The Zero, Hurricane & P-38 The Mitsubishi Zero was JapanÆs most feared warplane, the Hawker Hurricane was the RAFÆs first monoplane fighter, and LockheedÆs P-38 Lightning was credited with shooting down more Japanese aircraft than any other American warplane. Filled with detailed highlights of each aircraftÆs development plusa broad overview of its operational history. Legends of the Air 4. Sftbd., 8 1/2"x 11", 152 pgs., 1 91 b&w ill., 32 color pgs.

From the attack on Pearl Harbor to the last desperate defense in the face of massive Allied bombings and suicide attacks against the enemy squadrons, the Mitsubishi A6M Reisen (baptized "Rei-sen", ie hunting zero with reference to the year 2600 calendar Japanese, 1940 AD) took part in almost all major actions of naval Japanese. Its fabulous maneuverability and its exceptional autonomy were legendary, and made the Zero symbol of air power of the Rising Sun, as to make it as famous as the Spitfire or Bf. 109. Zero earned fame with a series of brilliant victories against all allied aircraft in the first months of the war in the Pacific, and since he found difficulty Japanese Navy to commission another modern fighter capable of competing with the new Allied aircraft that appeared in the Pacific towards the end of 1942, the Mitsubishi A6M had to endure in large part the weight of the operations until the end of the conflict. For Japan, the Zero was, in fact, much more than an airplane, but the symbol of the Empire air power; for the Allies was much more of a relentless opponent but a nightmare, and at the same time a myth. For a long time were the virtues attributed largely imaginary, since its unique and indisputable qualities were exceptional maneuverability and an equally exceptional autonomy. The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was one of those planes that could not raise more mixed reviews, now ignored, feared now, finally, ridiculed, and then again taken into consideration, mythologized, analyzed critically, overrated, underrated, and so on seamless. When hostilities began with the outbreak of World War II, the Zero was considered the best fighter in the world based on aircraft carriers, because they associated an excellent maneuverability granted very extensive. In the first air combat, the Zero gained a legendary reputation, but in 1942 the new combat tactics enabled the Allied pilots to engage in duels more balanced terms.

The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a lightweight fighter that comes with the Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun Koku Hombu, service aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1940-1945. The official designation was obtained by dialing the "A" for "aircraft embarked", "6" because it was the sixth model built for the Japanese Navy and the "M" initial manufacturer: Mitsubishi. The A6M was usually called by the Allies as the "Zero", a name sometimes associated by mistake to other fighters such as the Nakajima Ki-43. In addition to zero, the model was called by the Americans with other nicknames, such as "Zeke", "Hamp" and "Hap". The Japanese called it Reisen (Zero Fighter), Americans Zeke (diminutive of Zechariah), but it was the same airplane, the small, acrobatic and elusive of the Mitsubishi A6M. Why Zero, and why Zechariah? Zero because it entered service for the Navy lmperiale in the year of Christ 1940, corresponding to the year 2600 the mythological calendar of the Rising Sun; if it entered service in 1936 (2596) it would be called Type 96, if in 1939 (2599) Type 99. As for Zechariah, is explained by the fact that the code allied planes taking Japanese male names if they were fighter - Tony, Oscar, George, Frank - if female bombers - Sally, Betty, Nell, Peggy. For Japan the Zero was, in fact, much more than an airplane, but the symbol of the air power of the Empire. For the Allies it was much more of a relentless opponent, but a nightmare and at the same time a myth.

The Akutan Zero as it appeared when it flew from the Japanese carrier Ryujo to attach Dutch Harbor, Alaska, June 4, 1942. Painting by John Hume.