Mitsubishi Zero Replica at the Peace Museum in Usa, Japan.
(Image Credit: Fumio Suga)
Mitsubishi Zero Replica at the Peace Museum in Usa, Japan. (Image Credit: Fumio Suga)We were contacted recently by reader of ours in Japan, Fumio Suga, about a Mitsubishi Model 21 Zero that has gone on display and is intended to be the cornerstone exhibit of a new museum in Usa* (that’s “oo-sa”, not “USA”), Japan. The plane is a faithful reproduction of the iconic World War II Imperial Japanese Navy fighter built for a movie Eien no zero, now in post-production and scheduled to open in theaters in Japan on December 21, 2013.
Eien no Zero tells the story of Saeki Kentaro, who after failing the National Bar Examination several times who feels like he was losing a grip on his life, and his sister, Keiko, a freelance writer. The pair begin looking into the story of their looking up their grandfather, Miyabe, who died in the Second World War as a Kamikaze pilot. Miyabe had tremendous ability as a fighter plane pilot, but was extraordinarily afraid of death. His two grandchildren started wondering why he applied for the kamikaze corps and end up discovering a surprising secret.
Cockpit of Replica Zero is faithful to the original (Image Credit: Fumio Suga)When it was introduced early in World War II, the Zero was considered the most capable carrier-based fighter in the world, combining excellent maneuverability and very long range. In early combat operations, the Zero gained a legendary reputation as a dogfighter, achieving the outstanding kill ratio of 12 to 1, but by mid-1942 a combination of new tactics and the introduction of better equipment enabled the Allied pilots to engage the Zero on more equal terms. By 1943, inherent design weaknesses and the failure to develop more powerful aircraft engines meant that the Zero became less effective against newer allied fighters that possessed greater firepower, armor, and speed, and approached the Zero’s maneuverability. During the final years of the War in the Pacific, the Zero was used in kamikaze operations. In the course of the war, more Zeros were built than any other Japanese aircraft.
Comparison of movie and “real” Model 21 Zero shows how closely the plane has been reproduced. Color scheme is from different periods and the replica was intended to appear as war-worn, but otherwise they’re nearly identical.The full scale replica depicts a Model 21 Zero from the 721st Kokutai Air Group and is accurate enough for museum display. The Usa City Peace Museum is currently collecting period photographs and artifacts for display from the equipment and materials left in the area by the military at the war’s end. At the moment the collection is temporally housed in a city-owned structure while planning for a permanent home that will seek to be a “place for the public to learn about the value of peace and horror of war,” according to museum officials.
* Before you light up the comments section with stories of the city being named Usa as a scam to import goods to the United States stamped “Made in USA,” we’ve heard the story before, and it’s completely false 🙂
Great to see such an important warbird being reborn, though I do question the accuracy of the severely worn paint job. The Japanese have always been fastidious about maintenance and looked after their aircraft in the same way, especially the Imperial Japanese Navy. Also, the Zero was made of an alloy that had to be kept covered in paint to prevent corrosion. In that aspect, the Zero was a maintenance nightmare as a naval aircraft. I find it difficult to believe that any Japanese squadron would have allowed any of its aircraft to have such a severely worn paint job.
Hey Carl,
Keep in mind, the pictured aircraft is a prop from a movie, not an actual Zero. We also don’t know in what context it was presented in in the narrative of the story. It seems to me, particularly given the hints about the plot given that it’s entirely possible that this is the plane their grandfather was supposed to kamikaze into a US warship, and he instead landed it on a remote island, so it could represent a Zero that has sat in a jungle for 60-70 years. Really, no one knows until November when the movie comes out.
Hi Roger
An out of the ball-park question here – but I am on the lookout to acquire a preserved or renovated Zero and if push really comes to shove, maybe even a replica. Would you by chance have come across any on the market?
Thanks!
Great to see such an important warbird being reborn, though I do question the accuracy of the severely worn paint job. The Japanese have always been fastidious about maintenance and looked after their aircraft in the same way, especially the Imperial Japanese Navy. Also, the Zero was made of an alloy that had to be kept covered in paint to prevent corrosion. In that aspect, the Zero was a maintenance nightmare as a naval aircraft. I find it difficult to believe that any Japanese squadron would have allowed any of its aircraft to have such a severely worn paint job.
Hey Carl,
Keep in mind, the pictured aircraft is a prop from a movie, not an actual Zero. We also don’t know in what context it was presented in in the narrative of the story. It seems to me, particularly given the hints about the plot given that it’s entirely possible that this is the plane their grandfather was supposed to kamikaze into a US warship, and he instead landed it on a remote island, so it could represent a Zero that has sat in a jungle for 60-70 years. Really, no one knows until November when the movie comes out.
Roger
Hi Roger
An out of the ball-park question here – but I am on the lookout to acquire a preserved or renovated Zero and if push really comes to shove, maybe even a replica. Would you by chance have come across any on the market?
Thanks!
Stephen