AA33110 Mitsubishi A6M2-21 Zero, Jeffman Island, 1944

During the early stages of the Second World War, the Mitsubishi Zero was unquestionably one of the most capable fighter aircraft in the world and was a contemporary of both the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Supermarine Spitfire. Optimised for operations over the vast expanses of the Pacific Theatre, the Zero was heavily armed and incredibly manoeuvrable, and during early combat operations against Chinese aircraft, posted an impressive success ratio of 12:1. Unfortunately, where the Spitfire and Bf109 were capable of accepting successive upgrades, the Zero proved much less adaptable and would quickly be overtaken by more capable Allied types. The nomenclature applied to the Zero was in line with the Japanese Navy system, where A6M identified the Zero as the 6th carrier fighter type to enter service, with the M denoting Mitsubishi as the aircraft’s manufacturer. Around 3,700 of this relatively early variant were produced, with manufacturing responsibilities split between Mitsubishi and Nakajima. The Type 21 was significant in introducing folding wing tips to better support operations from Japanese navy carriers.



The 381st Kokutai was formed on 1st October 1943 as a fighter-bomber unit and would be assigned duties in support of Japanese land forces engaged in savage fighting with American and Australian troops. By May 1944, the unit was fighting an attritional war against superior Allied air forces in West Papua, and with little hope of reinforcement, the outcome was inevitable.