Immaculate Japanese Zero found in Solomons

[bdk]

Here's a good fish story...

http://www.simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2473187&fpart=1

[Robbie Roberts]

As they say, depending on where they are actually talking about.. There's plenty of places to hide things in the South Pacific! Would be interesting to actually see pics... If they really exist... I got confused by the track of the postings- I remember someone commenting on them being in a cave halfway up a hill, if I understood right. I remember Saburo Sakai telling about his unit arriving at one base, I think in the Solomons, but I may be wrong about this, (may have been at Lae) and then having to taxi, in line, up and over a hill. I could see a couple Zeros breaking down, and being pushed into a convenient cave to get them out of they way.

Again, rather hypothetical, but fun to discuss the "what ifs"

Robbie

[maxum96]

I'm calling Bullsh*t on this one.

[CWBuff]

Last summer I dug up my backyard and found a P-40 that crashed in 1942... honest, I did... really... scout's honor...
swear to ______*... no, really, I did...

* insert sacred, holy entity of choice


Fade to Black...

[daveymac82c]

Hmm... I would like to believe that story, but ya know.... it's hard to.

The guys on that thread clearly have a better understanding of the WWII operations in that part of the world than I do.

I get the feeling that whatever they found, if anything at all, is not a Zero. With regards to the stacking of the wings and the othe comments about Zeros never having been operated from there.

Because of the "lack of knowledge" that the poster and the people that discovered the aircraft have, if there is anything at all that they found, then perhaps it is another Japanese airplane or in fact an American aircraft. But really, that would be one hell of a hike to get the airplanes into the cave.

Still, I want to see pictures before I will consider it remotely true.

Cheers,

David McIntosh

[Mudge]

OK "Peter-Four-Oh"...I MIGHT have believed you if you'd claimed ANYTHING but a P-40. TOO coincidental.

Mudge the suspicious

[n5151ts]

apparently there was also one slightly used holy grail.....

[Junkyard36]

Well, I think we would ALL become believers if someone posted a timely, mis-labled You Tube vid...



Mike

[daveymac82c]

Holy Grail eh? hmm.... No use to me, you see... I've already got one!

-David

[Jesse C.]

I have read about Lancasters buried in England, German Jets in the Alps and now Zero's in Pacific caves.

Well, until they show me something, I will just keep waiting here next to big foot! Hey, Bigfoot, pass me another beer, will ya!

[muddyboots]

here is a no Sh** story: When I was stationed in Korea in the 90's, we used to go climbing on an Island named Cheju off the coast of Pusan (the Army had a climbing school tehre). There was absolutely an old Japanese airstrip, complete with concrete hangars and all, and inside the hangars were the remains of a bunch of old Japanese warbirds, including at least one in good enough condition to climb into and sit in the old rotted out seat. The Koreans had a fit when they found out we'd been there, as they are still pretty crazy about the Japanese invasion. They wouldn't explain why it hadn't been destroyed, just abandoned and then kept off limits to everyone.

As far as I know, those remains are still there.

[Randy Wilson]

In reply to the pile of wings note, the Zero's wings were built integral with the fuselage/cockpit structure from wingtip to wingtip. The only major production breaks in the Zero were the engine assembly forward of the wings/cockpit and tail structure behind the wings/cockpit. Just an FYI.

Randy

[Bill Greenwood]

It just so happens that I have been appointed the exclusive agent to represent the new finders of those Zeros. If you act now I can get you a good deal on one, Just send me a check for $100,000 as a 10% deposit and we'll hold one for you. No credit cards please. Don't wait and let this golden chance slip away.
As an alternative to old airplanes in a cave, I know some of you believed that Bush story about WMDs. If you can just come up with a cave full of these, in or near Iraq, I think I can get you a real good price. Once again you want to act promptly as the value of such a find may not hold up after Nov.
By the way if you really want to see a "Zero in a cave", are at least most of one, I also know exactly where that is and have seen it personally. Not quite in fly away condition though.

[sdennison]

here is a no Sh** story: When I was stationed in Korea in the 90's, we used to go climbing on an Island named Cheju off the coast of Pusan (the Army had a climbing school tehre). There was absolutely an old Japanese airstrip, complete with concrete hangars and all, and inside the hangars were the remains of a bunch of old Japanese warbirds, including at least one in good enough condition to climb into and sit in the old rotted out seat. The Koreans had a fit when they found out we'd been there, as they are still pretty crazy about the Japanese invasion. They wouldn't explain why it hadn't been destroyed, just abandoned and then kept off limits to everyone.

As far as I know, those remains are still there.

Don't mean to be a dilweed here Muddy and I understand the use of the word as my father fought in CBI, maybe now we could evolve to the use of the word Japanese rather than Japanese. Not a PC guy necessarily but I have many Japanese friends and associates and IMHO, that term belongs in history.

[Bill Greenwood]

I strongly disagree about the term Japanese instead of Japanese. I don't see much difference. It is not an insult to call one a Brit instead of British, a Yank for U. S. and I assume an Aussie instead of the longer term. Why should the Japanese be different? Are they ashamed of who they are?
Let's say they are ashamed, or trying to be someone else. I don't give a dammn what their national fragility is, and I mean exactly that. For much of the last century they have been one the cruelest and most barbaric nations in history. They murdered not only hundreds of thousands of Allied prisoners, but also millions of civilians. They were brutal to their own people in training, as far as I know their current legal system is punitive with the individual second to the state ( I am not expert on this part). I have read they dismiss their part in the war, don't teach it in school, and they have certainly not made formal apologies and restitution for their crimes.
If they are ashamed of who they were/are they deserve that shame. I don't think it is racist to detest them for looking or being different , but for what they did and stood for.