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| IJN 204 Kōkūtai |
Aircraft History Built by Mitsubishi. At the factory, painted overall gray with a black cowling. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as A6M3 Model 22 Zero manufacture number 34?? (last two digits unknown). This Zero was either A6M3 Zero 3415 built in early January 1943 or A6M3 Zero 3499 built in late February 1943. Wartime History Assigned to 204 Kōkūtai (204 Air Group). Tail code T2-175. In the South Pacific, painted with dark green upper surfaces with a white border around the fuselage Hinomaru. In early 1943, this Zero force landed at Munda Airfield bending the propeller and damaging the left wing. Afterwards, abandoned at Munda Airfield. Wreckage In early August 1943 this Zero was captured by the U.S. Army at Munda Airfield. This Zero was studied by Air Technical Intelligence Unit (ATIU) and designated a "Zeke Mark 2" with tail code T2-175, a red fuselage stripe and folding wingtips. The exact identity of this aircraft is unknown but was either A6M3 Zero 3415 and A6M3 Zero 3499, the only two A6M3 Model 22 Zeros captured at Munda Airfield. After the battle, this Zero was moved into line of intact wreckage. Later, collected into a pile with other Japanese wreckage and photographed in the pile with laundry drying around it. The Zero was largely intact aside from some shrapnel damaged and had access covers removed and the canopy glass was missing. During August 1943 or early September 1943, this Zero was loaded onto a landing barge at Munda then transported by ship to Guadalcanal and placed ashore without the tail section attached. It is unclear if the tail section was also salvaged. By September 1943 and placed ashore without the tail section with Ki-48-I Lily (Square Hinomaru) at Lunga Point on Guadalcanal, likely awaiting shipment to the United States. On September 17, 1943 guarded by U.S. Army Military Police (MP) Private Clarence D. Robertson, 18108185 of Tulsa, OK when First Lady of the United States Eleanor Roosevelt visited Guadalcanal as part of her South Pacific tour. The pair were photographed together while a Yank cameraman Sgt John A. Bushemi recorded color cine film of their meeting. This footage later appeared in the newsreel "Eleanor Roosevelt Visits Guadalcanal". Afterwards, the fate of this Zero is unknown. Possibly, it was transported to the United States for further technical study or was abandoned on Guadalcanal. Ultimate fate unknown likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References Production figures of the Mitsubishi/Nakajima A6M Zero by Jim Long AAF Informational Intelligence Summary No. 43-51 - Figure 9 Zeke Mk. 2 Tail T2-175 NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Clarance D. Robertson, 18108185 Yank "Eleanor Roosevelt Visits Guadalcanal" cine footage by Sgt John A. Bushemi Model Art Magazine Issue 510 page 181 T2-175 (Illustrated as T-173 (source of 3 unknown) Japanese Naval Air Force Camouflage and Markings, World War II page 116 Thanks to Ryan Toews and Jim Long for additional information Contribute
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