Japanese single engine fighter aircraft Mitsubishi A6M2 Reisen (Zero fighter). This specific ...

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Accession Number P00448.163
Collection type Photograph
Object type Black & white
Physical description Black & white
Conflict Period 1940-1949
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

Japanese single engine fighter aircraft Mitsubishi A6M2 Reisen (Zero fighter). This specific aircraft was known by a number of names including: "Aleutian Zero", "Alaska Zero", “Akutan Zero”, and "Koga’s Zero". Flown by Petty Officer Tadayoshi Koga, it was brought down during a diversionary raid conducted prior to the Battle of Midway in 1942. The crashed aircraft was recovered, 5 weeks later, from Akutan Island by the United States Navy and then transported to Naval Air Station North Island (near San Diego). It was repaired, and then flown, to assess its flight performance against other American fighter aircraft. As part of the aircrafts repairs it was painted with standard United States markings which can be seen in this photograph.