World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
9 Oct 2011 03:24:07 PM

FORGOTTEN WARRIORS: THE WAR OF ATTRITION

Mitsubishi A6M2, Model 21 Zero fighters have
been derelict, and forgotten the Pacific war has passed them by.
The Zero in the background minus engine, is still standing on its landing gear, while the other in the foreground looks like its gear collapsed.
As the decades passed the jungle would reclaim, those fighters and everything else in the area, they would just about disappear from view.
If they were found today, and with today's technology, one or two could be rebuilt.

2.  Bill says:
31 Dec 2011 12:11:06 AM

LAST STOP LAE:

Could the Zeros been assigned to the Tainan
Kokutai? or other Kokutai that were based in Lae. Abandoned aircraft were examined by TAIU-SWPA for any improvements or equipment
salvaged most that were beyond airworthy status were scrapped.
Other aircraft at Lae airfield shared by both the Japanese Navy and Army were derelict
twin-engine Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" and G3M1 "Nell" bombers. Single-engine besides the Mitsubishi or Nakajima built A6M Zero and the Aichi D3A "Val" Dive bombers.

Army aircraft abandoned were twin-engine Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally" and Kawasaki Ki-48
"Lily" bombers, and Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah" Single-engine aircraft were Mitsubishi Ki-51
"Sonia", Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscar" and the
Kawasaki Ki-61 "Tony" fighters. Lae airfield was littered with over eighty aircraft and support equipment.

3.  Bill says:
1 Dec 2016 05:14:47 PM

LEFT BEHIND: DEFANGED FIGHTERS & BOMBERS

File photograph shows
Mitsubishi A6M2 Model 21 Zero/Zeke fighters assigned to 4th Kokutai, now abandoned at Lae, New Guinea September 1943.
Besides the Zeros shown in file photo abandoned were other Navy aircraft as G4M Betty and G3M Nell bombers, Val dive bombers and support equipment
Also left behind were Army aircraft Ki-48 Lily, Ki-21 Sally bombers.
Army fighters Ki-43 Oscars Ki-61 Tony and Ki-51 Sonia.
US Intelligence would secure and salvage what could be transported for evaluation and study. With enough salvaged parts, one or two flying examples could be rebuilt for testing...