| Place | Oceania: New Guinea1 |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | 012722 |
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white |
| Physical description | Black & white |
| Maker |
Parer, Damien Peter |
| Place made | Territory of Papua and New Guinea: Papua, Port Moresby |
| Date made | c June 1942 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
A PIECE OF JAPANESE FLYING EQUIPMENT KNOWN AS THE "BELLY TANK". THIS TANK IS USED ON THE ZERO ...
Description
A PIECE OF JAPANESE FLYING EQUIPMENT KNOWN AS THE "BELLY TANK". THIS TANK IS USED ON THE ZERO FIGHTERS. IT IS MADE OF PLY WOOD AND HOLDS ABOUT 70 GALLONS OF PETROL. THE MOUNTING ON TOP OF THE TANK IN THIS PICTURE IS A SPRING ATTACHMENT WHICH ALLOWS THE PILOT TO RELEASE THE TANK WHILE IN FLIGHT, THE SPRING THRUSTING IT CLEAR OF THE AIRCRAFT. IT IS CARRIED TO GIVE ZERO FIGHTERS A LONGER RANGE, AND IS MADE OF WOOD APPARENTLY TO SAVE BOTH WEIGHT AND PRECIOUS METAL. EXAMINING THE TANK IS 2990 FLYING OFFICER PERCY NEALE, O.C. OF AN AIR FORCE REPAIR AND SALVAGE UNIT AT A NEW GUINEA BASE.