A6M2 Zero wreck found off the coast of Malaya

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YMC - 20 Jul 2008 20:49 GMT

Hello,

An A6M2 Zero was found off the coast of Malaya, near the small island of Aur
(Pulau Aur). That's about +50miles east of the Port of Mersing, Malaysian
Peninsula.

At this stage I don't think anyone knows how it crashed there - whether in a
training patrol, or a combat mission.

I thought it might have crashed during the Battle of Malaya - as it
attempted to fly back to the Japanese air base in Thailand.

Can someone with more knowledge of the air battles in that period, offer
some constructive comment?

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

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Cubdriver - 21 Jul 2008 05:18 GMT

> someone with more knowledge of the air battles in that period

What is the period?

Blue skies! -- Dan Ford

Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942
new from HarperCollins www.FlyingTigersBook.com

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YMC - 21 Jul 2008 16:08 GMT

Its hard to tell - as no one knows when it crashed there. Nor does anyone
know what the serial numbers on that aircraft are.

Someone claims its a A6M5. But without photo evidence - its impossible to
verify.

So we are looking at 1942 - 1945.

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Geoffrey Sinclair - 22 Jul 2008 16:07 GMT

> Its hard to tell - as no one knows when it crashed there. Nor does anyone
> know what the serial numbers on that aircraft are.

Unit markings would be a help.

Fundamentally after the conquest of Malaya and the Dutch East Indies
the IJNAF departed for the Pacific.

> Someone claims its a A6M5. But without photo evidence - its impossible to
> verify.

The A6M5 was produced from August 1943 onwards. Given the
corrosion and probable damage from hitting the water is anyone
really sure it is a Zero as opposed to say an IJAAF fighter?

Geoffrey Sinclair
Remove the nb for email.

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YMC - 23 Jul 2008 16:33 GMT

"Geoffrey Sinclair" <gsinclairnb@froggy.com.au> wrote in message
news:4885e254$0$20534$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-> The A6M5 was produced
from August 1943 onwards. Given the

> corrosion and probable damage from hitting the water is anyone
> really sure it is a Zero as opposed to say an IJAAF fighter?

Good question. Best way to find out is to dive on the wreck - a team of
technical divers have headed out to check it out - I'll wait for their
photographic report.

I read the books "Buffaloes over Singapore" and "A Bloody Shambles" - and
there were air battles over Mersing between Allied planes and A6M2s- the
port close to Pulau Aur. It could be that the wreck was an outcome of one of
the battles. It'll be interesting to find out.

Apparently the Dutch submarine: HMNLS K-XVII (K-17) Dutch Submarine is also
in that area.

Apparently there is also a B-29 Superfortress wreck - which I thought was
too bizarre until I found out that in 1945 February) there was a B-29
bombing raid on Penang from bases in India. One of them could have developed
engine problems and ditched there.

(Prince of Wales and Repluse are further up - off Kuantan)

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History Forum / War History / World War II / July 2008

A6M2 Zero wreck found off the coast of Malaya