The Descriptive Finding Guide for the Mitsubishi Zero-Special Collection. SDASM.SC.10100
Alan Renga
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
2/2/2016
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego 92101
Business Number: (619) 234-8291
Fax Number: (619) 233-4525
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
.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open to the public by appointment.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Preferred Citation
[Item], [Collection Name], Archives, San Diego Air & Space Museum
Biographical / Historical
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.
Scope and Contents
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.
Related Materials
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
SERIES I: Painting Information
Folder 1: Print-Decals-Placards
Physical Description: 1. Tracing for Zero 2. Zero marking details 3. Serial numbers of Zeros held by Australian War Museum 4. Picture: Main data
placard 5. Photocopies: Data placard information (4 copies) 6. Picture: Forward fuselage decal (b+w) 7. Picture: Decal (Right)
8. Picture: Data placard/decal (b+w) 9. Picture: Decal (Right, 936) 10. Picture: Decal (Right, 936) 11. Picture: Decal (Right,
8, 2) 12. Picture: Decal (Right, 936) 13. Picture: Decal 14. Envelope: Picture Negatives
Folder 2: Painting Information
Physical Description: 1. Note of paint details, 5-5-82 2. Correspondence: To Mr. Timmothy Cunningham from National Air & Space Museum, January 25,
1983 3. Correspondence: To National Air & Space Museum from Timmothy Cunningham, November 21, 1983 4. Correspondence: To Timmothy
Cunningham from National Air & Space Museum, October 24, 1983 5. Photocopy: Important paint information for Zero 6. Photocopies:
Paint decals (2 pages) 7. Folder: Painting restoration guidelines 8. Envelope: Japanese decals for instrument panels 9. Envelope:
Photos-Zero engine on display (2 photos) 10. Envelope: Zero decal information 11. Paper-Decal paint information
Folder 3: Decals
Physical Description: 1. Envelope: Original markings and part inside cockpit section 2. Envelope: Uncovered manufacturers fuselage identification
stenciling
SERIES II: Drawings and Manuals
Folder 4: Zero engine Nakajima-Sakae 21-31 painting instructions + specifications
Physical Description: 1. Notes: Paint data for A6M7 engine (2 pages) 2. Photo: Engine (b+w) 3. Photo: Engine (b+w) 4. Photo: Carburetor of Nakajima
"Irvings" Sakae 21 Engine(s) 5. Photo: Carburetor of Nakajima "Irvings" Sakae 21 Engine(s) 6. Photo: Carburetor of Nakajima
"Irvings" Sakae 21 Engine(s) 7. Photocopy: Zero engine (b+w) 8. Photo: Zero engine (b+w) 9. Photo: Zero engine (b+w) 10. Photo:
Macro-etched section of intake and exhaust valves (b+w) 11. Photo: Propeller (b+w) 12. Picture: Photocopies of fuel pump disassembly
and machine gun synchronizer (b+w) 13. Picture: Photocopy of crankshaft, propeller shaft, and disassembly of cylinder section
(b+w) 14. Photo: Zero engine 15. Card: Engine paint sample
Folder 5: Zero engine Nakajima-Sakae 21 Engine Manual
Physical Description: 1. Photocopies: Translated manual, Operation data and limit (2 copies) 2. Photocopy: Generator specifications 3. Packet: Engine
manual photos (13 photos)
Folder 6: Zero engine Nakajima-Sakae 21 Engine Part Photos
Physical Description: 1. Photo: Two men working on engine 2. Photo: Engine part 3. Photo: Engine part 4. Photo: Engine 5. Photocopies: Engine and
engine parts (5 pages) 6. Card: Identification and serial numbers for A6M7
Folder 7: Engine Drawings and Photos
Physical Description: 1. Envelope: Photos of ending being mounted (5 photos, b+w) 2. Photo: Non-scale drawing of engine component, AFT Bulkhead
for decal placement 3. Envelope: Engine restoration photos (5 photos) 4. Photo: Engine disassembled 5. Photo: Engine assembled
(b+w) 6. Photo: Engine part 7. Photo: Engine
Folder 8: Engine Manual Log, Progress Report
Physical Description: 1. Photocopy: Progress report on Sakae-21 engine 2. Photocopies: Translated manual, operation data and limit (2 copies) 3. Photocopy:
