|
Post by corsair67 on Jan 23, 2006 22:14:26 GMT 12
I found this on the internet last week, but stupidly I didn't note down the website it was from! Anyway, a very interesting photo of the Zero that was surrendered to the RNZAF in 1945. (Look at those beautiful girls all lined up in the background! )
|
|
|
Post by turboNZ on Jan 23, 2006 22:32:27 GMT 12
Great pic. I'm surprised you actually noticed the Zero, what with the background.... ;D
|
|
|
Post by corsair67 on Jan 24, 2006 11:58:13 GMT 12
Turbo, it was difficult, but I managed to remain focused! ;D
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 24, 2006 13:44:05 GMT 12
That is indeed a very good photo of the Zero. Is it the actual surviving one that is in Auckland Museum I wonder, or one of the others the RNZAF left there?
|
|
|
Post by Bruce on Jan 24, 2006 14:16:32 GMT 12
It does appear to be NZ6000, the Museum example, it is an A6M3, the other examples secured by NZ but left behind were aparently A6M5s which had a very different cowl arrangement. The "anti glare" areas on the forward fuselage (actually the original scheme not overpainted white) were supposedly distintive to that machine. The only area of doubt is the wingtips look a bit rounder than normal A6M3 tips though....
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 24, 2006 17:54:23 GMT 12
|
|
|
Post by SEAN on Jan 25, 2006 11:42:52 GMT 12
I think you can still purchase a book produced on the MOTAT ZERO by AHSNZ from MOTAT (09 815-5803 ask for the bookshop). They also have one on the Lancaster NX655 ($5.00). I know this for a fact as I brought one from them at the end of last year...
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 25, 2006 20:12:26 GMT 12
MOTAT Zero???
I have read that MOTAT had a tail section from a MOTAT, but I don't think they have much to do with the one in the Auckland War Memorial Museum, do they?
Those books look interesting though. I must look out for them next time I'm there.
|
|
|
Post by corsair67 on Jan 26, 2006 17:27:09 GMT 12
Well that's all very interesting because I always assumed that the RNZAF had only obtained one Zero as a war prize.
And I also didn't know that they gave two Zeros to the Australians either, and that the Australian War Memorial's example is made up of components from at least one of the RNZAF ones. I'll have to have a closer look at this machine next time I'm at the AWM.
Is the Auckland War Memorial museum's Zero still on display in what appears to be a very confined space?
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 26, 2006 18:28:16 GMT 12
The Zero and Spitfire were both dismantled, taken to Ardmore and restored very nicely, a few years back. Whilst away the whole floor was refurbished, and the two aircraft were returned in much nicer spaces. The museum's War Memorial floor is now superb, on a par with the IWM London I reckon for excellence. Here's the Zero in Feb last year.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 26, 2006 18:32:36 GMT 12
Also this comes from a March 1978 report in New Zealand Wings magazine about the Museum of Transport and Technology (Motat) in Auckland,:
"The battleground of the South West Pacific has proved a fruitful source of aircraft and components - Catalina VH-SBV, parts for the museum's Ventura and Avenger restorations, two Willys jeeps, and even the tail section for a Zero are among items recently acquired."
What happened to this Zero tail section?? I'd never heard of Motat owning that before reading this.
|
|
|
Post by corsair5517 on Aug 18, 2012 22:30:33 GMT 12
My father was on Jacquinot Bay when the Zeke was flown in, I think by W/C Kofoed (sp?). He said that there was already another Zeke there, and a Dinah and a Sally were also acquired by RNZAF. He has photos of them..... somewhere! The surrender crosses were green, he thinks.....
|
|
|
Post by davidd on Aug 19, 2012 13:11:54 GMT 12
Corsair5517, Wing Commander W R (Bill) Kofoed (deceased; you have the spelling correct!) flew the Bougainville aircraft from Kara strip (southern B/ville) to Piva on 15th September 1945; the three flown from Rabaul (Vunakanau) to Jacquinot Bay on New Britain were flown by genuine Japanese navy pilots, along with the one and only Dinah! At least one of these Zekes was flown by several RNZAF pilots until a spluttering engine during landing approach above the waters of the Bay caused all further such frivolous flying to be abandoned. Two of these aircraft were presented to RAAF, as noted. David D
|
|
|
Post by davidd on Aug 19, 2012 13:19:19 GMT 12
Another thought; those RNZAF Corsairs in background of first photograph in this thread were very scruffy aeroplanes, and also very, VERY common. Everybody at Piva that day only had eyes for the Zeke, mainly because it was like a mythical beastie that many only half believed even existed! My dad was there that day and EVERYBODY just happened to have "urgent business down at the strip" when it was remoured that the Commanding Officer (Kofoed) was bringing in the Japanese aircraft from Kara. Another senior officer present that day was Air Commodore G N Roberts AOC New Zealand Air Task Force, or COMZEAIRTAF for short!), who was "captured" sitting in the Zeke's cockpit by the official photographer. David D
|
|
|
Post by davidd on Aug 19, 2012 13:37:48 GMT 12
Another thought. Note that the Zeke has no wing cannons fitted, possibly because those originally fitted were removed after this aircraft was badly damaged by bomb blast effect at Kara in November 1943 for fitment to airworthy aircraft. It was intended to ferry this aircraft back to Rabaul in September 1945, but the sudden surrender after "THE bombs" were detonated over two Japanese cities found this aircraft still at Kara awaiting final testing, complete with a pilot who had been sent over from Rabaul to pick it up. This pilot gave Kofoed some advice, and it was this as well as assurances from the Japanese (and Australian!) engineer officers which convinced the New Zealander to "give it a go", as it seemed the only possible means of claiming this "prize", which would otherwise have to be abandoned at its remote strip. Even if it had been possible to manoeuvre this aircraft along the narrow and bomb-damaged roads down to a jetty, the RNZAF had no control over any vessels capable of picking it up! Incidentally a "Prize" it was, this is exactly what it was legally, a war prize - it was never captured as such. The distinctive "droop" of the outer wing leading edges so typical of the Zero-sen can clearly be seen in this photograph, giving the pointy wing tip effect which often confuses observers when seen from certain angles. And I also think this is an EXCELLENT photograph - one I have never seen before, or was even aware of. Well done that man for "lifting it" from the web for the rest of us to enjoy. David D
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Aug 19, 2012 22:13:11 GMT 12
Researched and written by yours truly.
|
|
|
Post by agalbraith on May 19, 2013 19:07:15 GMT 12
Does anyone know or have a photo of where the arrestor hook was fitted on this specific plane? Just trying to ascertain if a blanking cover was fitted, a hook fitted(don't think so) or just an open cavity?
Any help would be much appreciated
Cheers Anthony
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on May 19, 2013 20:47:04 GMT 12
I certainly don't remember any hook. As most of these JNAF aircraft were operating land-based by this stage of the hostilities, such a heavy item would have been removed as soon as possible. 90% sure the cavity was blanked off.
|
|
|
Post by suthg on May 20, 2013 7:24:12 GMT 12
This appears to be a pic of the same captured plane... http://mitsubishi_zero.tripod.com/zimages/kara1.jpg
|
|
|
Post by agalbraith on May 20, 2013 7:56:36 GMT 12
Thanks Guys!
I am kinda hoping there was a blanking panel fitted....but just want to make sure.
Cheers Anthony
|
|