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Aircraft History
This aircraft's manufacture number was either 3116 or 3189. This Zero was painted gray with a black cowl, also a red vertical stripe rear of the fuselage hinomaru. and 'T2 157' in small figures high on the tail.
Ryan Toews adds:
"It may be possible to narrow down what the serial number of T2 157 actually was. CEAR #17 lists six Type 32s as being foundt on Munda. The serial number would have to be either 3116 or 3189 as only these two planes could have been both manufactured and delivered before 4 October. According to Hata and Izawa, the Hiyō left Japan for the Solomons on the October 4, 1942. Given that date, the serial number would have to be either 3116 or 3189 as only these two planes could have been both manufactured and delivered before 4 October."
Wartime History
Based at Munda Airfield. It was abandoned there, with the right wing missing (burned off). Captured when American forces liberated the Munda area in early August 1943.
Wreckage
Reportedly, salvaged by barge for technical evaluation.
A piece of the exterior skin from the upper tail with '21' visible on the left side and '5' on the right side was removed during the war. Today, it is part of a private collection in Japan.
References
Thanks to Jim Lansdale, Jim Long and Ryan Toews for additional information.
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Last Updated
November 3, 2009
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