a6m

The "Akutan Zero," recovered virtually intact after a fatal landing accident in the Aleutians, was recovered by the Navy and taken to NAS North Island for evaluation. Its flight testing results were directly responsible for the design of Grumman's F6F "Hellcat." Here, LCDR Eddie R. Sanders takes the "Zero" up for its initial test filght at North Island, 20 September 1942. This particular image has been retouched, darkening the wing and cowling leading edges to delineate them from the background - and blanking out the national insignia ("star" in the roundel) under the left wing, most likely for printing in another publication as a "Japanese" Zero...

The "Akutan Zero," recovered virtually intact after a fatal landing accident in the Aleutians as a result of battle damage on 4 June 1942, was recovered by the Navy and taken to NAS North Island for evaluation. Its flight testing results were directly responsible for the design of Grumman's F6F "Hellcat." This photo was probably taken on 11 July 1942, the day after the crash was discovered by a Navy PBY crew.

Phoenix Flight restoration volunteers using fork lift (out of frame) to lift and attach Sakae engine to A6M Zero.