The Mitsubishi A6M Zero WWII(01 of27)
Open Image ModalThe Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a long range fighter aircraft operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the Mitsubishi Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter (???????, rei-shiki-kanjou-sentouki?), and also designated as the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen and Mitsubishi Navy 12-shi Carrier Fighter. The A6M was usually referred to by the Allies as the \'Zero\', from the \'Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter\' designation. The official Allied reporting name was Zeke. (credit:KarSol via Getty Images)
Japanese Zero parked on runway(02 of27)
Open Image ModalJapanese Zero parked on runway (credit:Scott Hirko via Getty Images)
A6M Japanesse Zero fling over California.(03 of27)
Open Image ModalA6M Japanesse Zero fling over California. (credit:Phil Wallick/Stocktrek Images via Getty Images)
Zero - Japanese Fighter(04 of27)
Open Image ModalJapanese Zero fighter aircraft, WWII.. (credit:kojihirano via Getty Images)
Japanese Zero, WWII fighter(05 of27)
Open Image ModalMitsubishi A6M Zero WWII (credit:kojihirano via Getty Images)
Zero 101(06 of27)
Open Image ModalZero 101 Flying over (credit:Dennys Bisogno via Getty Images)
Japanese Zero 101(07 of27)
Open Image ModalJapanese Zero 101 flying over (credit:Dennys Bisogno via Getty Images)
Japanese Zero 101(08 of27)
Open Image ModalJapanese Zero 101 (credit:Dennys Bisogno via Getty Images)
Zero 101(09 of27)
Open Image ModalZero 101 (credit:Dennys Bisogno via Getty Images)
Japanese Zero Aircraft Parked(10 of27)
Open Image ModalJapanese Zero fighter aircraft from WW II parked with fire extinguisher at the ready (credit:Bruce Bean via Getty Images)
A6M Japaneese Zero flying over Chino, California.(11 of27)
Open Image ModalA6M Japaneese Zero flying over Chino, California. (credit:Phil Wallick/Stocktrek Images via Getty Images)
WWII Japanies Zeros(12 of27)
Open Image ModalThe Zero was the best carrier-based fighter in the world, combining excellent maneuverability and very long range. In early combat operations, the Zero gained a legendary reputation as a \'dogfighter\', achieving the outstanding kill ratio of 12 to 1 (credit:Xacto via Getty Images)
World War II Gunner and Japanese Attack Plane(13 of27)
Open Image Modal\'Re-enactment of attack on U.S. victory ship, the John W. Brown, by a Japanese Zero fighter plane. Lone port gunner aims at attacking aircraft. Intentional camera tilt. Copy space.\' (credit:Bonnie Schupp via Getty Images)
JAPAN WAR MUSEUM(14 of27)
Open Image Modal**FILE**People relax at a restaurant beside a Zero Fighter model during their lunch time at Yushukan war memorial museum in Tokyo\'s Yasukuni Shrine in this June 29, 2006 file photo. The museum run by the Tokyo war shrine at the center of diplomatic row with Asia will remove references that accuse the United States of forcing Japan into World War II, but there is no plan to change exhibits critics say gloss over Japanese atrocities in Asia, a former diplomat who drafted the changes said Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2006. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara, FILE) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Japan Zero Fighter Homecoming(15 of27)
Open Image ModalA visitor photographs a part of a Mitsubishi A6M Zero displayed at an exhibition to public at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, north of Tokyo Friday, Nov. 21, 2014. A restored and operational Mitsubishi Zero fighter plane, which is now owned by a Japanese, returned to Japan from U.S. in last September. The Japanese Imperial Navy plane was found in Papua New Guinea more than 40 years ago and brought to US and restored originally. Masahide Ishizuka, the owner of the Zero fighter, said he hopes to fly it in Japan next year to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Japan Zero Fighter Homecoming(16 of27)
Open Image ModalA young visitor looks at the parts of a Mitsubishi A6M Zero displayed at an exhibition to public at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, north of Tokyo Friday, Nov. 21, 2014. A restored and operational Mitsubishi Zero fighter plane, which is now owned by a Japanese, returned to Japan from U.S. in last September. The Japanese Imperial Navy plane was found in Papua New Guinea more than 40 years ago and brought to US and restored originally. Masahide Ishizuka, the owner of the Zero fighter, said he hopes to fly it in Japan next year to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Japan Zero Fighter Homecoming(17 of27)
