"Hirano's Zero", AVIATION HISTORY, and relic revea

[David_Aiken]

The new article, "Hirano's Zero", AVIATION HISTORY, Jan 2009, has hit the news stand. It details the combat of Zero AI-154 over Hawaii, and the USAAF analysis of that crash at Ft. Kamehameha and at the Hawaiian Air Depot.

This helped to reveal a relic of the plane! The scan below is of AI-154's propeller governer. There are more relics from that day, and some may help to identify a crashed plane's history.

http://www.airwarfareforum.com/upld/img ... LRy1lQ.jpg

Cheers,
David Aiken, a Director: Pearl Harbor History Associates, Inc

[Curtis Block]

How would one go about identifying the history of a particular Japanese airframe?

I've got two particular wrecks that I've been working on, but I've run out of leads.

Unfortunately I have no numbers whatsoever to go on.

Any help would be appreciated.

[The Inspector]

Half a gajillion years ago when I was in A&P school, our project engine was fitted with a scintilla 'shower of sparks' ignition booster coil, we had the coils mounting cover half but no cover, I was detailed to go out to the 'warehouse' (creepy half rotted away wooden barn) to find one.
The hunt was a sucess and the cover fit perfectly including the attachment screw bosses, the only thing that gave away the fact it wasn't a geenewynnee Bendix cover was the little placard with Kanji characters riveted to it.

[David_Aiken]

How would one go about identifying the history of a particular Japanese airframe?

Hi Curtis,
Where, when, how...date of crash... details? Off line, please!
Cheers,
David Aiken

Last edited by David_Aiken on Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:26 am, edited 1 time in total.

[David_Aiken]

How would one go about identifying the history of a particular Japanese airframe?

Hi Curtis,
Mark I eyeballs and the written reports...in ANY language... and lots of time and patience to find the witnesses, their reports, letters, diarys, unit records, etc ...has been my best help... yet help comes in ALL forms from an eleven year old young man who said I was wrong and had a magazine article as proof... three co-workers who were "there" that day... and over a thousand correspondents and fellow researchers... and now we have the internet to seemingly compact the 40+ years of study (thus far) into a few months!
HTH,
David Aiken

[David_Aiken]

The propeller governor is now headed for exhibit at Hickam AFB, Pacific Air Force Headquarters (formerly Hale Makai...the large barracks complex bombed on 7 Dec).

What else is 'out there' which could be properly identified as "Pearl Harbor"?

Cheers,
David

[Curtis Block]

Sorry I've taken so long to get back but my internet was crapping out last night.

The aircraft I've been working on aren't Pearl Harbor, they are Truk Lagoon. All I really have on both of them has also already been posted here as well. Honestly, I just bring it up evey now and again when it seems relevant, with the hope that someone will see it and help out.




Mitsubishi A5M "Claude," in the #2 hold of the Fujikawa Maru.

The Fujikawa was a victim of the 1944 Operation Hailstone. The ship was damaged by multiple strikes on Feb. 17th, but was not sunk untill the 18th, following more hits by aircraft from the Essex and Monterey. The A5M shairs it's watery grave, with no less than eight Zeros.


http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15196&highlight=a5m




Nakajima C6N "Myrt." I believe this aircraft was dumped durring a post war clean up, of the south airfield on Moen (Weno). Unfortunatly with out numbers, I've begun to think that finding anything on this aircraft might be impossible.


Any help, or contact information that might be of assistance would be greatly appreciated.