JAPANESE 'ZERO' AIRCRAFT WRECK DISCOVERED
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P.O. Box 859 • Hyde Park, NY 12538-0859 • USA
Tel 845-229-0571 • Fax 845-229-1769
CONTACT INFO
(USA) Justin Taylan
Tel – (in Papua New Guinea) 675-320-0011
Email – justin@
JAPANESE "ZERO" AIRCRAFT WRECK DISCOVERED
Search begins for clues about the identity of the Japanese Navy pilot, and his final mission
On the afternoon of 26 July 2003, during a downpour in the tropical rain forest of Papua New Guinea, a previously undiscovered aircraft wreck from World War II (WWII) was located. Two people, American Justin Taylan, a 25 year grandson of
WWII Pacific veteran, studying war history, and Papua New Guinean named Wilkinson made the discovery during a week long trek into a remote mountain area of the island, behind Port Moresby.
The wreck contained human remains, and is confirmed to be a Japanese carrier based Mitsubishi A6M2 Model 21 "Zero" fighter, Japan's primary fighter airplane during WWII.
From prima facie evidence at the crash site, it appears the aircraft met its fate
in bad weather, or due to a navigation error, on the way to its target. Present was an external centerline fuel tank (drop tank) and a full load of ammunition, including wing bombs. No battle damage was visible on the wreck during the initial inspection, and the plane crashed with its engine running, and gear retracted. Thick jungle cover has preserved the wreckage, including the original "specular gray" exterior paint, and red 'rising sun' markings, or Hinomaru.
Historians Harumi Sakaguchi, Michael Claringbould, John Douglas, and US Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii (CILHI) Consultant, Brian Bennett, the aircraft was positively identified as a rare carrier based A6M2 Model 21 Zero, with a very early Sakae 12 engine. Also present was a tail hook, indicating it was a recent carrier based fighter when it crashed. This is most interesting facet of the wreck, as tail hooks were usually and promptly removed from all Zero fighters when they became land based in the New Guinea theater, to save weight and move the centre of gravity forward for combat.
Justin Taylan is creator of two websites on the topic of WWII wrecks,
and and has been associated with WWII wrecks of 10 years, and involved in history, returning relics and veteran oral history.
Papua New Guinea citizen Wilkinson has visited hundreds of wreck sites around New Guinea, and has assisted the US Army CILHI in their MIA recovery work in the country. He is credited as being the first person to discover several other historic aircraft wrecks. The pair's search also yielded leads about other American, Japanese and Australian wreck sites in that same area, that they will return to further examine, and chances are will lead to additional discoveries.
As the identity of the deceased pilot and the history of this aircraft are not yet confirmed, and as the site is now classified a Japanese Missing In Action (MIA) case, the exact location of the site will be withheld until Japanese authorities are notified. We shall therefore consult with the Japanese media to make this pilot’s story know, and next of kin located for their wishes to be honored.
For further information please go to news/zero/
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