IJN
261st Kokutai

July 1944

via Bennie Williams 1945

John Holuk, 1945


Mike Wilson, 1981


Jim Lansdale, 1993


Jim Lansdale, 1993

Aircraft History
Built by Nakajima, estimated date of assembly April, 1944. This Zero was the 303rd A6M5 assembled by Nakajima.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 261st Kokutai. Captured at Aslito Airfield on Saipan during June 1944.

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.

Assigned designation TAIC 11 that was stenciled on the tail. Also, "Technical Air Intelligence" on the right side of the cockpit. Tested in the United States. One of the test pilots was W. D. Blocher.

Reportedly ground looped at an airfield near Atlanta (possibly NAS Atlanta), and suffered landing gear damage at some point during its testing, and was left resting on the lower fuselage at an Atlanta area airfield in 1945. After the war the Zero was apparently put up for sale or disposed as scrap.

Atlanta Zero
Later, purchased as surplus by John Elliot, Sr. His son, John H. Elliot, Jr. later aquired it and displayed it at J. H. Elliot Antiques. Also, a seat, 7.7mm machine gun and a cannon that were supposed to have come from the Zero. Visitors were allowed to see the Zero for $2.00 admission. It was displayed until at least the middle 1980s. This Zero has been incorrectly described as the 'Alaska Zero' A6M2 4593 or A6M5 5350.

World Jet
This Zero was purchased around 1991/1992 by R. D. Whittington of World Jet Inc. It was moved to their possession in 1993, and stored in a hanger with the tail section removed. Originally, they intended to restore the Zero, but found the Zero had been previously cut into pieces and spliced back together with screws and galvanized tin metal sheets. The interior was held together with a welded iron re-bar. The main spar crystallized. The Sakae engine could be restored. The tail cone, landing gear and all instruments were missing.

Flying Heritage Collection
Most recently in 2001, it was sold again to Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Collection. That museum plans to restore it to fly. Presently, it is unrestored and not on public display. It is FAA registered as N1303 by Vulcan Warbrids, Inc.

References
Thanks to Jim Long, Jim Lansdale and Dave Pluth for additional info.
Air Classics, November 1973, Warbird Report pages 10-13
Air Classics, August 1979, Warbird Report pages 52
Air Classics, Feb 1980 "A Bit of Nostalgia" by W. D. Blocher, p 12 - 14, 52

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