Pacific Wrecks
Pacific Wrecks    
  Missing In Action (MIA) Prisoners Of War (POW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)  
Chronology Locations Aircraft Ships Submit Info How You Can Help Donate
 
  A6M2 Model 21  Zero    (Wewak Harbor)
IJN
Junyō

Click For Enlargement
Justin Taylan 2003

Click For Enlargement
Click For Enlargement
Justin Taylan 2004

Aircraft History
Built by either Mitsubishi or Nakajima. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as A6M2 Model 21 Zero manufacture number unknown.

Wartime History
Assigned to either Junyō or Zuihō and operated land based from Wewak Airfield (Wirui Airfield) during January 1943 and February 1943 respectively.

Wartime History
This Zero took off from Wewak Airfield (Wirui Airfield) near Wewak and ditched into Wewak Harbor.

Likely, this A6M2 Zero ditched January 20, 1943. Other possibilities include Junyō Zeros losses while based at Wewak Airfield on January 23, 1943 including WO Saburo Kitahara KIA during an interception of B-24 Liberators or CPO Taka-aki Sato KIA after a ramming of B-24 Liberators.

Wreckage
This plane was discovered postwar and is listed on a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) hydrographic survey of Wewak Harbor. Afterwards, the plane wreck was forgotten. The wreckage consists of the cockpit section, wings and engine. The tail is missing, broken off behind the cockpit.

Justin Taylan dove the wreck in 2003:
"I dove this wreck with John Douglas whose 'wreck tecs' located it . Initially, we believed it to be a Ki-43 Oscar. At least one other person must have been to the site, as the control stick was missing. Unfortunately, poor water visibility made photography difficult. The wreck was noted in only one source, a post war Australian harbor survey, but was unknown to the local dive community today."

Justin Taylan again dove the wreck in 2004:
"Diving this wreck a year later, in better visibility lead to a new discovery.  This aircraft is not an Oscar, but rather a A6M2 Zero, after careful study of the cockpit canopy, seat, engine cowl and other features, there is no doubt about this."

Luca Ruffato adds:
"The pilot for the tail-less reisen at Wewak could be Lt(jg) Watanabe Torio (67-ki) had a mishap during the very first morning routine CAP from Wewak; on landing he was seriously wounded (a/c written off?)."

References
Kodochosho Junyo Kōkūtai - January 17, 1943–February 24, 1943
Thanks to John Douglas and Luca Ruffato for additional information

Contribute Information
Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned?
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
March 29, 2022

 

Tech Info
Zero

Photos
Photo Archive

SCUBA
30'
  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram