Introduction
This is a resource devoted to the Mitsubishi A6M Japanese
fighter aircraft, commonly known at the Mitsubishi Zero.
Although the site provides considerable background information
on the design philosophy of the type and its actual design, construction
and use within the Japanese military system, it is primarily devoted
to detailing the history of one particular machine.
This Zero was discovered on the South Pacific island of
Bougainville by the Allied military forces. Recovered by members of
the Royal New Zealand Air Force, it was bought back to New Zealand in
1945.
After some years of storage and neglect, it now resides
on display at the Auckland Museum.
As a result both of the secrecy surrounding Japanese WWII
military aircraft in general, and the difficulties on tracing the antecedents
of one particular piece of captured military hardware, this aircraft
has always been the subject of speculation and confusion.
At the invitation of the Auckland Institute and Museum,
I researched the background and history
of this aircraft in the early 1980s, and the resultant document was
published both by the Aviation Historical Society of New Zealand (in
the June 1985 issue of the Society's Journal) and as a stand-alone booklet
by the Museum.
Currently, the information on this site is a direct extract
from this work. In the immediate future, I intend to update the information
held here to reflect knowledge that has come to light since the original
publication.
Your input is welcome. I particularly seek news and photographs
on other examples of the breed that survive today.
Peter Lewis
pvlewis@woosh.co.nz
update 10 Feb 2000
- avionics page information expanded and photographs added
update: 13 July 1999:
- construction number explanation added
update 8 July:
- preserved/museum listing updated and more photographs added
- links page started