Correspondence to Mr. Douglas Vernon from Katsushi Owaki 4. Engine log book
Folder 9: Photos and Drawing of Propeller and Spinner
Physical Description: 1. Envelope: Picture of propeller blade 2. Envelope: Spinner assembly picture, agreement, paper cut-outs
Folder 10: Gun and Mounting
Physical Description: 1. Envelope: Gun mount photos (5 photos) 2. Envelope: Ammunition box (wing) restoration (1 photo) 3. Photocopy: Drawing of
gun mounts 4. Tracings (2 pages) 5. Envelope: Slides, photos, correspondence regarding Zero fighter guns 6. Photocopy: Information
on the machine gun (2 pages) 7. Photo: Gun mount(?) (b+w) 8. Correspondence: To Douglas Vernon from Royal Air Force Museum,
February 1982 9. Photocopy: Information on gun mounts, Intelligence Report 10. Photocopy: Progress report on "Browning" machine
gun 11. Photocopy: Gun information 12. Page from manual, gun mount information 13. Photo: Gun mount (b+w) 14. Photocopy" Armament
information (5 pages) 15. Photocopy: Sketches-Gun information 16. Original sketch: Gun information (2 pages) 17. Photocopy:
Gun information drawing 18. Photocopy: Gun information drawing 19. Manual: Gun and mounting information (German)
Folder 11: Cockpit Information
Physical Description: 1. Folder: Correspondence (1), drawings (2), and photos (12) regarding cockpit 2. Envelope: Photos of cockpit (12 photos)
3. Photocopies of cockpit pictures (3 pages) 4. Notes and sketches of decal in cockpit (1 page) 5. Photocopies: Cockpit controls
(2 pages) 6. Photocopy: Cockpit control setup 7. Sketch of translation for fuel valves 8. Correspondence: To Timmothy Cunningham
from Katsushi Owaki, June 1981 9. Photocopy: Correspondence to Doug and George, 1974 10. Photocopy: Cockpit control 11. Photocopy:
Cockpit control setup (2 copies) 12. Photocopy: Correspondence to Douglas Vernon from Katsushi Owaki (2 copies) 13. Photocopy
of sketch 14. Photocopy: Correspondence to Doug and George, 1974 15. Photocopy: Cockpit controls 16. Correspondence: To Doug
and George (2 pages) 17. Photocopy of drawing and notes 18. Photocopy of drawing and notes 19. Photocopy: Cockpit controls
20. Photocopy: Cockpit controls 21. Envelope: Photos of cockpit seat (3 photos) 22. Correspondence: To Robert C. Mikesh from
Timmothy Cunningham, National Air & Space Museum, April 20, 1983 23. Envelope: Photos of cockpit (19 photos)
SERIES II: Drawings, Manuals, Photos, Misc Information
Folder 1: Mitsubishi Tech Manual for Zero
Physical Description: 1. Original tech manual for A6M5m A6M5 C, A6M7, and A6M6
2. Drawing: Unknown section of A6M7-63, Zero-Sen
3. Photocopy: Correspondence to Doug Vernon from Ryu Hatano
Box 3 of 7
Physical Description: 1. Book: Japanese collection of Zero-type aircraft drawings with dimensions and labels
2. San Diego Air & Space Museum A6M7 Zero Structural Repair Manual
Box 4 of 7
Physical Description: 1. Envelope: Photos of Chino Museum Planes (16 photos, 15 slides, negatives)
2. Envelope: Photos-Smithsonian photos of A6M7 (33 photos)
1. Envelope: Photos of Chino Museum Planes (16 photos, 15 slides, negatives)
2. Envelope: Photos-Smithsonian photos of A6M7 (33 photos)
Folder 1: Restoration Guides
Physical Description: 1. Binder: Restoration guidelines for Mitsubishi A6M7 Zero-Sen, Model 52 2. Envelope: Photo of A6M7-63 Zero restoration crew
(1 photo, b+w) 3. Photo: Kioshi Ohka, Former Imperial Japanese Navy pilot, tech advisor for Zero project (1 photo) 4. Photo:
Volunteer restoration crew (1 photo, b+w) 5. Binder: Zero restoration guidelines from National Air & Space Museum 6. Notebook:
Zero restoration log book from Bradly Museum 7. Binder: Zero restoration guide with loose pages of drawings, specifications,
and notes
Folder 2: Volunteer Names on Zero Project
Physical Description: 1. Envelope: Miscellaneous negatives of project and museum 2. Original and photocopied lists of volunteer names
Folder 3: Restoration Report
Physical Description: 1. Binder: Zero work log record 2. Binder: Restoration Report 3. Folder: Lists of missing parts 4. Binder: Zero A6M7 record-Restoration
