Aircraft History
Built by Mitsubishi, either A6M3 Zero 3415 (built in early January 1943) or A6M3 Zero 3499 (built in late February 1943). Assigned to the 204th Kokutai, with tail number T2-17? (last digit unknown). The upper surfaces were painted dark green in the field, and hinomaru on the fuselage and wings outlined in a white border.

Wartime History
Likely force landed at Munda Airfield. Captured by the U. S. Army at the airfield in early August 1943, the Zero's propeller was bent, possibly indicating a force landing, but with otherwise complete.

Wreckage
The exact identity of this aircraft is unknown, as two A6M3 Model 22 Zeros were captured: 3415 and 3499, one being this aircraft.

Afterwards, it was moved into a pile with other Japanese wreckage and photographed in this pile sometime between August 8-11, 1943. A gash broke the fuselage through the hinomaru, separating the tail, also some shrapnel damaged was present on the fuselage and cowling and canopy glass was missing.

Loaded onto a landing barge at Munda, it was transported by ship to Lunga Point on Guadalcanal. Guarded by Private Clarence Robertson of Tulsa, OK.

The forward section of this Zero was photographed in conversation with guard Private Clarence Robertson. when Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt visited Guadalcanal on September 17, 1943. Also, YANK camera man Sgt John A. Bushemi recorded the scene on color film, used the newsreel "Eleanor Roosevelt Visits Guadalcanal".

It is unclear what happened to this Zero next.

References
Thanks to Ryan Toews for Zero model identification
Japanese Naval Air Force Camouflage and Markings, World War II, p116
YANK "Eleanor Roosevelt Visits Guadalcanal"

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

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