Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>Zero>HA8808

General Background

The A6M entered service in 1940 and became known as the Zero because of the Japanese designation of Type 0 Carrier Fighter. The Zero technology was years ahead of any other fighter and had no problem clearing the skies of opposing aircraft. There were numerous variants of the Zero including the folding wing A6M2 Model 21 designed for carrier operations. The A6M2 was the most produced Japanese aircraft of WWII. As the war went on the Model 21 would be the Zero variant that most Allied pilots would encounter.

The Aircraft

Takumi Hoashi was one of the Zero pilots launched during the first wave attack on Pearl Harbor from the aircraft carrier Shokaku on December 7, 1941. His mission, along with others, was to strafe Bellows Field. Hoashi and his wingman claimed 3 aircraft destroyed on the ground. Hoashi held the rank of Buntaicho (usually a Lieutenant commanding a division) from November 1941 until June 1942. Hoashi was killed in June 1943 when the second prototype of the J2M2 Raiden he was flying crashed and burst into flames.

Specifications :

Role:	Fighter
Production Of All Zero Types:	Almost 10, 500
Crew:	1 Pilot
Power plant:	1 X Nakajima Sakae 12 Producing 925 HP
Performance:	Speed - 331 mph (533 km/h)
	Ceiling - 33,792.5 ft (10,300 m)
	Range – 1,044 miles (1,680 km)
Weight:	3,703.7 lb (1,680 kg) Empty
Dimensions:	Wingspan – 39 ft 4.4 in (12 m)
	Length – 29.72 ft (9.06 m)
	Height – 10 ft (3.05 m)
Armament	2 X 7.7 mm Type 97 Machine Guns On Upper Fuselage Firing Through A Synchronized Propeller
	2 X 20 mm Type 99 Cannon Wing-Mounted
	2 X External 132 lb (60 kg) Bombs