Captured zeke 52 moved back to States

[Snautzer]

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.

[Snautzer]

picture source footnote.

[Leendert]

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

[R Leonard]

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.