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Mitsubishi Zero-Special Collection.
SDASM.SC.10100
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Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: The Mitsubishi Zero-Special Collection
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10100
Physical Description:
2.5 Cubic Feet
This collection consists of 7 boxes containing materials used to restore the A6M7 on display at the San Diego Air and Space
Museum.
Date: 1990
Abstract: This collection contains materials used to restore the San Diego Air and Space Museum's A6M7 Mitsubishi Type Zero. Some materials
include painting information, such as colors and decal placement, engine specifications, building manuals, guns and mounting,
cockpit information, and correspondence between restorators and manufacturers.
Language of Material:
English
.
This collection is open to the public by appointment.
For copyright and use restrictions please consult the library director.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection of materials was donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
[Item], [Collection Name], Archives, San Diego Air & Space Museum
The Japanese Mitsubishi Navy Type Zero Carrier-Based Fighter or better known as Type Zero Fighter, or Rei-sen (Reisen), was
a single-seat monoplane fighter that came to represent Japanese Imperial forces during World War II. It was the staple fighter
plane of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and initially was able to out-fly American fighter planes at the time. It was built
in response to a 1937 IJN spec that called for a carrier-based fighter, which was fast, armed with cannon, as maneuverable
as the Claude, had long range, and climbed quickly.
Armed with two 7.7 mm machine guns and two 20mm cannon, it was considered "heavily armed" at its introduction in 1940. In
late 1940, the Zeros dominated the skies over China, with claims for 59 Chinese aircraft destroyed against no losses. This
trend continued into 1941, as the Zeros decimated the Chinese opposition, shooting down 45, with only two lost to anti-aircraft
fire. The fighter was a success and when introduced to America and Britain at Pearl Harbor in 1941, it shocked and terrified
the Allies with its surprising effectiveness.
However, the Zero's lightness was both positive and negative, and while the light weight aided the plane's maneuverability,
it also meant that the Zero could not absorb a lot of battle damage or dive as fast as its heavier American opponents. Also,
the lightweight Zero was optimized for low altitude (below 15,000 feet) combat; above that altitude, its controls were less
responsive. "Defensive" features, like armor-plating, parachutes, and self-sealing gas tanks were considered not worth the
extra weight. As experience showed, the Zero was a flying incendiary. With the right hit at the gas tank, and the whole aircraft
would explode.
The Zero was often used for kamikaze, or suicide, missions that inflicted some of the most severe damage of the war on the
U.S. Navy. Loaded with explosives and manned by pilots willing to lose their lives for their country, the Zero became a flying
bomb aimed at American ships. The Zero was used in nearly 2,000 kamikaze attacks before Japan finally surrendered to bring
down the curtain on the war in the Pacific.
At the time of Pearl Harbor there were only 420 Zeros active in the Pacific. The carrier borne Model 21 was the type encountered
by the Americans, often much further from its carriers than expected, with a mission range of over 1600 miles. They were superior
to all current Allied fighters in the Pacific and remained unchallenged until early 1943; although in competent hands, the
Zero was deadly until the end of the war. Because of their reputation and ease of manufacture the Zero remained in production
until the end, with over 11,000 of all types produced.
Description: This collection consists of 7 boxes containing materials used to restore the A6M7 on display at the San Diego
Air and Space Museum.
Content notes: Materials in the collection include painting information, engine specifications, manuals, and correspondences.
Much of the collection is in Japanese.
Mitsubishi Zero subject files
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Mitsubishi A6M Reisen (Zero Fighter) Zeke (Ben, Ray) Family
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Pacific Area
Airplanes -- Conservation and restoration