The most famous of all Japanese warplanes,the A6M series was the Navy`s principle carrier based fighter throughout the war.Under the Allied code name system,the Reisen was called ZEKE and when the clipped wing A6M3 appeared it was allocated HAMP.However,to most people it was known as ZERO.
The protoype first flew in April 1939,and from it four main variants were developed, the A6M2,3,5 and 8.Over 10,000 were produced during the war,now few remain.
To the Japanese the Zero was everything that the Spitfire was to the British.It created a myth of Japanese invincibility in the air.There is no doubt that in its day the Zero was the finest carrier based aircraft in the world,its low speed handling and agility being legendary.The myth continued until June 3rd 1942 when an intact Zero fell into the Allied hands.Many shortcomings were revealed, and so began the demise of the fabled fighter.