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Dates |
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Event |
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Constructed as an A6M2. |
August 1943 |
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Taken on Strength/Charge with the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force with s/n 51553. |
Circa September 1943 |
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Transferred to 6th Kokutai [Squadron], Kavieng, New Ireland.
Operated with markings: 313
Probable unit. |
Circa 1944 |
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Transferred to 253rd Kokutai, Kavieng. |
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One of two Zeros found wrecked in Papua New Guinea, at the Kavieng airfield. |
Circa 1964 |
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Both Zeros were recovered by a Department Civil Aviation employee and assembled into a externally complete Zero. Only known s/n was 51553. |
1965 |
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Displayed unrestored on concrete pedestal, Papua New Guinea War Memorial Trust, Kavieng, New Britain. |
1967 |
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To Tom B. King, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Recovered and dismantled into three major components for transport to Australia. |
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Problems erupted with the PNG government over the salvage and Mr. King attempted to hide the planes identity for export. It was meticulously repainted with bogus manufacutre number 11593, and bogus victory markings on the side fuselage. Exported to Australia with this false identity. |
1970 |
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To United States Air Force Museum, Patterson Field (East Side), Dayton, OH.
Sold to museum by Tom King.
 View the Location Dossier |
1971 |
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Transported by ship.
Shipped crated from RAAF Point Cook, Victoria to USA. |
From 1971 to Circa 1982 |
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Stored dismantled outside. |
By 1993 |
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Restoration started.
They [NMUSAF] provided a partially restored airframe and a second airframe that was recovered from the South Pacific Islands several years earlier. |
20 July 1995 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. |
20 July 1995 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. |
20 July 1995 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. |
20 July 1995 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. |
18 July 1996 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger |
18 July 1996 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger |
18 July 1996 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger |
From Circa 2002 to January 2004 |
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Restoration completed.
Markings Applied: A1-3-102
Restored by Century Avation Restorations, East Wentachee, WA to static condition. |
By September 2004 |
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To National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright Field, Dayton, OH.
View the Location Dossier |
4 December 2006 |
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Photographer: Glenn Chatfield |
6 May 2008 |
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Photographer: Glenn Chatfield |
6 May 2008 |
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Photographer: Glenn Chatfield |
|
 | | This airframe dossier is based on
unreviewed imported data.
If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor. |
