A6M5a Saburo Sakai

[Ariete]

Hi to all!!
My name is Daniele..
I'm an italian man..

Are there some photos (or profiles) of Saburo's Zero A6M5a?

I find only one pic of ヨ-137 aircraft..(Yokosuka Kokutai, August 1945)..
But it's A6M5c..Not A6M5a..

Best regards, Daniele.

 

[Doughboy]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Wayne Little]

Will have a look in some of my Zero books.....Welcome Daniele

 

[Wurger]

Welcome to the site.Greetings from Poland.

Here what I have found in the Net....

 

[lesofprimus]

Great stuff Wojtek.....

 

[Ariete]

Thanks a lot to all for the welcome!!

Thanks for pics too..
But the last Zero's profile isn't correct..

In fact it's a A6M5c and the pilot was Saburo Sakai (Yokosuka, August 1945)..
But sadly artist made the error..Code is not 3-137, it should be Yo(mirror E)-137..
And the spinner'd be red w/ the white tip..

Best regards, Daniele.

 

[Lucky13]

Greetings and welcome to the family!

 

[Wurger]

But the last Zero's profile isn't correct..

In fact it's a A6M5c and the pilot was Saburo Sakai (Yokosuka, August 1945)..
But sadly artist made the error..Code is not 3-137, it should be Yo(mirror E)-137..
And the spinner'd be red w/ the white tip..

Sorry , it is my fault. I have forgotten about mentioning the miastake.
Here you are a profile of V-128 of a little bit better quality.

 

[vikingBerserker]

Hiya Daniele, welcome aboard!

 

[Wayne Little]

In June and early July 1944 Sakai flew with the Yokosuka Kokutai based on Iwo Jima where he claimed 5 Hellcat victories flying Zeroes, 3 on 24th June and 1 each on the 4th and 5th July. During this time he would have been flying A6M5 or A6M5a aircraft, unfortunately there is no mention of aircraft codes.....

 

[Shinpachi]

Hi, Ariete. Welcome to the forum8)

 

[Ariete]

In June and early July 1944 Sakai flew with the Yokosuka Kokutai based on Iwo Jima where he claimed 5 Hellcat victories flying Zeroes, 3 on 24th June and 1 each on the 4th and 5th July. During this time he would have been flying A6M5 or A6M5a aircraft, unfortunately there is no mention of aircraft codes.....

Good news, Wayne!!
In fact the doubts are really these..
ヨ-137 was also a A6M5a? Or was only a A6M5c?
I have no idea..

@Shinpachi: Great photo!! I adore Saburo!! Thanks a lot!!
Japan is a beautiful country!!

 

[Shinpachi]

Welcome again, Ariete

I've found out a rare photo of Saburo Sakai as an aviation instructor.
Please enjoy. Thanks!

 

[Lucky13]

Great pics Shinpachi!

 

[proton45]

wow, nice photo...never seen it before.

 

[Shinpachi]

Saburo Sakai on Iwo-jima 1944.

Thanks Lucky13, proton45

 

[Wayne Little]

Excellent Pic Shinpachi haven't seen that second one before!

"ヨ-137 was also a A6M5a? Or was only a A6M5c? I have no idea.."

I have no idea either..I know of no photo of this aircraft, so unless Hasegawa have a source it could be a guess...

If he was flying a Zero at this stage it could have been a 'c' but it is just as likely another A6M5 model,

have a shot of Yo-143 in a hangar after the war and it is not an A6M5c it is a 5a or b.

Ah, just found a profile claiming ヨ-137 is a standard A6M5 Model 52 flown at Iwo Jima by Sakai....so another different interpretation!! not cited as any of the minor modified variants of the model 52 'a' 'b' or 'c'

 

[Shinpachi]

You are welcome, Wayne. Thanks

 

[B-17engineer]

Cool picture!

 

[Ariete]

Shinpachi..Wayne..You are greats!!

The pic post by Shinipachi is beautiful..But also in this case is an A6M5c (cannons in the wings and other minor differents)..

Wayne..You're right!!
But I have Tamiya's kit #61103 and it reproduce an A6M5 or A6M5a..
The wing panels are so differents compared to an A6M5c..
Then, I'll build an another Zero of another pilot..
Alas..