Zero Fighter Pilots

Imperial Japanese naval fighter pilots, their aircraft and their war.

[hw97karbine @hw97karbine]

Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero fighters among Japanese aircraft in various states of disrepair captured by US forces on Aslito field on Saipan in June 1944

Hat tip @shermanfannr1

[Zero Fighter Pilots @ZeroFighterP]

An early production Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero Model 21 from the Konoike Kokutai. Note the number “06” on the lower part of the wing, which might indicate the tail code “コウ-106”.
#zerofighter #零戦 #a6m2 #a6mzero #mitsubishizero

[Zero Fighter Pilots @ZeroFighterP]

A6M3 Zero Model 32 reconstructed at Eagle Farm Airfield, Queensland, Australia, using components from at least three Zeros captured at Buna Airfield between late December 1942 and early January 1943.
Photo: via Peter Dunn
#zerofighter #零戦 #a6m3 #a6mzero #mitsubishizero

[Zero Fighter Pilots @ZeroFighterP]

A6M2-K Zero two-seater trainers lined up on the apron of Tsukuba Air Base.
Photo: Tsukuba Ku Memorial Museum
#zerofighter #零戦 #a6m2 #a6mzero #mitsubishizero

[Zero Fighter Pilots @ZeroFighterP]

Nakajima-built A6M2 Zero Model 21s of the 203 Kokutai, probably photographed in the northern Kuriles, where the main force of the unit was deployed for air-defense duties in the spring of 1944. Note the fuselage stripe on the Zero at right, likely indicating a shotaicho aircraft.

[マキシマム ザ おでん @MAXIMUM_ODEN]

昨年5月に初飛行したA6M3。この零式艦上戦闘機三二型はレジェンド･フライヤー社がリバースエンジニアリングで組み立てた新造機。製造数340機程度の希少モデルであり、80年ぶりに飛行する姿は美しい。

[Zero Fighter Pilots @ZeroFighterP]

A6M2 tied down on the deck of Akagi at Hitokappu Bay, prior to departing for the attack on Pearl Harbor. Note the number applied to the lower engine cowling and the counterbalance weight on the aileron, a temporary retrofit applied through airframe No. 326.
Photo: via M. Petrov

[黒川健史 @ta_kurokawa]

【お仕事情報】ファインモールド 1/72 零式艦上戦闘機三二型の箱絵を描かせていただきました！
キットの詳細はコチラです！https://t.co/O9xekO1c6H
よろしくお願いします。

[Zero Fighter Pilots @ZeroFighterP]

@ta_kurokawa Awesome!!

[Zero Fighter Pilots @ZeroFighterP]

@hw97karbine Wow!

[Zero Fighter Pilots @ZeroFighterP]

An A6M3 Zero Model 32 landing on the aircraft carrier Zuikaku during naval exercises, 1942. Note that immediately after being caught by the arresting wire, the remaining wires are knocked down.

[Zero Fighter Pilots @ZeroFighterP]

The first official photograph of the Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero Model 11, released by the Japanese Navy Ministry in August 1941.
Credits: Maru via The Sankei Shimbun

[Zero Fighter Pilots @ZeroFighterP]

A brand-new A6M5a Zero Model 52 Ko on a ferry flight from Nakajima’s Koizumi plant, with Mount Fuji in the background. Note the wooden 300-liter drop tank fitted with stabilizing fins, the absence of wing armament, and the temporary tail markings.

[マキシマム ザ おでん @MAXIMUM_ODEN]

A6M2 零戦デモンストレーション - ニューガーデンエアショー。マーク・マーフィーが三菱 A6M2 零戦を使って、美しい曲技飛行を披露！現在飛行可能な5機以下の零戦のうちの1機であり、この機体はプラット・アンド・ホイットニーのエンジンを搭載している。

[Zero Fighter Pilots @ZeroFighterP]

IJN pilot Sumio Nakagawa in front of an A6M2 Model 21. Assigned to the Kamikaze Special Attack Corps during the final stages of the Pacific War, Nakagawa was unable to carry out his suicide mission before the end of hostilities and survived the war.
Photo: Asahi Shimbun website

[Zero Fighter Pilots @ZeroFighterP]

@KenYauchi8892 Wow, that’s a special memory!

[Zero Fighter Pilots @ZeroFighterP]

Planes of Fame’s A6M5 Zero flying low at Ryugasaki Airfield, Japan, in 1995. The aircraft toured Japan alongside one of the museum’s P-51s, brought over to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of WWII. This is the only airworthy Zero powered by its original Sakae engine.

[Zero Fighter Pilots @ZeroFighterP]

A6M2 Zero Model 21s aboard IJN carrier Akagi two days prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. The aircraft in the foreground, “AI-105,” was assigned to shotaicho FPO 1/c Kikue Otokuni as part of the second-wave strike force. In the background is “AI-101.”

[Zero Fighter Pilots @ZeroFighterP]

A shotai of A6M2 Model 21s belonging to the 3rd Kokutai flying low over Kendari Airfield on the southeastern coast of Celebes Island (Netherlands East Indies), 1942. The lead aircraft carries tail code “X-146,” while the Zero at right is “X-149.”
Photo: Shoichi Tanaka

[Zero Fighter Pilots @ZeroFighterP]

Credits: https://t.co/0rNvaxBRJY

[Zero Fighter Pilots @ZeroFighterP]

Lt(jg) Saburo Abe in the cockpit of his A6M5 Zero. He flew his first combat missions under the tutelage of legendary fighter ace Tetsuzo Iwamoto. On 15 August 1945, serving with the 252 Ku, Abe took part in one of the final air engagements of WWII.