Photo: U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation

Photo: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

HISTORY

Mitsubishi A6M2 “Zero” fighters on the aircraft carrier Akagi during the Pearl Harbor

attack mission. „AI-101“ in the background was flown during second attack wave by

PO1c Tadao Kimura. The ship in foreground is „AI-105“ flown by PO1c Kikue Otokuni.

Both airmen survived the war.

The wreckage of the aircraft “AI-154” from the Akagi Fighter Squadron piloted by PO1c Takeshi Hirano.

With his unit he first strafed John Rodgers Field (Honolulu Airport), then attacked the B-17 manned by

Capt. Swenson. He was finally hit by ground fire from Hickam Field and from the destroyer USS Helm

(DD-388). The defenders were under impression that Hirano was attempting an emergency landing

on the street, but he hit palm trees and crashed into a building at Fort Kamehameha. He perished, but

killed were also American soldiers hiding behind the building: Cpl. Claude L. Bryant, Pvt. Eugene Bubb,

Pvt. Donat George Duquette, Jr. and Pfc. Oreste DeTorre.

Photo: National Museum of the U.S. Navy

Photo: National Museum of the U.S. Navy

The wreckage of the Zero “BII-120” of PO1c Shigenori Nishikaichi of Hiryú Fighter Squadron who landed on Niihau

island. After a series of dramatic events, he was killed by one of the natives on December 13, 1941. Parts of this Zero are

on display at the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor. On the engine cowling is a service plate with the name of the

mechanic, PO3c Akimoto. The plate contains records of the general condition of the airplane, oil for the engine, fuselage

tank, wing tanks, and drop tank. The A6M2 carrier fighters were equipped with a engine Nakajima Sakae 12.

Photo: U.S. Navy

Photo: Navy Department in Washington

Zero, with leaking fuel, is leaving harbor area. Zeros from the aircraft carrier Kaga

second attack wave, commanded by Lt. Yasushi Nikaido were enagaged in this area.

His formation lost two pilots.

The body of a Lieutenant Fusata Iida from Sōryū Fighter Squadron who crashed with

his Zero in dive near a hangar at Kaneohe Field is buried with military honors

by U.S. troops.

INFO Eduard - December 2021

A monument marks the impact site of Zero pilot Lt. Iida.

eduard

17