Warbird Information Exchange

Many years ago, I think 1980 or there-abouts, when I was a kid, I went with Dad to a fly-in at Te Kowhai which was held by the microlight or homebuilders or something like that. There were stands there from SAANZ, EAA, and CAF, giving away photos from old calendars to the kids. Myself and siblings each grabbed a pile, and when we got home Dad decided to barter some off us for his model workshop wall.

The following one was one I got, and he paid big to get it off me (about 20 cents!). Since then it has been on the wall, and it wasn't till later years i really got an interest in such aircraft. But this one has long stuck in my mind as being unusual.

I've never seen another photo of this aircraft or other Zero replicas in the same colour scheme. I wondered if anyone else has any idea when and where this was taken (I suspect it could be an Oshkosh show as that featured in several of the other photos we were given). And Was this a CAF operated example? Is the scheme based on a real camouflage used by the Japanese or was this simply made up for fun? Or racing perhaps?

Any info would be appreciated.

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Dave,

The airplane in the photo is a very rare SNJ-5C registered N7986C that was converted for the movie Tora Tora Tora. The aircraft was equipped with an original NAS Pensacola installed tailhook and mounting assembly in the monocoque. After the movie, the airplane was disposed of and acquired by the EAA in Oshkosh, WI where the original movie paint scheme was oversprayed with olive green spray can camoflage in the "wiggle worm" scheme shown. The pilot in the photo was Gus Limbach, who flew the airplane in EAA shows for many years until it was disposed of in non-flyable condition through Courtesy aircraft in about 1982 or 1983. At that time I became involved in the airplane when it was purchased by Alan Preston, then of Dallas, Texas. I was part of a team that put the airplane back together and got it licensed and flying again with a brand new Dallas Aero R-1340-59 and Hamilton Standard three blade hydromatic 23D40 prop off of an Otter. The Preston Air Museum flew the airplane around in the "wiggle worm" scheme for a few years, then it was stripped and re-painted it in dark green upper, gray lower colors of an A6M2 by Bruce Lockwood. The airplane was subsequently sold to Rudy Frasca of Champaign, IL and is still owned by him. Hope this is the information you were looking for.

Carl

Thanks for a good picture, a good question and a terrific answer...exactly the reasons why I really, really "like" this forum.

Thanks very much Carl. That almost wraps it up.

The only unanswered part is was the 'wiggle-worm' pattern based on a genuine camouflage used by the Japanese? If so, where and when did they use it?

Thanks again.

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Dave,

The pattern is similar to that carried by aircraft of certain sentai of the JAAF, but I've never seen a photo of any IJN aircraft carrying such a pattern, especially not a Zero-sen.

By the way, thanks for posting the photo. It was a real trip down memory lane, as this Tora Zeke was present at my very first Oshkosh...1978.

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

Thanks Dan,

Glad to have brought back good memories for you and others.

Yes, I posted the same question on FlyPast Forum and got the same answer that it's not authenic but is a little like a camo pattern used by other aircraft.

I like it all the same, it's very striking.

Cheers
Dave

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That scheme bears a resemblance to the JNAF's Type "B" Blotch pattern. It's not applied quite right, but it could pass for it.

(I'm looking at it on pp. 36 and 129 of Japanese Naval Air Force Camouflage and Markings, World War II by Donald W. Thorpe.)