IJN
582nd Kokutai
3rd Hikotai
September 1945
Fred Waldron 1953
Peter
Flahavin 2002
Michael Claringbould 2006
Aircraft History
Built by Mitsubishi, estimated date of assembly July 1943.
Wartime
History
Damaged
during the American bombardment preceding the landings at Torokina on November 1, 1943.
Hidden & Repair
This Zero was dispersed at Kara Airfield for eighteen months, until Japanese
at the airfield decided to repair the plane as a morale boosting exercise
for the personnel in the area, who were otherwise cut off, and without
aircraft to fly or service. With spare parts they had repaired the plane
by July 1945. Petty Officer Sekizen Shibayama, was flown down from Rabaul in an E16A Jake. His instructions
were to test-fly the Zero and ferry it back to Rabaul.
The war ended before this happened.
Phil Bradley adds:
"The story goes that it was assigned to fly a bombing / kamikaze
mission but the ground crew delayed the work so the war ended before
the mission was flown. When they restored the plane they found a
poem written inside the gun compartment. I have pictures of various
other bits and pieces on display next to the aircraft pilot's
gear etc.
RNZAF Takes Interest
After the end of hostilities, rumors of the Zero's existence
had come to the attention of RNZAF intelligence officers, who traveled
from Piva Yoke Airfield on September
14, 1945 to inspect the aircraft.
Ferry Flight to Piva
The Japanese ran the engine for the New Zealanders, who
required the plane grounded. Wing Commander W.R.Kofoed, took an interest
in the plane and despite orders of the contrary, he with an engineering
officer, C.D. Kingsford flew to Kara Airfield in a RAAF 5 Squadron Wirraway on September 15 to personally fly this Zero to Piva. Two 200-litre drums
of fuel were produced and hand-pumped into the aircraft; and after a
further tune-up, he took off and made the 32-minute flight north-west
to Piva Yoke Airfield without incident, but with undercarriage locked down for the
entire flight. The Zero was painted in surrender markings: overall white with green crosses, and a black cowl.
Curiosity at Piva
Back at Piva, the plane was a curiosity to crews who most of
which had not seen any Japanese aircraft before up close. The engine
was run-up several times but not flown. The inter-island ferry steamer Wahine was
chartered to repatriate RNZAF personnel, including this Zero. Transported to New Zealand. Departing on
October 15, 1945, it arrived at Auckland on five days later.
Storage in New Zealand
Next, it was taken by barge to Hobsonville Airfield. Assigned serial number NZ6000, and remained in storage and only occasionally displayed thought the 1950's.
Donated to the Auckland War Memorial Museum where it remains to this day. In 1995 the Zero underwent extensive restoration at the museum, and is today displayed in at the "Scars on the Heart", exhibit, opened in 1997.
References
Pacific Aircraft Wrecks page 20 (upper)
Zero
Photo Archive
Identity
by Peter Lewis
