Recently, some "US Army" or "USAF" photos were for sale on eBay, prompting me to compile all the photos I could find in my files on this Mitsubishi A6M3 Model 32, serial number 3028, belonging to the Tainan Kokutai.
The tail code is "V-187" and, according to Japanese sources, the yellow band indicated that it was flown by a "shotai-cho" (section leader).
The aircraft also carries the "hokoku" inscription "Hokoku-870 Kogen-go". Kiri spent quite some time investigating the inscription and she's positive that the plane was donated by the citizens of Kowon County, in South Hamgyong province, North Korea; not "by a civilian volunteer group in Japan" as some online sources claim. It is worth noting that other known "hokoku" aircraft with numbers close to "870" were also donated by groups in Korea; a Japanese colony at the time.
The aircraft was found abandoned at Buna Airfield, New Guinea, and after its engine was sent to Australia where it was used to build a single A6M3 with tail code "EB-201", the rest gradually fell pray to souvenir collectors.
According to the original caption:
"Members of the 41st Division looking over Japanese Zero which was wrecked on the Old Jap[sic] Air Strip, Buna, Papua, New Guinea by bombing. 11 March 1943."
Color, not colorized, photos by Lawrence J. Hickey.
Here's a question for the color experts (I'm not): if the overall "light mustard" or "gray green" or whatever, color has faded to look almost white in this photo, how come the yellow band or the "hokoku" inscription haven't faded too? (the hinomaru are known to be thoroughly painted and stay well-preserved, so I won't mention it)
The Model 32 had significantly reduced range compared to the Model 21, making round-trip offensive operations from Rabaul to Guadalcanal impossible. The Tainan Kokutai primarily used it for combat operations in eastern New Guinea, particularly around Lae and Buna. This explains why most of the Zero fighters abandoned at Buna were Model 32s.
Edward has released a kit in 1/48 of this specific aircraft; check here . Box artwork by Piotr Forkasiewicz.
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