World War II Database

1. Anonymous says:
16 Mar 2013 05:27:16 PM

No ... Aichi Val 3Da
Yes A6M Cero

2.  Bill says:
13 May 2013 09:09:09 AM

PERMANENT FIXTURE:

FINDERS KEEPERS:

Aircraft is a stripped Mitsubishi A6M Zero. Looks to me like a A6M3, Model 32 (Hamp) During the Pacific war, GIs were souvenir hunters anything that was Japanese were taken.

STRIPPED TO THE BONE:

Allied Air Intelligence had a difficult time trying to reach downed aircraft, before they were stripped to the bone.
The Zero above leaves very little for Allied Air Intelligence to work with, except to identify it as an A6M3, Model 32 (Hamp) on the other hand, the Zero could have been inspected by Air Intelligence, its personnel left, once out of sight the GIs went on a souvenir hunt. Looks like the Hamp was here for a long time

3.  Bill says:
16 May 2013 05:31:39 PM

CHASING WRECKS: TECHNICAL AIR INTELLIGENCE

During the Pacific War Air Intelligence units recovered and gathered information on crashed or captured Japanese aircraft. Aircraft were studied
and examined and their technical and tactical capabilities helped Allied pilots fight against older or improved aircraft.

HARD LESSONS: NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOUR ENEMY

Before the war the U.S. possessed almost nothing about Japanese military aircraft. What reports were sent to Washington, were filed away or dismissed.
Those reports sent, were just to fantastic to believe, after all it was widely known that Japan had a third-rate aircraft industry and copied foreign designs. Allied pilots and aircrews would pay for this total lack of intelligence and capabilities of the Japanese.

PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER:

After the Pearl Harbor attack both the US Army and Navy setup their own analysis of Japanese aircraft shot down over Pearl. Each service didn't
assist the other in what information was found.
What aircraft were salvaged, were shipped back to the U.S. for further study and examination.
With the loss of the Philippine Islands the need for Intelligence about Japanese aircraft was desperate and there was little activity by the U.S. until 1942.

WAR PRIZE: MILITARY SECRET'S ARE THE MOST FLEETING OF ALL...

In June 1942 the US found a Mitsubishi A6M2,Model 21 Zero Fighter, that made a forced landing on the Island of Akutan, in the Aleutian's after an attack on Dutch Harbor. Its pilot killed in the crash.
The Zero was shipped back to the US and rebuilt and tested the secret's about the zero were found out. Finding this aircraft helped Allied pilots combat Japan's most famous wartime fighter.


During this time the Japanese had the advantage in
captured U.S. and Allied equipment. With the capture of the Philippines, Java, Burma, Malaya and the Dutch East Indies, Allied equipment fell
into Japanese hands. P-40's and B-17's were flown
and evaluated as well as British aircraft.
Captured aircraft were shipped back to the Empire
for further study at the Air Technical Research
Laboratory, Tachikawa, Japan. During this time the
Imperial Japanese Navy had four B-17's airworthy
for testing.
As the war progressed each side learned more about the other and captured aircraft played an important part in the air battles over the Pacific.

4.  Bill says:
14 Dec 2016 06:44:09 PM

TARAWA ZERO: SOVENIORS ANYONE

Mitsubishi A6M3, Model 32 (Hamp) stripped to the bone by GI's. TAIU-SWPA raced as fast as possible to inspect any downed Japanese aircraft for new intelligence about enemy aircraft.
Information gained, was passed on to Allied pilots
Photograph taken on Tarawa
Zero tail number looks like Y-2-1 not completely identified