A6M2B Zero LCDR Shigeru Itaya IJN Akagi Dec 1941 HA8801 1:48

A6M2B Zero LCDR Shigeru Itaya IJN Akagi Dec 1941 Hobby Master HA8801 Scale 1:48 Highly detailed Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series Item#: HA8801 Scale: 1:48 The A6M entered service in 1940 and became known as the Zero because of the Japanese designation of Type 0 Carrier Fighter. The Zero technology was years ahead of any other fighter and had no problem clearing the skies of opposing aircraft. There were numerous variants of the Zero including the folding wing A6M2 Model 21 designed for carrier operations. The A6M2 was the most produced Japanese aircraft of WWII. As the war went on the Model 21 would be the Zero variant that most Allied pilots would encounter. On December 7, 1941 the overall flight leader (Hikotaicho) of the first wave of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was LCDR Shigeru Itaya. His aircraft was a A6M2 Model 21 Type 0 “AI-155” launched from the carrier Akagi along with 8 other Zeros to act as escorts for Vals from the carrier Shokaku. At 07:57 Itaya’s unit strafed John Rodgers Field and 3 minutes later strafed Hickam Field with each aircraft making 3 passes. Itaya managed to shoot an arriving B-17 and was credited with an aerial victory. Specifications A6M2 Model 21 Type 0 Role – Fighter Production Of All Zero Types – Almost 10, 500 Crew – 1 Pilot Dimensions Length – 29.72 ft (9.06 m) Wingspan – 39 ft 4.4 in (12 m) Height – 10 ft (3.05 m)