Aircraft History
Built by Mitsubishi, estimated date of assembly December 1942. Assigned to the 204 Kōkūtai with tail code T2-157.
Wartime
History
Operated from either Kahili Airfield (Buin) or Kara Airfield (Toripoil). Disabled or abandoned at the airfield.
Wreckage
Portions of this Zero remained in situ until at least the late 1970s. The tail section of this aircraft remained in situ. The left stabilizer remained intact, the rudder was missing. The right stabalizer was cut off. Manufacture number 3353 was visible the intact stabilizer. The tail had traces of gray paint on the lower surfaces.
Salvage
During the late 1970s, the tail section was salvaged from the airfield and shipped to Japan. At some point, "J50" was painted on the right side of the tail, vertically in green paint. Possibly, this was an associated with its export or shipment.
Storage
Purchased or acquired by a collector in Japan. The tail was deriveted and deskinned and is in storage. A piece of the exterior skin from the upper tail with '21' visible on the left side and '5' on the right side is part of a private collection in Japan.
References
Thanks to Ryan Toews for additional information
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Last Updated
November 9, 2019
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