IJN
281st Kokutai
Justin Taylan 2004
Pilot History
Postwar, one of its former pilots served as an attache to the
Japanese Embassy in Washington DC.
Aircraft History
Built by Mitsubishi at Nagoya, estimated date of assembly October 1943. Parts from A6M5 Zero 4241 were used in the main body
of the aircraft, revealing the frantic pace of production.
Wartime History
Served in Rabaul. After the war, it was abandoned at its former
airstrip.
Recovery
The main wing and fuselage was recovered from Rabaul in 1974, and exported to Japan.
Restoration
This Zero was restored by Nobuo
Harada. Parts from other
Zeros wrecks from Colonia Airfield on Yap were used to restore this aircraft to static
display. The project took 20 years of restoration (1980-2000).
Dispaly
After restoration, this aircraft was displayed at the Kawaguchiko
Car Museum until 2002. Harada donated the aircraft
to Yasukuni
Jinja Yushukan (Yasukuni Shrine) Museum in Tokyo.
References
Thanks to Yukitoshi for additional information.
Note: Other sources list the manufacture number of this Zero as 4240, which is incorrect.
Zero
