Zero's ...

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7830

Hopefully not to step on Chris's great thread, so here's several 'zero' photos, many you have seen, maybe a few you haven't. I have zero information to go on with these so I hope the experts will fill in some info. Sources, SDA&PM, National Museum of Naval Aviation, my personal collection.

JohnB · **Posted:** Fri Nov 16, 2012 4:41 pm

Not a bad looking aircraft. I think we tend to overlook that because its not a Mustang or Spitfire.

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Fri Nov 16, 2012 5:25 pm

Not I. I've always had a soft spot for Axis aircraft, particularly Japanese ones. Only wish more examples exist today and were flying.

John Dupre · **Posted:** Fri Nov 16, 2012 6:49 pm

About halfway through is a heavily retouched photo a Zero with louvers cut into the fuselage behind the engine. Years ago I read an article that mentions that this aircraft was one salvaged from several wrecks in China on behalf of Claire Chenault and eventually sent to the US. The mechanic who oversaw the salvage of the aircraft cut the louvers himself since in test flying they thought it would help in cooling the engine or maybe the cockpit. I think this mechanic was actually a German national and enemy alien! He had worked in China for years and preferred it to Nazi Germany.

Junkyard36 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 16, 2012 7:30 pm

Awesome pics as usual, but I found this one particularly interesting due to the deck detail not usually seen.

Fascinating.

Mike

Dan K · **Posted:** Fri Nov 16, 2012 7:43 pm

Well, here goes...

A6M3a Zero 22s of 251st AG. Tail code originally UI-105. The legendary Hiroyoshi Nishizawa has combat time in this machine.

Zero 21 being serviced at Lakunai airfield. Active volcano Mt. Hanabuki in background was popular pilot landmark for nearby Rabaul.

A6M2s warm up on Shokaku in preparation for attack on Pearl.

A6M3 Hamp...204th Kokutai

A6M2s of 3rd AG...looks like Rabaul

A6M2 of the 14th AG over southern China; Autumn 1940

Same aircraft as pic #1

Lt. Saburo Shindo leaving Akagi in AI-102, part of second wave attacking Pearl

A6M recovered from June 1942 crash on Akutan Island in the Aleutians. Pic taken at Dutch Harbor

Pair of A6M2-N Rufes off coast of Japan.

A6M Model 52s of 653rd AG at Oita airfield; August 1944

Model 11s of the 12th AG over China; May 26, 1941. Double-striped aircraft flown by Lt. Minoru Suzuki. Other aircraft mount of 16-victory ace Pilot Officer Kunimori Nakakariya.

Battle of Santa Cruz; October 1942. Lt. Hideki Shingo launches from Shokaku.

Model 52s of the 252nd AG

Back on the Akagi prior to Pearl launch

Model 52...252nd AG

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7830

Nicely done, thx Dan

Adam Kline · **Posted:** Sun Nov 18, 2012 11:03 am

Can't get enough of the Japanese planes. Today was like Christmas when I came to this website after not visiting for a few days. :supz:

Noha307 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 18, 2012 10:30 pm

Mark Allen M wrote:

I have zero information to go on with these so I hope the experts will fill in some info.

Great, just great. Now I have to kill you for that pun. And I was really loving your photos too... :lol:

Man, did they put enough spit shine on that one? :shock:

I've seen this picture before and I always wondered what was up with the paint on it.

I always kinda figured that it was some extreme sort of wear and tear, but looking at it now, it almost looks like really hastily done camouflage. (Love the difference between this one and the one above by the way.)

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