The Breda Ba.201 was an Italian dive bomber designed during World War II, that never entered production. That the Regia Aeronautica struggled to develop an effective bomber force was surprising to all concerned, as in the pre-war period the Regia Aeronautica was highly rated and performed well during the Spanish Civil War and the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. But its performance in the first months of World War II was poor, even failing to subdue Malta with 1,000 bombers based less than 100 km away.
One of the reasons was the lack of dive bombers and effective ground-attack aircraft; the Breda Ba.88 was a failure, and the Caproni Ca.310 was so ineffective that it was replaced by the Fiat CR.32 fighter bomber. Another failure was the Savoia-Marchetti SM.85 dive bomber, phased out and replaced by the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka even before the evaluation of its successor the Savoia-Marchetti SM.86 was complete. In 1939, a new contest for a dive bomber was called, requiring a single-engine aircraft with a maximum speed of 500 km/h, or 450 km/h if twin-engined, capable of carrying 500 kg bombs, with an endurance of 1,200 km with a single engine, or 2,400 km with two engines. There was only one twin-engine proposal, the Piaggio P.122, which despite its all-metal construction, dorsal-wing airbrakes, two Piaggio P.XI R.C.40 engines giving a total of 1,491 kW (2,000 hp), and the lack of competitors, was considered unfit for service and was unbuilt. Two single-engined types were proposed, the Caproni Ca.355, a single seat derivative of the Ca.335 light bomber that first flew in January 1941 and the Breda Ba.201.
The Ba.201 was a single-engined cantilever monoplane of all-metal construction. It had inverted gull wings, with split flaps that doubled as dive-brakes and was fitted with a retractable tailwheel undercarriage. It had a long slim fuselage, with a low mounted tailplane. The cockpit was set as far forward as possible to give a good view for the pilot. The dive capabilities were found to be satisfactory, and the air brakes were highly effective, perhaps too effective - with the risk of slowing the aircraft down so much it became too easy a target. It was capable of carrying a single 500 kg bomb and was armed with two 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns fixed in the wings. After such engines as the 895 kW (1,200 hp) Fiat A.38, the 716 kW (960 hp) Isotta-Fraschini IF L.121, and the powerful 839 kW (1,125 hp) Isotta-Fraschini Zetra, were evaluated, the Daimler-Benz DB 601 engine was chosen, because it was compact, and allowed free dives thanks to its direct injection system. The prototype first flew on 3 July 1941, and was then sent to Guidonia for official testing. The aircraft showed that it had enough agility, once freed of its bombload, to hold its own against other Italian fighters. However speed was disappointing, only 460 km/h - slower than the requested for 500 km/h - and slightly slower than older front-line fighters. The aircraft was barely capable of defending itself against enemy fighters, and then only after releasing its bomb. It had very good forward visibility, but rear visibility was poor.
In comparison the Junkers Ju-87D had a top speed of only 410 km/h, but was armed with two new 7.92 mm MG 81z machine guns, with 3,200 rpm instead of 1,050. The Junkers rear-gunner gave it a greater defensive capability, while the Ba.201 pilot relied on himself alone. The Reggiane Re.2001 fighter bomber fitted with the same DB 601 engine was able to reach almost 550 km/h, and carry 640 kg bombs. The first prototype MM.451 was followed by only one other before the programme was cancelled. General characteristics Crew: 1 Length: 11.09 m Wingspan: 13.00 m Height: 3.10 m Wing area: 24.84 m² Empty weight: 2,380 kg Max. takeoff weight: 3,650 kg Powerplant: 1 × Daimler-Benz DB 601A liquid-cooled V12 engine, 867 kW (1,175 hp) Maximum speed: 460 km/h at 4000m Range: 1,200 km Climb to 4,000 m: 7 min 50 s Armament: 2 × 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns 1 × 500 kg bomb
The Aichi D3A, (Allied reporting name "Val") was a World War II carrier-borne dive bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). It was the primary dive bomber in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and participated in almost all actions, including the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Aichi D3A was the first Japanese aircraft to bomb American targets in World War II, commencing with Pearl Harbor and U.S. bases in the Philippines, such as Clark Air Force Base. During the course of the Second World War, the Val dive bomber sank more Allied warships than any other Axis aircraft, despite being considered obsolescent when the war started.
