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| IJN 210 Kōkūtai |
Aircraft History Built by Nakajima in May 1945. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as A6M7 Model 62 Zero manufacture number 82729. Wartime History Assigned to the 210 Kōkūtai (210 Air Group). Tail code 210-118 B. The "B" on the right side of the tail is white and the left side of the tail is yellow. Mission History On August 9, 1945 took off from Meiji Airfield piloted by Lt. Tsuneo Azuma on a test flight and suffered an oil leak and ditched into Lake Biwa (Biwa-ko). Azuma was unhurt and returned to duty afterwards. Doug Vernon adds: “I have information regarding the pilot who made the forced landing on the Lake Biwa. This information comes from a friend of mine, who is connected with the Zero Pilots Association. The man who made the forced landing is General Tsuneo Azuma, now retired from the Japanese Self Defense Force (JSDF). At the time of the forced landing on August 9, 1945, Azuma was a Lt. in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and during that same year was appointed to a post of flight platoon leader. One of his official duties was to test fly Zeros following repairs. While carrying out his duties, he flew many different models of the Zero-sen, including the A6M2-21, A6M3-22, A6M3-32, A6M5-52 and A6M7-63. These duties were carried out at the Meiji Naval Air Base in Aichi prefecture. Azuma was involved in four forced landings while assigned to his testing tasks; the last being the one which took place at Lake Biwa. According to him, all four mishaps were the results of faulty oil systems. He praises the A6M7-63 in all areas except for the plane's lubrication. Wreckage In 1976, this Zero was discovered in Lake Biwa. That same year, recovered by the curator of Arashiyama Museum. Restoration This Zero was restored by the Arashiyama Museum to static condition and painted with green upper surfaces, a black engine cowling with tail code 210-118 B in yellow on both sides of the tail. Display This Zero was placed on displayed at Arashiyama Museum outdoors until 1991 when the museum closed. Next. displayed at the the Zero-Park Shirahama in Wakayama City. Today, displayed at the Yamato Museum (Kure Maritime Museum) in Kure. Below is an aerial bomb and nearby is an engine with propeller. References Jim Long adds: "At least one other source says [this Zero] was an A6M5c, it was an A6M7 because it has the bomb rack of the fighter-bomber." Thanks to Jim Long and Warren Sessler for additional information Contribute
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