Mission History
This Zero escorted G4M1 Betty bombers, then dove down in a group of four fighters to strafe 7-Mile Drome. Damaged by machine gun fire from the ground, it crashed at Morris Hill, near Bootless Bay. After the crash, the hill was renamed 'Zero Hill'.

War Diary 1942, March 23, 1942:
"One Zero crashed on Morris Hill after being shot down by fire from machine gun post.  Another A6M2 seen trailing white smoke at low level."

Wreckage
The crash scattered wreckage over a large area. ATIU did investigate the site, and assigned the wreckage SWPA Technical Reference AD 2, but failed to find any manufacture number in the wreckage.

Justin Taylan adds:
"I looked for this wreckage atop "Zero Hill" in October 2007. I failed to find any trace, aside for spectacular views from the summit."

References
War Diary 1942, March 23, 1942
"SWPA Technical References to Inspected Enemy Airplanes" ATIU, September 27, 1943, page 2

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009