Captured zeke 52 moved back to States
 

During the attack on saipan, 24 intact Zeke 52 were captured and according to pictures moved to the states.

What happened to them? Seems to be a lot of planes.

Re: Captured zeke 52 moved back to States
 

picture source footnote.

Re: Captured zeke 52 moved back to States
 

Snautzer,

Under (8) Comments etc in following link http://www.vectorsite.net/avzero.html you can read something about (the) captured Japanese airplanes.

Elsewhere I read that one a/c from Saipan is on display at the National Air & Space Museum...

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Captured zeke 52 moved back to States
 

One of the A6M5’s transported from Saipan aboard USS Copahee was #5357.

My father’s flight log shows that he flew this particular airplane three times, 19 Feb 45 - 1.5 hrs, comment section reads “Test late model Jap Fighter”; 19 Mar 45 - 1.7 hrs, comment: “Runs on PB4Y-2 also test”; and 20 Mar 45 - 1.7 hrs, comment: “Runs on PB4Y-2 & Hi Altitude”.

He had, in September and October 1944, near the end of his time as director of fighter training at ComFAirWest and before heading west as the TF-38 AsstOps, also flown the more famous “Koga Zero,” #4593, captured after crashing on Akutan Island in the Aleutians in 1942.

Last I heard, #5357 can be found in flying condition, complete with the original engine, at Planes of Fame, Chino California - they actually take it up every now and then to make sure everything still works.