deviations and modifications
Folder 1: Fabric Specifications
Physical Description: 1. Correspondence to Timmothy Cunningham from Gary Cline, National Air & Space Museum 2. Envelope: Rib stitching information
for Zero A6M7 and other Japanese Aircraft, Correspondence and photocopied handwritten guide 3. Envelope: Photos of A6M7-63
wing restoration (21 photos)
Folder 2: Wing Specifications
Physical Description: 1. Papers: Handwritten and photocopied notes and sketches (5 pages) 2. Photos: Wing restoration (68 photos= 39 b+w, 29 color)
3. Envelope: Photos of A6M7-63 Zero control surface covering stitching techniques (11 photos b+w)
Folder 3: Tail Restoration
Physical Description: 1. Envelope: Photos of A6M7-63 tail section restoration (7 photos) 2. Photocopy: Tail dimensions 3. Photos: Tail restorations
(6 photos= 3 color, 3 b+w)
Folder 4: Fuselage Restoration
Physical Description: 1. Photos of restoration (13 photos=5 color, 8 b+w)
Folder 5: Zero Tail Identification Number
Physical Description: 1. Photocopies of pictures and identifiers (4 pages)
Folder 6: Translation Assistance
Physical Description: 1. Drawings, photocopies, notes, and correspondence translating specifications, dimensions, and identifiers (43 loose papers,
6 stapled packets) 2. Envelope: Photos of A6M7-63 interior section of fuselage restoration (1 photo) 3. Envelope: Photos of
A6M7-63 cowling and fuselage restoration (8 photos) 4. Envelope: Photos of A6M7-63 fuselage (10 photos= 5 color, 5 b+w) 5. Envelope:
Photos of A6M7-63 wing section and components (45 photos=41 color, 4 b+w) 6. Envelope: photos of A6M7-63 tail group (5 photos=3
color, 2 b+w) 7. Envelope: Photos of Zero Project A6M7-63 wing and fuselage sections (11 photos) 8. Envelope: Photos of A6M7-63
engine oil cooler, air intake and engine components, and engine cowl flaps (7 photos) 9. Envelope: Photos of A6M7-63 top rear
cowl area and fire wall interior (2 photos)
Folder 7: Weight and Balance Specifications
Physical Description: 1. Written and typed specifications (3 pages)
1. Zero tech manual for A6M2 through A6M7
Folder 1: Misc
Physical Description: 1. Binder: Zero parts identification 2. Parts: Landing gear indicator light bulbs 3. Envelope: Photos of A6M7-63 proofs of
various parts of aircraft prior to restoration (9 photos) 4. Instruction placard (Japanese)
Folder 1: Tires and Wheels for Zero, Original
Physical Description: 1. Photos: Wheel farring (15 photos, b+w, negatives, and sketch) 2. Envelope: Photo of A6M7-63 tail wheel restoration (1 photo)
3. Photocopies, sketch of tires and wheels (8 pages) 4. Envelope: Photos of original Zero wheels and tires (22 photos and
negatives) 5. Photos: Wheels and tires (4 photos, b+w) 6. Envelope: Photos of A6M7-63 landing gear including tail wheel (3
slides, 3 photos)
Folder 2: Zero Instruments
Physical Description: 1. Correspondence: Typed and photocopied lists of instrument dimensions and parts (8 pages) 2. Sketch of A6M7-63 Zero various
control cable systems 3. Sketch of A6M7-63 Zero hydraulics system 4. Original and photocopied drawings and sketches of A6M7-63
Zero electric systems (22 pages) 5. Notebook: Partial electrical wiring diagram drawings
Folder 3: Fuel System
Physical Description: 1. Envelope: Photo of A6M7-63 centerline bomb/fuel tank shackle and fuel line (1 photo) 2. Envelope: Photos of A6M7-63 after
canopy and fuel tank restoration (1 photo, 1 photocopied sketch) 3. Photocopies: Diagrams of fuel system (3 pages) 4. Envelope:
A6M7-63 Zero miscellaneous negatives of parts and sections 5. Envelope: Photos of A6M5-52 Chino aircraft, various sections
of landing gear (8 photos) 6. Envelope: Photos of A6M7-63 landing gear and wheel well restoration (4 photos)
Folder 4: Zero Landing Gear
Physical Description: 1. Photocopy of landing gear diagram 2. Handwritten notes on wheel casting 3. Photos (10 photos, negatives) 4. Written note
on generator specifications 5. Photos (7 photos) 6. Typed and written notes on landing gear cover 7. Parts-Tapered pin for
horizontal stabilizers
