World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
9 Jun 2011 08:11:38 AM

Eagle Farms rebuilt many captured Japanese aircraft and were tested against Allied aircraft, much was learned about Japanese aircraft technology.
Aircraft at Eagle Farms were Zeros, Oscars
and Tony singe-seat fighters.

2.  Bill says:
9 Jun 2011 09:30:23 AM

Several A6M3 Zeros fell into Alied hands the
aircraft were tested and flown by a Joint
USAAF/USN/Royal Austrailian Air Force Unit
located at Eagle Farm Brisbane, Australia.

The A6M3 was rebuilt with parts from three different wrecks to make one aircraft airworthy.
Later on other Japanese fighters were rebuilt
and tested. Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar and the
Kawasaki Ki-61 Tony single-engine fighters.
TAIU went to considerable length to finish
the a/c as if they were still being operated by the Japanese.
What happened to the a/c after WWII is unknown, most likely they were scrapped, but this is my guesswork.

3.  Bill says:
9 Jun 2011 09:43:54 AM

The A6M3 Model 32/22 or "Hamp" was first named Hap, after General "Hap" Arnold of the USAAF, but the General didn't like hearing how many "Haps" were being shotdown at his briefings so the name was later changed to "Hamp"

4.  Bill says:
14 Jun 2011 07:55:44 PM

B-17 Flying Fortress named "Sally" in the background. Photo was taken Aug 5, 1943. Jim Helton was the Flight Engineer, for Sally, who is standing in front of the Hamp other personnal in background are unidentified.

5.  Bill says:
9 Sep 2011 08:03:19 PM

Most of the damaged Japanese aircraft were recovered from New Guinea and rebuilt at Eagle farm. They were flown against Allied fighters, to keep these aircraft from being shotdown, they would be escorted by Allied fighters.
The Japanese aircraft were also used in the building of scale models, drawings and photographs for recognition purposes.
During July 1943, the A6M3 Hamp was damaged in a ground loop, after a dead stick landing the engine cut out during a slow roll the fighter was later rebuilt and shipped back to the United States.

6.  Bill says:
19 Nov 2011 07:22:42 PM

THAT HYBRID ZERO:

At Eagle Farm, the Hamp was rebuilt with parts from other A6M3, Model 32s, to rebuild a flying example for testing. The engine from one was used, main fuselage and wing section from another and the rear fuselage from another, plus components from other wrecks recovered at Buna.

AT THE RIGHT PLACE, AT THE RIGHT TIME:

With an interpreter and a Japanese pilot POW
a cockpit check list was created. USAAF pilot
William Farrior a replacement pilot was asked to test the zero, he stayed with Air Intelligence througtout WWII.

The Hamp was later shipped to Wright Field for testing it arrived with 69 hours flying time, the Hamp was given the number EB-201 testing at Wright Field added another 22 hours.
Inspections found that the Hamp needed a new engine, I don't know if the engine was ever rebuilt, or if the plane was grounded. The fate of the Hamp after WWII, is unknown, but most likely the plane was scrapped.

7. Bill says:
24 Jul 2012 11:46:51 AM

WAR PRIZES:

Later during the Battle for Saipan, in 1944
the ATIU landed on Saipan with the help of Navy Seabees, positioned themselves on the disputed Aslito Japanese airfield, later renamed Isley Field.

During this time Japanese forces continued fighting on the other side of the airfield
three Japanese counter attacks were beaten back, under enemy fire, the Americans moved
to capture and salvage the Japanese aircraft
that were parked in revements and around the
airfield.

GET THOSE PLANES: LIKE OUT OF A WWII MOVIE

Like something out of a WWII movie, ATIU made attempts to get those planes, enemy fire
all around, even a Zero flying over with one wing on fire crashed on the field, with covering fire from both the US Marines and the US Army 27th Infantry Division, ATIU made attemps to capture those planes.

UNSUNG HEROES:

ATIU personnel used captured Japanese trucks to capture, push and tow away the planes as the fighting continued around them.
Twentyfour planes were captured along with
30 engines and over 300 crates of spare parts.
The Japanese aircraft were shipped to Wright Field for test and evaluation among the planes were the newest model of the A6M5
Model 52 Zeros.

SAVED FOR POSTERITY:

One of the A6M5 Model 52 Zero fighters captured was number 61-120, after WWII it was listed as surplus and was ready to be scrapped.
Bought by Mr. Ed Maloney in the 1950s and moved to the Air Museum where it was stored for years located in Claremont, California
later the Museum moved to Ontario Airport, and on to its present location in Chino, Ca.
61-120 has been restored and is the only flying Zero fighter in the world powered by its original Nakajima air-cooled radial engine.

8. David F Pawlowski says:
28 Apr 2013 11:38:43 AM

Has anyone from the ATIU ever claimed to have seen Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Electra 10E in one of the hangars as has been claimed by several of the authors who have written on the Saipan claims.

9. Alan says:
4 Apr 2022 02:08:05 AM

I believe this photo has been flipped. There are several reasons for this. (1) Other sites have this photo with the aircraft facing left. (2) This aircraft had problems with the Right Hand landing gear. Thus it is more likely the ground crew would be around the R.H. not the Left Hand landing gear. (3) The pilot access to the cockpit was from the left. A foot peg can be seen on the side of the aircraft. (4) The propeller rotated clockwise when viewed from the cockpit. You can see the prop blades indicate an anticlockwise rotation in the photo. (5) The B-17 has nose art with the name Sally. You can see the tail of the “y” curling in the wrong direction.