Warbird Information Exchange

*** Mitsubishi Vs. Nakajima built Zero ***
Have you ever wondered why it’s called “Mitsubishi Zero”? Even though most of the Zeroes built throughout WWII were built by Nakajima (about 63%) instead of Mitsubishi (about 37%)
(It’s called Mitsubishi because the plane was designed by Jiro Horikoshi who was the lead designer of the zero and worked for Mitsubishi)
Here’s the breakdown;
A6M Production by Mitsubishi:
1939: 3
1940: 98
1941: 402
1942: 692
1943: 1,029
1944: 1,356
1945: 299
Total built by Mitsubishi: 3,879 units (37%)
A6M Production by Nakajima:
1939: 0
1940: 0
1941: 7
1942: 674
1943: 1,967
1944: 2,474
1945: 1,416
Total built by Nakajima: 6,538 units (63%)
Total Zeroes built throughout WWII = 3,879 + 6,538 = 10,417 units


Sky Army Show 1945 Oak Ridge

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Zero Surprise!!...

Interesting. The production break behind the cockpit allowed for transport with the single piece wing.

On the production side, it begs the question of what other well known types saw greater, or at least high percentages, built under license by other manufactures? Lancaster approached 50% I believe, but the "Austin Motor Lancaster" does not have the same ring to it....

Gnat?
B-17, Corsair, B-29 perhaps 20%?

Grumman TBF/Eastern TBM.

Eastern built almost 77% of all Avengers.

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Probably for the same reason they're called "Grumman Wildcat" and "Grumman Avenger."

The source I found says that Consolidated didn't even build half the B-24s.

Ford, Douglas, and North American together built more.

Yes and there were differences between the same type Zeros from both factories..
https://translate.google.com/translate? ... red.com%2F

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If the CO ask,s you to be Tail End Charlie...Just Shoot Him..A Piece of Cake

Ah yes Avenger and B-24 should have jumped out at me. I hadn't realized it was that high a % for the B-24. Busy at Willow Run and elsewhere.

Could that be the Zero that Gerhard Neumann (Herman the German) repaired/restored in China and finally got it shipped back to the US? The non-standard cooling vents in the accessory section were added by him on that aircraft, if I remember correctly. I think it was sent on display for a bond rally. Just wondering.

Randy

that be the one, can be ID'd by the louvers on the accessory cowls

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Matt Gunsch, A&P, IA, Warbird maint and restorations
Jack, You have Debauched my sloth !!!!!!
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45-47=-2

Mike - thanks for the confirmation. I'm away from my library for a few days but thought that was a key feature. If anyone is interested, the book "Herman the German" is the story of Neumann's life and his exploits in China - it is an interesting read. To leave China, he and his wife drove a Jeep west-bound across nearly impossible "tracks" to reach the Atlantic and eventually the US. After WWII, he became an American citizen, in an interesting way, by act of Congress, and worked for General Electric on advanced jet engines until he retired. Just FYI.

Randy

Gloster built nearly all 3,300-odd Typhoons. Hawker built very few, single figures I'm pretty sure and I've got an idea it may have been only one or two.
Not to that or Japanese proportions, but Westland built a lot of Spitfires.