Replica Zero at Iwakuni Marine Corps Base in Japan

[Warbird Kid]

I've never even heard of this replica, or the hangar before! Anyone?
http://www.mcasiwakuni.marines.mil/News/NewsStories/NewsArticleDisplay/tabid/6911/Article/98690/iwakuni-zero-hangar-icon-of-past-glories.aspx

[Jerry O'Neill]

Yes Chris. It's been around for at least 25-30 years. Don't exactly remember when, but I don't think I was married when I first saw a photo of it in front of the hardened hanger. It was natural metal then.
Jerry

[C VEICH]

Air Classics had a story on it way back when. I'm going to say at least 30 years ago. Don't recall if it was a full fledged write up or just a blurb in the preservation section but, as noted by Jerry, I remember a picture of it in front of the concrete bunker in a natural metal finish.

[Pat]

Cool hangar; there are still several fortified hangars/bunkers (with grass growing over the top of them) similar to that at Kisarazu Air Base in the Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo Bay.

[marine air]

Whateve happened to the Zero that the Marine Corps Aviation Museum had in the 1980's? It had a B-25 engine and prop on it and was flown in when purchased. I think it had F-86 fuel tanks on it.

[Jerry O'Neill]

I believe the USMC Museum's Zero is now at Pensacola.
5359 •A6M5-52
Robert Diemert, Carman MAN.68/82
(Nakajima built)
(recov. .68 ex Ballale Island, Bougainville, Solomon Islands:
arr. dism. Pt Moresby PNG 29.8.68 with 2 other Zeros and a Val: all 4 collected 14.1.69
by RCAF C-130 10324, airfreighted to Canada:stored on owner’s farm at Carman MAN)
USMC Museum, MCAS Quantico VA 82/91 (displ. as "136")
Liberal Air Museum, Liberal, KS: loan 89/91
NMNA, NAS Pensacola, FL 92/13
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/a6m2/5450.html

[Tulio]

Could this be the same aircraft?

Or, anyone knows where?


Saludos,



Tulio

Attachments

[Mark Allen M]

That would be the Ki-43 at Clark Field in the Philippines around the 1950's

[Chris Brame]

That would be the Ki-43 at Clark Field in the Philippines around the 1950's

...which was taken down and scrapped shortly thereafter.

The Zero mockup on display at Iwakuni, IIRC, was one of several built for the 1984 movie Zerosen Moyu.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YLM78rGSQo

[sandiego89]

The Zero looks like a high quality replica.

[Tulio]

Thank you.

Saludos,


Tulio