Those photos really fascinate me, Wayne.
His plane BII-101 reminds me of Captain Kiyokuma Okajima who later objected Kamikaze operation saying "A pilot is not one time bomb!"
Thanks for sharing.
I am glad it reminds you of this pilot.....as it IS the aircraft of Kiyokuma Okajima..!
See below the detail for my Model Comp Presentation sheet.
Mitsubishi A6M2 model 21
Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter
(Kanjō Sentōki or 'Kansen')
Aircraft Code BII-101
Flown by Lieutenant Kiyokuma Okajima, Buntaicho or Divisional leader
of the fighter combat unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy Aircraft Carrier
HIRYU, December 7th 1941.
Lt. Kiyokuma Okajima leads his Chutai (Division / Squadron) of six A6M2 'Zero' fighters in escorting the Torpedo aircraft from the I J N Aircraft Carriers Akagi and Kaga.
At 0753 Lt. Okajima breaks off his escort duty and leads his fighters to attack Ewa Mooring Mast Field to destroy any possible threat from American fighters at this airfield.
Shortly afterwards the torpedo strike aircraft make their final approach towards Pearl Harbor and at 0757 the first torpedoes are launched at Battleship Row.
(Formal Japanese Name)
Rei-shiki Kanjo Sentoki
(Abbreviated as)
'Kansen' (Kanjo Sentoki) Carrier Fighter
'Reisen' (Rei Sentoki) Zero fighter Aircraft
'Zero sen' (Zero Sentoki)
Allied Code name : "Zeke" or more commonly
referred as (The) Mitsubishi 'Zero'
A6M2 Designation
A = Carrier Fighter
6 = Sixth Type or Version
M = Mitsubishi (Manufacturer)
2 = Second Version of Design
Model 21 Description ( Model Two One not twenty One is the correct pronunciation)
2 = Second Airframe Modification
1 = First Engine Configuration