WW II Imperial Japanese Navy LOWER WING PANEL- A6M3 Zero Model 22 #3353 RARE

  

This was recovered in the 1970's from serial #3353, which was assigned to the. To the 204th Kokutai with tail code T2-157. Operated from South Pacific, it either crashed, or was abandoned in New Guinea. The Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" was a long-range carrier-based fighter aircraft formerly manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945.

The A6M was designated as the Mitsubishi Navy Type 0 carrier fighter. Or the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen. The A6M was usually referred to by its pilots as the Reisen. Zero fighter, "0" being the last digit of the imperial year 2600 (1940) when it entered service with the Imperial Navy.

The official Allied reporting name was "Zeke", although the name "Zero" (from Type 0) was used colloquially by the Allies as well. The Zero is considered to have been the most capable carrier-based fighter in the world when it was introduced early in World War II, combining excellent maneuverability and very long range. The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) also frequently used it as a land-based fighter. In early combat operations, the Zero gained a reputation as a dogfighter, achieving an outstanding kill ratio of 12 to 1, but by mid-1942 a combination of new tactics and the introduction of better equipment enabled Allied pilots to engage the Zero on generally equal terms.

By 1943, the Zero was less effective against newer Allied fighters due to design limitations. It lacked hydraulic boosting for its ailerons and rudder, rendering it extremely difficult to maneuver at high speeds, and it could not be equipped with a more powerful aircraft engine. By 1944, with Allied fighters approaching the A6M levels of maneuverability and consistently exceeding its firepower, armor, and speed, the A6M had largely become outdated as a fighter aircraft. However, as design delays and production difficulties hampered the introduction of newer Japanese aircraft models, the Zero continued to serve in a front-line role until the end of the war in the Pacific. Japan produced more Zeros than any other model of combat aircraft during the war. Made of aluminum, this A6M3 Lower Wing Panel in an INCREDIBLE piece of history! Recovered from Serial #3353 in the 1970's, it retains 90% of its original camouflage paint and markings! It does feature some scratches, marks, bends, and corrosion due to the age, but it is still VERY solid! The panel itself measures approx. 19" x 35" (25" x 42" framed), and comes with a small piece of aircraft aluminum with some Kanji lettering (note this piece was added into the frame, and is not from this aircraft). I have indicated the EXACT location this panel is from in the last photo.

A VERY RARE addition to any collection, display, or restoration project! Most of my items are vintage, and as such are AS-IS, so you must therefore expect a degree of wear due to age and/or usage.

Although my passion is the Me109, I do offer many other German Aircraft Fw190, Me262, etc. , as well as USAF and Japanese items. Occasionally I do offer many non-vintage items such as prints and art relating to the time period. Use is solely based on my authorization only. Powered by SixBit's eCommerce Solution. The item "WW II Imperial Japanese Navy LOWER WING PANEL- A6M3 Zero Model 22 #3353 RARE" is in sale since Sunday, June 27, 2021.

This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\WW II (1939-45)\Original Period Items\Japan\Other Japanese WWII Orig Items". The seller is "messerschmitt_109" and is located in Thousand Oaks, California. This item can be shipped worldwide.