Mitsubishi A6M2 Type Zero V-172

Very well done website, worth a look at.

It has long been believed that the first example of Japan’s vaunted Mitsubishi A6M2 Type Zero carrier fighter to be captured by the Allies in World War II was the one salvaged the United States Navy from an Aleutian island in July of 1942.

However, interviews with surviving witnesses and the discovery of pertinent documents in the national and military archives of the United States, Japan, and the Peoples Republic of China have confirmed that the recovery of the very first intact Zero fighter occurred prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor!

The following account traces the events leading to the acquisition of the first Japanese Zero by the Chinese government on 26 November 1941 and its subsequent history.

http://www.j-aircraft.com:80/research/WarPrizes.htm

http://www.j-aircraft.com/research/addi ... _war_p.htm

Last edited by west-front on Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[DonL]

Thanks for posting this story. Very interesting read. Just think maybe in some government warehouse there is an old Japanese Zero stashed away. (Probably not but a fun thought anyway)!

[Jack Cook]

Here's a thread from last year with photos and the background.
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10784&highlight=zero

[Steve Nelson]

Just think maybe in some government warehouse there is an old Japanese Zero stashed away.

Where of course it's being examined by "top men."

[noizeedave]

WoW. Wonder what wonderful parts are in those boxes?! or WAIT!...
I think I found Waldo!

[Mark_Pilkington]

Here it is!!


We've got it downunder!!!!



smiles, well actually its close brother "V-173" on display at the Australian War Memorial - A6M2 - msn 5784.





Regards

Mark Pilkington

[A2C]

The Kate, Tojo, and others brought back after the war are also missing. I heard a rumor somewhere that the Kate was dumped into Lake Washington by the Navy.

[gary1954]

The Kate, Tojo, and others brought back after the war are also missing. I heard a rumor somewhere that the Kate was dumped into Lake Washington by the Navy.

Okay then, something to look for that may have never been on Navy Property Books, they may have tossed it, so if found, then it is fair game right