Warbird Information Exchange

Anyone have an ID for this A6M5 Zero? Just bought the photo on eBay; I almost passed on it until I spotted the Dauntless on the right marked 6S14; this jogged a memory:

That photo was taken during the production of Tora! Tora! Tora! and published in Air Classics; I'm guessing it was Planes of Fame's Dauntless BuNo 28536? So would the wing-clipped Zero be POF's current flyer? Over to the experts...

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

PoF had two Zero's. I believe this is A6M5 #4400 with wings cut off that went to Paul Allen. A6M5 #5357 61-120 being the current flyer.

https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/a6m5/4400.html
https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1376949
https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1447676

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45-47=-2

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/sbdregis ... 28536.html

The registry suggests POF obtained BuNo 28536 from MGM. Is there more to this story, or is the caption at the following link in error?

http://www.daveswarbirds.com/tora/pics/ ... 3_pics.jpg

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

There are numerous MGM aircraft.
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/sbdregis ... 10518.html
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/sbdregis ... 28536.html
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/sbdregis ... 54593.html
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/sbdregis ... 54643.html
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/sbdregis ... 54654.html

Marine Corps Museum per the caption.
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/sbdregis ... 54605.html
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/sbdregis ... 60817.html

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45-47=-2

I was wondering if the caption was wrong because the other two USMC Museum planes don't seem to have ever been in southern California. I was also wondering if the Zero had been used as sort of a "pattern" (or at least inspiration) for the T-6 conversions.

_________________

All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Dave Tallichet had a yard full of SBD wind machine airframes (4-6?) at one time in his Chino Airport compound. I don't believe any of them had wings, at least not installed at the time. Air Classics must have published photos of them in the 1980s.