Open Image ModalMasahide Ishizuka, the owner of a Mitsubishi A6M Zero, poses for photos in the cockpit of the aircraft displayed at an exhibition to public at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, north of Tokyo Friday, Nov. 21, 2014. A restored and operational Mitsubishi Zero fighter plane, which is now owned by a Japanese, returned to Japan from U.S. in last September. The Japanese Imperial Navy plane was found in Papua New Guinea more than 40 years ago and brought to US and restored originally. Ishizuka said he hopes to fly it in Japan next year to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Japan Zero Fighter Homecoming(18 of27)
Open Image ModalVisitors look at the parts of a Mitsubishi A6M Zero displayed at an exhibition to public at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, north of Tokyo Friday, Nov. 21, 2014. A restored and operational Mitsubishi Zero fighter plane, which is now owned by a Japanese, returned to Japan from U.S. in last September. The Japanese Imperial Navy plane was found in Papua New Guinea more than 40 years ago and brought to US and restored originally. Masahide Ishizuka, the owner of the Zero fighter, said he hopes to fly it in Japan next year to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Japan Zero Fighter Homecoming(19 of27)
Open Image ModalVisitors look at the engine of a Mitsubishi A6M Zero displayed at an exhibition to public at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, north of Tokyo Friday, Nov. 21, 2014. A restored and operational Mitsubishi Zero fighter plane, which is now owned by a Japanese, returned to Japan from U.S. in last September. The Japanese Imperial Navy plane was found in Papua New Guinea more than 40 years ago and brought to US and restored originally. Masahide Ishizuka, the owner of the Zero fighter, said he hopes to fly it in Japan next year to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Japan Zero Fighter Homecoming(20 of27)
Open Image ModalVisitors look at the parts of a Mitsubishi A6M Zero displayed at an exhibition to public at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, north of Tokyo Friday, Nov. 21, 2014. A restored and operational Mitsubishi Zero fighter plane, which is now owned by a Japanese, returned to Japan from U.S. in last September. The Japanese Imperial Navy plane was found in Papua New Guinea more than 40 years ago and brought to US and restored originally. Masahide Ishizuka, the owner of the Zero fighter, said he hopes to fly it in Japan next year to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Two little sisters watch a salvaged zero(21 of27)
Open Image ModalCHIRAN, JAPAN: Two little sisters watch a salvaged zero fighter displayed at the Special Attack Peace Museum in Chiran in Kagoshima prefecture, Japan\'s southern island of Kyusyu 12 August 2004. Thousands of young pilots carried out the lethal attacks from the Chiran base during the World War II and 1,036, including 11 Koreans, never came back. AFP PHOTO / Shingo ITO (Photo credit should read SHINGO ITO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SHINGO ITO via Getty Images)
A veteran ppoints at a salvaged zero fig(22 of27)
Open Image ModalCHIRAN, JAPAN: A veteran ppoints at a salvaged zero fighter displayed at the Special Attack Peace Museum in Chiran in Kagoshima prefecture, Japan\'s southern island of Kyusyu 12 August 2004. Thousands of young pilots carried out the lethal attacks from the Chiran base during the World War II and 1,036, including 11 Koreans, never came back. AFP PHOTO / Shingo ITO (Photo credit should read SHINGO ITO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SHINGO ITO via Getty Images)
Zero Fighter airplane wreck, Micronesia, Pacific, Palau(23 of27)
Open Image ModalZero Fighter airplane wreck, Micronesia, Pacific, Palau (credit:Franco Banfi via Getty Images)
The propeller of a Japanese Zero fighter on a shallow reef in Palau.(24 of27)
Open Image ModalThe propeller of a Japanese Zero fighter, shot down during World War II in Palau, is evident on a shallow reef. (credit:Ethan Daniels/Stocktrek Images via Getty Images)
Japanese Zero(25 of27)
Open Image ModalUnderwater plane wreck. MORE DIVERS (links) (credit:Tammy616 via Getty Images)
Zero Fighter cockpit wreck(26 of27)
Open Image Modal\'The remains of a Mitsubishi A6M Zero Fighter in the wreck of the Fujikawa, Truk Lagoon, Micronesia. The plane was operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during World War 2The wreck of the Fujikawa was sunk during operation Hailstorm in Feb 1944 by the US Navy.The Fujikawa was transporting many plane parts in its hold.\' (credit:Andrew Simpson via Getty Images)
WWII Japanese Zero. Yap, Micronesia(27 of27)
Open Image ModalThe ruins of a WWII Japanese Zero lays road-side on Yap in Micronesia. (credit:Richard-Butterworth via Getty Images)