The reputation of the Zero Fighter preceded it. Even before the US had entered the Second World War, intelligence had reached them. Rumours of a near-invincible fighter that had achieved a kill ratio of 12:1 against the Chinese in 1940.
But just a few years later, the A6M Zero was being used as cannon fodder in the Kamikaze campaign, deemed a virtually useless aircraft, except as a make-shift missile. And yet despite the Zero’s fall from dominance, this aircraft had a significant long-term influence on the tactics and engineering of Allied aircraft.
So how did the Allies beat the Zero? And how exactly did this mighty fighter shape the air war in the Pacific?
History Festival at IWM Duxford
Max Hastings will be at IWM Duxford’s History Festival alongside many other speakers, 23 & 24 Nov, find out more: https://www.iwm.org.uk/events/iwm-duxford/iwm-history-festival
Credits
Thumbnail image courtesy of Brian M. Silcox Photography
Mitsubishi A6M Zero Replica N7757 In Flight By Cody Logan
Wind tunnel test model pictures of A7M via Secret Projects
Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Film archive
Explore and licence the film clips used in this video: https://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/collections/5135
source
Most excellent video most of the footage you've shoune I've never seen before .
The A6M was an outstanding fighter at the time of its introduction. For the first 6 months, it was the best carrier borne fighter in the world. That is a fantastic achievement if one thinks about it. To design an aircraft for carrier operations will always introduce an element of compromise, yet the A6M was easily able to best any fighter that it encountered that operated from land. In low-speed dogfights, it excelled. Only after thorough evaluation of captured examples were its flaws and weaknesses revealed. Grumman's F6F Hellcat was specially designed to counteract this amazing design. The term 'Zero' comes from the year of its introduction, 1940. In the Japanese calendar, 1940 was 0, or zero.
It holds a very special place in the hearts of the Japanese people as the Spitfire does for British people.
The Xenophobia of Japanese people by the US and UK in 1940 takes revenge in the shape of incredible planes.
And in the loss of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse by Japanese planes when they thought that they were out of range.
I never understood how kamikaze missions was honorable for Japan.
Still it is no match againts Mustang p-47
Not a fan of the shaking image effect starting at 11:27. It is horrible actually. I am compelled to downvote the video solely for this reason.
They built better.
Mr picky here.. Max is incorrect about the early war zero being faster than the early war spit or 109, BOB late version mark1 spitfires top speed is around 360-362 mph The 109E top speed is around 348-357mph depending on the variant of the E model. The zero a6m2 variant speed is closer to the hurricane at around 332mph. The hurricanes speed from my ancient schoolboy airfix model building 1980s memory was 328mph approx. The 109e could out dive them all. The zero wins on climb rate and unmatched maneuverability due to its extremely light construction also its range was incredible. One theory is that if Germany had zeros instead of 109s they would of achieved their goal of air supremacy over England in 1940 leading to perhaps an invasion. Though I have major doubts that would of succeeded, I'm going off topic. One thing, if a layman like me knows the speeds of these planes why doesn't the maker of this video the imperial war museum know this?
2:00 Let alone the Dutch in their Brewster Buffaloes.
The jumping up and down of the bw footage is annoying (and unnecessary)
My brother bought a new Mitsubishi his father in law says the problem with them is a hellcat will out dive it.
We beat the Zero with better tactics, better aircraft, and taking advantage of its weaknesses.
Faster than Spitfire and 109 ??
One wonders what would have happened if the attack in Pearl Harbor never occurred. Either the order was never given, or they attacked the wrong target by mistake, or weather prevented it.
was great at low speeds…and its ability to accelerate
Faster than a spitfire?.
With a 2000 HP Pratt and Whitney Double Wasp 14 cylinder engine in a number of different American aircraft.
Look at the war like an F1 season. If a team starts with success early in the season but does not further develop their car throughout the season, they won’t win the championship……Except for Ross Brawn and Jensen Button.
Correction: "In the Pacific theater, air superiority was everything…." It should read as "CARRIER-BORNE" air superiority was everything. Having land-based aircraft was good but it was the carrier which won the war in the Pacific and NEARLY won it for the Japanese, too!
Small correction: The A6M did have a greater rate of climb and was more maneuverable than the F4F, but they had the same top speed. The Zero was not faster than the Wildcat.
Light weight and maneuverability will only get you so far. Should've made more Raiden, Shiden-Kai, and Reppu.