Aircraft History
Built by Mitsubishi on either December 31, 1942 or January 1, 1943. the 47th Model 22 assembled. Assigned to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). Assigned to ? Kokutai.

Wartime History
Abandoned in the Rabaul area.

Wreckage
Remained in situ in the Rabaul area until the early 1970's.

Ray Fairfield adds:
"I thought it came from the nearest strip [Vunakanau Airfield]. Somewhere around the mission school, or the strip."

Recovery
During the early 1970s, recovered and transported to Rabaul Technical College. Displayed outdoors atop a pair of oil drums and maintained by Michael Pearson until at least 1985.

Later, moved to the Kokopo War Museum and displayed outdoors.

At some point around the middle 1980s, the front half of this aircraft was removed and attached to the front half and wings of A6M2 Model 21 Zero abandoned in the Rabaul area.

Ryan Toews adds:
"The 1972 photo of 3390 still has the proper A6M3 Model 22 front fuselage attached to the Type 22 rear fuselage with the s/n of 3390. At some point prior to your 2000 photo at Kokopo the rear fuselage of 3390 was separated and reattached to a different unknown A6M2 21 front fuselage. The old Type 22 front fuselage must have been discarded or destroyed. Who knows, it may still be some where in the Rabaul area."

References
Thanks to Ray Fairfield, Bruce Hoy, David Pennefather, Jim Lansdale, Jim Long and Ryan Toews for additional information.
Charles Darby noted manufacture number during 1974

Contribute Information
Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned?
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
October 28, 2018