Site #5

Identification: Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero, based on: symmetrical fuselage gun mounts; extractor exhaust; small outboard fuel tanks on wings.

This Zero includes the center fuselage with wings attached sitting on one gear leg (right), engine about 10m away and the tail section sitting on end in a bomb crater about 20m away. This site is fairly well concealed in the bush about 50m from the edge of the cleared area around the airstrip. Although heavily corroded this wreck retains many more of the small components than observed on sites 1 through 4. We did not thoroughly clear this site, nor did we map it in detail as we did Site #s 1-4.

Engine: Sitting upright, highly corroded, with one prop blade buried and the other two bent, spinner still attached. This example features extractor exhaust and portions of the cowl. Accessory case is intact.

Fuselage: The fuselage is intact from firewall back to aft edge of wing. As usual, items such as instruments, control stick etc., are missing, but many smaller components are still in place. Cockpit interior is corroded, but not too badly compared to others observed.

Wings: The right wing is twisted and highly damaged from bomb blast and corrosion. Left wing is partially buried and highly corroded. These wings had small outboard fuel tanks which helped in the identification of a model A6M5.

Tail: The tail is sitting on its end inside a bomb crater. It is highly corroded but basically intact.

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Site #5: Engine and propeller.	Site #5: Fuselage and wing.	Site #5: Cockpit interior	Site #5: Tail section in crater.

Site #6

Identification:Identification: Right and left wings from a relatively small plane, most likely but not certainly a Zero. It is damaged from bomb blast and highly corroded. Interestingly this aircraft has the only example noted of a tire still partially intact. We did not clear or map this site.

Site #6 showing gear with tire.

Site #7

Identification: Mitsubishi A6M5 “Zero,” based on: symmetrical fuselage gun mounts, extractor exhaust, small outboard fuel tanks on wings, fixed wing tips; engine had a top air intake; cannon blister in wing.

This Zero retains the center fuselage with wings attached sitting on both gear, wings broken outboard of the gear and complete engine, less propellor, broken off and sitting on the ground. This site is also fairly well concealed in the bush about 50m from the edge of the cleared area around the airstrip. Similar to site #5, this airframe is heavily corroded and retains many more of the small components than we have observed on sites 1 thru 4. It has two trees growing out of the cockpit. We neither cleared nor mapped this site.

Engine: The engine is broken loose from its mounts, the prop is missing. It has a top air intake. The accessory case and portions of the cowl are still intact. It also has extractor exhaust.

Fuselage: The fuselage is intact from firewall back to aft edge of wing with a fairly complete cockpit. The tail section has been unbolted and removed. Again, instruments, control stick etc., are missing, but many smaller components are still in place. Cockpit interior is corroded, but not too badly as compared to other observed.

Wing: The right wing is badly broken between the gear and the fuselage. Wing tip is missing, unbolted, and corrosion is high. Left wing is broken and collapsed outboard of the gear and what is left is highly corroded.

Site #7: Fuselage, engine, wing.	Site #7: Cockpit area.	Site #7: Engine.	Site #7: Engine, reverse view.	Site #7: View of left side fuselage.	Site #7: View of tail detachment.

Revetment #1

Revetment #1 is located 20m off the main road and has a collection of aircraft parts scattered around its inside perimeter. Almost everything is damaged and corroded.

Incomplete list of components:

Wing sections;
Single row radial engine
Canopy and miscellaneous parts. Canopy appears to be from a Mitsubishi Zero

There are probably many more parts covered by the brush within this revetment, which we did not clear due to time constraints.

Revetment #1: Aircraft parts.	Revetment #1: Canopy fragments.

Revetment #2

Revetment site 2 is relatively clear of high vegetation, but time was insufficient to map or inspect it in detail. It lies just off the main road about half the distance from Revetment #1 to the runway. No aircraft parts were noted during a very superficial reconnaissance, but some may be hidden, particularly along the edges where the vegetation is higher.

Revetment #3

This revetment, near the junction of the main road with the runway, is heavily overgrown and conceals a bomb damaged Showa/Nakajima L2D “Tabby.”

The fuselage and right wing have been blown apart, probably by the bomb that formed a large crater next to the remains of the right wing. The left wing is fairly intact and sitting on its gear leg. Corrosion is high on almost everything.

Revetment #3 undoubtedly contains many more components beneath its dense foliage and would be worthy of further investigation.

Revetment #3: Fuselage.	Revetment #3: Fuselage interior.