In mid-1936, the Japanese Navy issued the 11-Shi specification for a monoplane carrier-based dive bomber to replace the existing D1A biplane currently in service. Aichi, Nakajima and Mitsubishi all submitted designs, and Aichi and Nakajima were both asked for two prototypes each. The Aichi design started with low-mounted elliptical wings inspired by the Heinkel He 70 Blitz. It flew slowly enough that the drag from the landing gear was not a serious issue, so fixed gear was used for simplicity. The aircraft was to be powered by the 529 kW (710 hp) Nakajima Hikari 1 nine-cylinder radial engine.
The first prototype was completed in December 1937, and flight trials began a month later. Initial tests were disappointing. The aircraft was underpowered and suffered from directional instability in wide turns, and in tighter turns it tended to snap roll. The dive brakes vibrated heavily when extended at their design speed of 200 kn (370 km/h), and the Navy was already asking for a faster diving speed of 240 kn (440 km/h). The second aircraft was extensively modified prior to delivery to try to address the problems. Power was increased by replacing the Hikari with the 626 kW (840 hp) Mitsubishi Kinsei 3 in a redesigned cowling, and the vertical tail was enlarged to help with the directional instability. The wings were slightly larger in span and the outer sections of the leading edges had wash-out to combat the snap rolls, and strengthened dive brakes were fitted. These changes cured all of the problems except the directional instability, and it was enough for the D3A1 to win over the Nakajima D3N1.
In December 1939, the Navy ordered the aircraft as the Navy Type 99 Carrier Bomber Model 11 (kanjō bakugekiki, usually abbreviated to 艦爆 kanbaku.[9]). The production models featured slightly smaller wings and increased power in the form of the 746 kW (1,000 hp) Kinsei 43 or 798 kW (1,070 hp) Kinsei 44. The directional instability problem was finally cured with the fitting of a long dorsal fin, and the aircraft actually became highly maneuverable. Armament was two forward-firing 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 97 machine guns, and one flexible 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 92 machine gun in the rear cockpit for defense. Normal bombload was a single 250 kg (550 lb) bomb carried under the fuselage, swung out under the propeller on release by a trapeze. Two additional 60 kg (130 lb) bombs could be carried on wing racks located under each wing outboard of the dive brakes. The D3A1 commenced carrier qualification trials aboard the Akagi and Kaga during 1940, while a small number of aircraft made their combat debut from land bases over China. Starting with the attack on Pearl Harbor, the D3A1 took part in all major Japanese carrier operations in the first 10 months of the war. They achieved their first major success against the Royal Navy during their Indian Ocean raid in April 1942. Val dive bombers scored over 80% hits with their bombs during attacks on two heavy cruisers and an aircraft carrier during the operation. During the course of the war, Val dive bombers often combined their attacks upon enemy warships with the IJN Kate torpedo bomber; consequently enemy vessels were often sunk by a combination strike of bombs and torpedoes. However, there were occasions when just the Vals would make the attacks, or at least score the sinking hits. Discounting the Pearl Harbor strike, which also used the Nakajima B5N for level bombing and torpedo attacks, Val dive bombers were credited with sinking the following Allied warships.
Allied warships sunk by Aichi D3As; type, nation, date of loss, location USS Peary, American destroyer, 19 February 1942 - Australia (Darwin) USS Langley, American seaplane tender (scuttled by U.S. forces after attack) 27 Feb 1942 - Pacific Ocean USS Pope, American destroyer, 1 March 1942 - Pacific Ocean HMS Cornwall, British heavy cruiser, 5 April 1942 - Indian Ocean HMS Dorsetshire, British heavy cruiser, 5 April 1942 - Indian Ocean HMS Hector, British armed merchant cruiser, 5 April 1942 - Indian Ocean HMS Tenedos, British destroyer, 5 April 1942 - Indian Ocean HMS Hermes, British aircraft carrier, 9 April 1942 - Indian Ocean HMAS Vampire, Australian destroyer, 9 April 1942 - Indian Ocean USS Sims, American destroyer, 7 May 1942 - Pacific Ocean USS Benham, American destroyer, 15 November 1942 - Pacific Ocean USS De Haven, American destroyer, 1 February 1943 - Pacific Ocean USS Aaron Ward, American destroyer, 7 April 1943 - Pacific Ocean USS Brownson, American destroyer, 26 December 1943 - Pacific Ocean[16] USS Abner Read, American destroyer, sunk by kamikaze 1 November 1944 - Pacific Ocean USS William D. Porter, American destroyer, sunk by kamikaze 10 June 1945 - Japan (Okinawa) As the war progressed, there were instances when the dive bombers were pressed into duty as fighters in the interceptor role, their maneuverability being enough to allow them to survive in this role. In June 1942, an improved version of the D3A powered by a 969 kW (1,300 hp) Kinsei 54 was tested as the Model 12. The extra power reduced range, so the design was further modified with additional fuel tanks to bring the total tankage to 900 L (240 US gal), giving it the range needed to fight effectively over the Solomon Islands. Known to the Navy as the Model 22, it began to replace the Model 11 in front-line units in autumn 1942, and most Model 11s were then sent to training units.
