filming of "Tora! Tora! Tora!". Stored at Long Beach, CA in 1969. To Tallmantz Aviation in 1971. Sold and appeared in the film Empire of the Sun in 1987. Appeared in the film Pearl Harbor in 2001. To the Commemorative Air Force in 2010.

Vultee BT-13B converted to an Aichi D3A Replica for the film Tora Tora Tora in 1968. Current on the register in 2025.

Salvaged from Ballale Island in 1968. Restored to fly by Bob Diemert with a Wright R-2600 radial engine instead of the original. On November 22, 1969 he took off from Friendship Airfield on its first flight but it had not been registered or cleared. In anticipation of the flight, the Canadian Department Of Transport (DOT) had officers on the ground at the airport to arrest Bob when he landed. Instead, he flew about 20 miles to land at RCAF Station Macdonald near Portage la Prairie! Other sources say it is a D3A2, 3178. Photo by Fred Guthrie.

This aircraft participated in the warbird fly in at the Grand Canyon Valle airport. At this point in its history it was airworthy and was part of the scheduled airshow that day. They stated at that event, that this was the only airworthy D3A in the US at that time.

Delivered to the RCAF as Harvard Mk.4 20424 in 1952. Sold as CF-WPN then N7754 and converted to a Zero replica for the film Tora Tora Tora in 1968. Current on the register in 2025.

Replica Zero

Val awaiting restoration at Planes of Fame Air Museum. The D3A1 was powered by a 1,070 hp Kinsei 44 radial engine and could carry a 250kg GP bomb. Kido Butai embarked 141 Vals of which 51 from Zuikaku and Shokaku flew the first strike against airfields at Oahu and the fleet at Pearl Harbor and 78 from Akagi, Kaga, Soryu and Hiryu flew the 2nd strike. Renowned for its dive bombing accuracy, the Val dominated the early Pacific War but suffered after late 1942. This D3A2 Model 22 with a Kinsei 54 engine was assigned to Zuikaku Air Group. It was abandoned on Ballale airfield and recovered in 1968.

"Kate" replica for film "Tora Tora Tora". Photo by Steve Kraus.

The full Tora flight overhead, N11171/AI-115 in the lead. Comprised of the former, along with N4447/AI-111, NX15799/AI-113, and N15797/AI-114 Zero replicas, N3242G/AI-313, N2047/?-310, and N3725G/AII-356 as Kate replicas, and N9820C, the last representing one of the USAAC P-36s which rose in defense of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Build as AT-6D for the USAAF as 42-85871 in 1944, converted to a SNJ-5C for the US Navy same year as 90654. Became N6438D in 1958 and converted again in 1968 to become Kate replica for the "Tora! Tora! Tora!" movie

Build as AT-6D for the USAAF as 42-85871 in 1944, converted to a SNJ-5C for the US Navy same year as 90654. Became N6438D in 1958 and converted again in 1968 to become Kate replica for the "Tora! Tora! Tora!" movie

Biggest surprise during our stay at Mlada Boleslav was the fuel stop of this beautiful 80% size A6M Zero UL replica.