The most famous Japanese fighter aircraft of World War Two, the Mitsubishi A6M Zero was the most advanced carrier fighter in the world when it was introduced.

The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was the first Japanese Navy aircraft that was superior to the land based fighter aircraft of its enemies. The maneuverability and long range of the aircraft were unique at the time. For most of the Pacific War it was the only Japanese Navy fighter aircraft.

It was observed of captured Mitsubishi A6M Zero aircraft that their quality was similar to the high quality of American aircraft. This surprised many Americans who regarded anything made in Japan as inferior.

The Pratt & Whitney logo was displayed on the Nakajima engine powering the aircraft.

Its pilots were able to clear their 7.7 mm machine guns if they jammed because the butts of the guns were partially in the aircraft cockpits

Only two of the aircraft still fly. One performs in air shows and displays at the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, CA. The other is with the Confederate Air Force in Midland, TX.

When a Mitsubishi A6M Zero made a forced landing in the Aleutians on June 3, 1942, its pilot died when the aircraft flipped over. However, the aircraft survived mostly intact. It was studied extensively by the Americans. This had the effect of greatly contributed to their understanding of how to defeat the aircraft in combat with the Japanese.

On December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the Japanese had over 400 of the aircraft in service. It led the Japanese raids on all enemy locations.

By the end of the war more Mistubishi A6M Zero fighters had been built by Japan than any other type of aircraft. Counting all types of the aircraft, including fighters, sea planes and trainers, a total of 10,938 were produced.


Flying the Mitsubishi A6M Zero:

Japanese Ace Saburo Sakai revealed the following about his Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter:

Maximum level flight speed: 309 mph

Maximum dive speed: 350 mph

At over 275 mph the controls were extremely heavy.

The aircraft was impossible to roll when it was nearing maximum dive speed.

The skin on the wings wrinkled with age.

Many of the aircraft lost their wings while diving.

The strength of the aircraft was its ability to out turn its early war opponents at slower speeds in level flight. It was also was able to out climb most of its early war years adversaries.

The success of the Flying Tigers in their encounters with the Mitsubishi A6M Zero was because they used the strengths of their aircaft rather than trying to engage in World War I type dog fights.

Specifications
Primary Function:         Crew:         Engine:         Power:         Machine Guns:         Cannons:         Bombs:         Weight Empty:         Max. Weight:         Length:         Wingspan:         Cruise Speed:         Max. Level Speed:         Max. Dive Speed:         Initial Climb:         Ceiling:         Range:         First Flight:         Year Deployed:	fighter/bomber one Nakajima NK1C 1,130 hp 2- 13.2 mm 2- 20 mm 2- 132 lbs. ea. 4,140 lbs. 6,025 lbs. 29' 9" 36' 1" 215 mph 320 mph 350 mph 3,150 fpm 37,500 feet 1,200 miles 4/1/39 1940