Yokosuka D4Y "Judy"

Artwork by other Artist

Research by Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette

I will add the development and history of the Yokosuka here in the future. The aircraft was versatile as a dive-bomber, night fighter and as a Kamikaze.

The Judy was designed to be a long range divebomber that was as fast as a fighter. The production was never at a level were they were used in mass. The first aircraft to reach the fleet flew as reconnaissance. They were used as reconnaissance aircraft flown from the carrier Soryu at the Battle of Midway.

During the Battles of the Philippine Sea in of June 1944 at lease one hundred Judy's were flown by inexperienced pilots to their deaths. The American Navy fighters swept the skies of Japanese aircraft flown by mere beginners.

It is crude stupid decisions that bring on war time disasters like this. Someone knew these pilots were inexperienced. If they had but one more month of training they would have had a better chance to at least defend themselves. Plus the fact that their ability to hit their target would increase drastically for the American Fleet.

In the mean time, below are images I scanned from a plastic model magazine I bought back in 1970.

The profiles below are by an artist named Sydney P. Chivers. Thank you Sydney for inspiring me to build plastic models of all these airplanes you drew. Please do not be up-set that I am using your images again to inspire another generation to see your work. Plus it was your artwork that ultimately helped me make the decision to paint my series of aircraft as profiles like yours. Thank you.

Sydney was a good artist. I think he used watercolors. I would love to do a study of the Judy or any other Japanese aircraft with the help of a patron. If you are interested in commissioning me to paint one of these Japanese aircraft, either fighter or bomber let me know. I will make a print of the painting which will increase the overall value of the original painting.

This is out of an old airplane book.

I would like to add more Japanese aircraft to my series of Famous Japanese Aircraft. These pilots, their crews, and their ground crews deserve to be honored.

Above all, the Japanese do hold by the honor system.

It is sad that they lost so many good men were lost. With the loss of the war the opportunity to properly pay respects to the lost warriors was swept by more pressing issues. I do appreciate the Japanese and their efforts. They were indeed brave, strong and smart. They deserve to be honored.

It would be even more special if a Japanese citizen was to sponsor Japanese aircraft artwork.

It is not that expensive and I will do you a good job.

You can honor a special pilot or a squadron.

I am at your service. Sir Hamilton

Back To: Allied Aircraft

Back To: Axis Aircraft

Back To: U.S. Aircraft

Back To: Luftwaffe Aircraft

Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette

Aviation Artist/Historian

107 Arthur Moore Drive

Green Cove Springs, Florida 32043

Phone Number; 1-904-406-5791

Internet Address; aviationartstore@peoplepc.com

Posted August  2, 2008

Page Re-Posted and Counter Started on June 22, 2011