When the Yokosuka D4Y Suisei became available, the D3A2s ended up with land-based units or operating from the smaller carriers, which were too small to handle the fast-landing Suisei. When American forces recaptured the Philippines in 1944, land-based D3A2s took part in the fighting, but were hopelessly outdated and losses were heavy. By then, many D3A1s and D3A2s were operated by training units in Japan, and several were modified with dual controls as Navy Type 99 Bomber Trainer Model 12s (D3A2-K). During the last year of the war, the D3A2s were pressed back into combat for kamikaze missions. One D3A is currently under restoration at the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, California. Another unrestored D3A2 is on display at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas
Specifications D3A1 Crew: Two, pilot and gunner Length: 10.2 m Wingspan: 14.37 m Height: 3.85 m Wing area: 34.9 m2 Empty weight: 2,408 kg Max. takeoff weight: 3,650 kg Powerplant: 1 × Mitsubishi Kinsei 44, 798 kW / 1,070 hp Maximum speed: 389 km/h Range: 1,472 km Service ceiling: 9,300 m Armament: 2 × fixed, forward-firing 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 97 machine guns 1 × flexible, rearward-firing 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 92 machine gun 1 × 250 kg (551 lb) or 2 × 60 kg (132 lb) bombs ----------------- Specifications (D3A2) Aichi D3A2 with telescopic sight, before take off. D3A2 with Type 98 bomb, marked as an aircraft assigned to Akagi General Crew: Two (pilot and gunner) Length: 10.2 m (33 ft 5.4 in) Wingspan: 14.37 m (47 ft 2 in) Height: 3.8 m (12 ft 7.5 in) Wing area: 34.9 m² (375.6 ft²) Empty weight: 2,570 kg (5,666 lb) Max. takeoff weight: 4,122 kg (9,100 lb) Powerplant: 1 × Mitsubishi Kinsei 54, 969 kW (1,300 hp) Maximum speed: 430 km/h (232 kn, 267 mph (430 km/h)) Range: 1,352 km (730 nmi, 840 mi (1,350 km)) Service ceiling: 10,500 m (34,450 ft) Rate of climb: 8.62 m/s (1,869.685 ft/min) Armament: 2 × fixed, forward 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 97 machine guns 1 × flexible, rearward-firing 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 92 machine gun 1 × 250 kg (551 lb) or 2 × 60 kg (132 lb) bombs
The Lavochkin La-11 (NATO reporting name Fang) was an early post-World War II Soviet long-range piston-engined fighter aircraft. One of the recommendations from the government testing of Lavochkin La-130 (Lavochkin La-9 prototype) was to further develop it into a long-range escort fighter. The resultant La-134 prototype (also sometimes referred to as La-9M) featured increased fuel and oil capacity. Armament was reduced to three cannons. The prototype flew in May 1947. The second prototype, La-134D had fuel capacity increased by an additional 275 l (73 US gal) with wing and external fuel tanks.
The aircraft was fitted with larger tires to accommodate the increased weight and amenities for long flights such as increased padding in the seat, armrests, and a urinal. In addition, a full radio navigation suite was installed. Not surprisingly, combat performance with a full fuel load suffered. However, as the fuel load approached that of La-9, so did the performance. The aircraft was found to be poorly suited for combat above 7,000 m (23,000 ft). The new fighter, designated La-11 entered production in 1947. By the end of production in 1951, a total of 1,182 aircraft were built.
