NASM's Mitsubishi A6M5 61-131, then and now ...

[Mark Allen M]

Interesting stuff ...


Here's 61-121


and 61-120

[Mark Allen M]

POF Zero

[k5083]

Loving the pics!

In that last photo, it kind of looks like the white star and bar is painted right over the IJN green, with no blue. But maybe you just can't tell in the b&w photo. They would have had to paint out the hinomaru anyway.

August

[Warbirdnerd]

Is that a Helldiver with some sort of experimental tail behind the Zero in the last photo?

[Rick65]

I always love photos of the Zero.
It was such a considered and carefully designed plane and to me it just looks right, beautifully streamlined (as were many Japanese planes) , trim and simple with nothing extraneous.
The engine was slightly larger than that of a Merlin Spitfire yet the plane was carrier capable, had far, far longer range and achieved this with an empty weight of something like 15% less. The P-40, an early rival was far heavier again than the early Spitfire.
The down side to the tightly controlled and ambitious Zero design was a lack of ability to stretch the design as the demands changed.

It is not a fair comparison to put it side by side with a Helldiver, a plane that rarely looks right.

[Mark Allen M]

No ID on this one ... was in good shape though.

[DamonE]

What lovely photos. This A6M3 survives at the Auckland War memorial Museum in Auckland, New Zealand. The photos appear to be taken at RNZAF Base Hobsonville in the 1940's. careful inspection of the photos show its tail code 2-182 on the fin/rudder. Behind the Zero are Consolidated PBY-5's flying boats. The area behind the Zero in the pictures has all been turned into housing.

[Mark Allen M]

A few more photos of the USS Copahee with those Saipan Zero's on the deck.