Aircraft Photo of A1-3-102 | Mitsubishi A6M2 Reisen (Zero) | Japan - Navy | AirHistory.net #297344
Aircraft
Registration / Serial:A1-3-102
Aircraft Original Type:Mitsubishi A6M Reisen
Aircraft Generic Type:Mitsubishi A6M Reisen
Aircraft Version:Mitsubishi A6M2 Reisen (Zero)
Licence-built by:Nakajima
C/n (msn):51553
Operator Titles:Japan - Navy
Local Operator Name:海上自衛隊
Location
City / Airport:Dayton - Wright-Patterson AFB / Patterson AFBMap
Region / Country:Ohio, United States
Airport Codes:ICAO: KFFO   IATA: FFO   Local: FFO   Other: -
Collection:National Museum of the United States Air Force
 
Photo Date:22 June 2016
Photo by:Arjun Sarup
Photo ID: 297344
Photo Comment

On display at NMUSAF since 2004. This rare Type 21 Zero was recovered from Kavieng, New Ireland and bought by the museum in 1971. Said to have been flown by 6th Kokutai, it is now painted with tail code A1-3-102 to represent a section leader's Zero from the aircraft carrier Zuiho during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea in Mar 1943. Zuiho Zeros wearing J3 grey normally used tail code EIII until Oct 1942. The carrier's Zeros were based ashore during Feb-Mar 1943 to provide support after the Guadalcanal debacle. The longer spinner of this externally well-restored Nakajima-built A6M2b is evident.

This photo is copyright © Arjun Sarup, and may not be used or published in any way without permission.

It was added on 5 November 2020, and has since been viewed 6768 times.


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