World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
9 Jun 2011 08:56:32 AM

DEFANGED FIGHTER:

Mitsubishi A6M3 Model 22 Zero code name
(Zeke) aircraft 2-152 surrendered to RNZAF September 1945 at Kara airsrip.
Zero carried the surrender scheme of overall white with green crosses on wings and fuselage. Forward area of fuselage painted green and half of the engine cowling painted black.
After the war,the Zero was kept by the RNZAF
and was displayed, later it sat in a dump until the 1950s. The Zero has been restored and today it is on display at the Auckland Museum.

2.  Bill says:
9 Jun 2011 01:03:18 PM

ONE PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS:

The Zero was scheduled to be flown on a Kamikaze mission, but mechanical problems
prevented this. Zero 3844 could have served with the 3rd Hikotai (Squadron) 582nd Kokutai
(Air Group) 25th Koku Sentai (Air Flotilla)
that was based on Rabaul.

Flown to Bougainville and was caught on the ground and damaged by Allied air attacks it was rebuilt from other Zero fighters and
hidden at Kara airstrip, later returned to flying status, to boost the morale of the Japanese personnal stationed there.
The RNZAF captured the Zero and later flown by an Allied pilot to Pina other Japanese aircaft were also captured later model A6M5 Zeros, and a Mitsubishi Ki-46 Dinah twin-engine aircraft.

The Zero was transported to New Zealand and last flown in December 1945. In 1946 it was placed in storage parked outside, and later
stored in a hanger.
In 1947 the Zero was transferred and once again put in storage, and later transferred to the Auckland War Museum. By the 1950s left outside it suffered the ravages of weather and souvenir hunters. 1954 it was transported to Ardmore a wartime base stored and later restored. The Zero is a composite of different aircraft many of its components used in its repair were sourced from othe Zeros.

3.  Bill says:
9 Jun 2011 09:06:02 PM

OOPS! The Zero was marked 2-182 not 2-152 Mitsubishi serial number 3844.
During its restoration no less than eight other serial numbers, from other Zeros went into rebuilding 2-182.
The aircraft is camouflaged in dark green upper surface, with light gray under surface the Hinomaru (Disk of the Red Sun) on wings and fuselage.