IJN
204th Kokutai
Dave Douglass © 2007
August 1943
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 found 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 Hiyo 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 tail with '21' visible on the left side and '5' on the right side was removed, and is in a private collection in Japan.
References
Thanks to Jim Lansdale, Jim Long and Ryan Toews for additional information.
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