IJN
via J. Landsdale
Aircraft History
Built by Mitsubishi, true date of assembly September 16, 1942.
Wartime
History
Abandoned at Taroa Airfied.
This A6M3 3148 along with A6M3 3318.
Recovery
Recovered by John
Sterling. After a year of
negotiation, including sleeping in the jungle for nearly 3 months to perform
the recovery of this and other Zeros: A6M3 3685, A6M3
3318, A6M2 31574 that were disassembled, crated
and shipped back to his home in Boise Idaho in May 1991. He
focused his efforts on restoring A6M3 3318 and using parts from the others
to support this.
Resale, Restoration
Later sold to the Evergreen Air Museum in Oregon. Currently
with Vintage Aircraft
Ltd in Colorado. This airframe is being used as the basis of
the restoration, with parts from A6M3 3318.
References
Thanks to Ryan Toews and Jim Lansdale for additional information.
FlyPast January 1998
article by Ron Werneth, and "The Return of japan's Legendary Zero
Fighter".
Asahi Journal Vol 1 No 2 has an interview with
John Sterling.
Zero
Dataplate
