|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| IJN Shokaku |
Aircraft History Built by Mitsubishi date of assembly March 31, 1942. At the factory, painted overall gray with a black cowling. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as A6M2 Model 21 Zero manufacture number 2666. Assigned Houkoku Gou 515 (Patriotic presentation number 515) painted in black on both sides of the rear fuselage. "Patriotic Presentation Number 515 (Presented by Kure Chapter of the Hiroshima Commercial Trade Association Patriotic Society)". Wartime History This Zero was assigned to Shōkaku with tail code E1-108 painted in red. The main landing gear covers were painted with 8 (last digit of the tail code). This Zero operated in the South Pacific. Mission History Sometime between August 24, 1942 to early September 1942 this Zero took off on a mission over Guadalcanal and was shot down or force landed in western Guadalcanal. At least six pilots from Shōkaku were lost over Guadalcanal and could be the pilot of this Zero: 1) A6M2 pilot Yoshio Iwaki lost August 24, 1942 2) A6M2 pilot Seiji Iishi lost August 29, 1942 3) A6M2 pilot Tsuguo Ogihara lost August 30, 1942. 4) A6M2 pilot Ko Nakamoto lost August 30, 1942. 5) A6M2 pilot Lt Ibusuki forced landed in late August to early September 1942 and returned to duty. 6) A6M2 pilot Lt Shingo forced landed in late August to early September 1942 and returned to duty. Wreckage This Zero crashed into a jungle area of western Guadalcanal. During July 2008, this crash site was first reported and photographed by a visitor named Cameron. As of September 8, 2016 this Zero remained in situ. As of that date, the left wing 20mm cannon was removed and the tail hook was damaged or removed. During 2017, the wreckage was recovered and the salvaged wreckage was transported to Point Cruz to the Markwarth Collection fenced storage yard. In the middle of July 2017 placed into a shipping container and exported to Australia then to Japan and sold via a middle man. As of early December 2017, the rear fuselage is owned by Taizou Nakamura and stored in his workshop where he has undertaken preservation and restoration that is ongoing to the present day. References Production figures of the Mitsubishi/Nakajima A6M Zero by Jim Long Kodochosho, Shōkaku Kōkūtai, August 24, 1942–September 1942 Yokoi Houkoku List 1~999 reference to 515 Japanese Naval Aces and Fighter Units of WWII page 44 mentions Lt. Ibusuki and Lt. Shingo J-Aircraft "Shokaku Ghost On Guadalcanal" by Jim Lansdale August 3, 2008 (photos from 2008 discovery) Daily Mail "From rusting ships in lush green jungle to tanks in crystal clear ocean: Amazing aerial photos show WWII wrecks in watery graves off remote Pacific Ocean tropical islands" by Ashleigh Davis photos by Asahi Shimbun via Getty December 5, 2016 Pacific Profiles Volume Five Japanese Navy Zero Fighters (land-based) New Guinea and the Solomons 1942-1944 (2021) pages 26 (photo HK crash site), 30 (profile 13), 31 (profile 13 description, photo of HK crash site) Thanks to Cameron, Jim Lansdale and Taizou Nakamura for additional information Contribute
Information Last Updated
|
 Zero  Photo Archive |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