The first documented combat use of La-11 took place on April 8, 1950, when four Soviet pilots shot down an United States Navy Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer over the Baltic Sea, with all 10 of the Privateer's crew lost. Later the same year, two La-11 pilots shot down a USN Lockheed P2V Neptune over the Sea of Japan near Vladivostok; one USN crew member was killed.
From February 1950, the Soviet 106th Fighter Aviation Division moved to Shanghai to defend it against bombing by the ROCAF. The division included the 351st Fighter Regiment, equipped with the La-11. On March 7, the regiment claimed a North American B-25 Mitchell bomber, shot down near Nanjing. On March 14, 1950, a Martin B-26 Marauder bomber was claimed in Xuzhou.
On March 20, 1950, five La-11 pilots encountered a group of North American P-51 Mustangs north-west of Shanghai, although the P-51 pilots immediately retreated. On April 2, 1950, two P-51s were claimed by La-11 pilots over Shanghai. After that, MiG-15s of the Soviet 29th Fighter Regiment took over the air defence role. The ROCAF stopped bombing Shanghai that June and the Soviet units left in October 1950.
On November 30, 1951, 16 La-11 fighter pilots of the 4th Fighter Aviation Regiment, Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) were escorting 9 Tu-2 PVA bombers to bomb the South Korean island of Taehwa-do (대화도/大和島), in the Pansong archipelago. They were attacked by more than 30 F-86 fighters of the United States Air Force: four Tu-2 bombers and three La-11s were shot down. The main target of La-11 pilots during the Korean War was the Douglas A-26 Invader night bomber, although numerous skirmishes with P-51s also took place.[citation needed] Attempts to intercept Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers proved fruitless. La-11 required 26 minutes to reach the B-29's cruise altitude and once there had a speed advantage of only 20 km/h (12 mph) making it easy for the B-29 to evade the attacker in a shallow dive.
On July 23, 1954, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster military transport aircraft, registration VR-HEU, operated by Cathay Pacific Airways on a civilian passenger flight en route from Bangkok to Hong Kong, was shot down by two La-11 fighters of the 85th Fighter Regiment, People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) off the coast of Hainan Island, killing 10 people in an incident that has become known as the 1954 Cathay Pacific Douglas DC-4 shootdown.
Although the four-engined propeller-driven Douglas (registered VR-HEU) was a C-54 Skymaster, the incident is known as "the DC-4 shootdown" because the C-54 is the military version of the Douglas DC-4, and the aircraft was flying a commercial passenger run.
Three days later, near the same location, two La-11s of the same unit were shot by 12 AD-4 airplanes of the US Navy. During 1954–55, La-11 fighters of the PLAAF took part in the Battle of Yijiangshan Islands escorting the ships of the People's Liberation Army Navy and Tu-2 bombers.
General characteristics Crew: 1 Length: 8.62 m Wingspan: 9.80 m Height: 3.47 m Wing area: 17.6 m² Empty weight: 2,770 kg Loaded weight: 3,730 kg Max. takeoff weight: 3,996 kg Powerplant: 1 × Shvetsov ASh-82FN air-cooled radial engine with a two-stage supercharger and fuel injection, 1,380 kW (1,850 hp) Maximum speed: 674 km/h at altitude Range: 2,235 km Service ceiling: 10,250 m Rate of climb: 758 m/min Wing loading: 212 kg/m² Power/mass: 0.37 kW/kg Armament: 3 × 23 mm Nudelman-Suranov NS-23 cannons, 75 rounds/gun
One of the reasons was the lack of dive bombers and effective ground-attack aircraft; the Breda Ba.88 was a failure, and the Caproni Ca.310 was so ineffective that it was replaced by the Fiat CR.32 fighter bomber. 
The Ba.201 was a single-engined cantilever monoplane of all-metal construction. It had inverted gull wings, with split flaps that doubled as dive-brakes and was fitted with a retractable tailwheel undercarriage. It had a long slim fuselage, with a low mounted tailplane. The cockpit was set as far forward as possible to give a good view for the pilot.
In comparison the Junkers Ju-87D had a top speed of only 410 km/h, but was armed with two new 7.92 mm MG 81z machine guns, with 3,200 rpm instead of 1,050. 
