IJN
261st Kokutai
July 1944
1944
NASM
Via Bob Rocker
Aircraft History
Built by Mitsubishi, estimated date of assembly December 1943. Assigned to the 261st Kokutai.
Wartime History
Deployed to Saipan along prior to the Battle of the Marianas (Battle of the Philippine Sea). Captured at Aslito Field on Saipan in
June 1944. Its right stabalizer was missing when captured.
One of twelve aircraft (plus spare engines) shipped to the US aboard the USS Copahee in July 1944 along with A6M5 1303, A6M5 5357, A6M5 5350 and this aircraft.
War
Prize & Evaluation
One of twelve aircraft (plus spare engines) shipped to the US aboard
the USS Copahee in July 1944 along with A6M5 4340, A6M5 1303, A6M5 5350, A6M2 5352, A6M5 5357.
TAIC identified the plane as TAIC 7, later to be known as FE-130 and T2-130 when turned over to the U. S. Army Air Forces test organization at Wright Field. At one time it had the name "Tokyo Rose" on its engine cowling, the number 4340 in large numerals on the left side of the aft fuselage, a simple "V" shaped marking on its fin, T.A.I.C. 7 on its fin above the "V" shaped marking, and the number "12" on its rudder.
Later, the TAIC marking was removed and a large "V" marking somewhat resembling the emblem the 68th Hikou Sentai applied on the tail. The number "12" remained but was partially covered by the lower arm of the tail marking. A white band with red trim was added to the aft fuselage, as seen in your picture. The spinner and the cowling flaps were red.
Display
Restored to static diplay, it is displayed at the National
Air & Space
Museum in the WWII gallery, 2nd Floor. Painted with tail marking: 61-131, this marking was not the marking it carried in Japanese service.
At the time of restoration, the NASM did not know the correct tail marking, so they arbitrarily chose one of the markings seen in photos of A6M5s captured at Saipan. Later research indicates that the tail marking might have been 61-108.
References
Thanks to Jim Lansdale additional information
Thanks to Jim Long for estimated date of assembly
"Airpower" March 1977 by Robert Mikesh provides a story of the capture, its trip to the States, some history of its activities with the TAIC and the Wright Field evaluation unit, and later restoration of the plane by NASM.
