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This new decal
sheet from Yellow
Hammer Decals includes markings for
6 Zeros including 1 from Pearl Harbor as well as other from famous battles
during WW2. The recommended kit for these decals
is the 1/32 Tamiya A6M2 kit.
The first plane is a A6M2 Zero Type
21 V-128, PO1c Saburo
Sakai, Tainan Air Group, Rabaul, New Britain Islands, 7 August 1942. Purportedly
the aircraft he was flying when he was badly wounded at Guadalcanal, Sakai
claimed three kills during this mission.
The second plane is a A6M2 Zero Type
21 BII-124, Sea1c
Hajime Toyoshima, Hiryu, Darwin, Australia, 19 Feb 42. A bit more than 2
months after Pearl Harbor Sea1c
Hajime Toyoshima was shot down during a raid on Darwin, Australia. He
crash landed on Melville island and was eventually captured by Australian
Aborigines who turned him over to an Australian Army Sergeant. Toyoshima
lied to his captors to hide the truth and location of his aircraft and became
the first Japanese POW captured by Australia. He later lead a prison break
of 1100 Japanese POW's by sounding a bugle. Toyoshima and 240 other POW's
were either killed or committed suicide to avoid capture. The bugle
Toyoshima sounded to start the prison break is in an Australian
Museum.
The third plane is a A6M2 Zero Type
21 X-183, PO2c Yoshiro
Hashiguchi, 3rd Air Group, Bali, Dutch East Indies, February 1942. This
aircraft sports 11 victory markings. He flew many missions over Darwin and
Guadalcanal and was eventually lost when his carrier (Chiyoda) was sunk.
His granddaughter Kieko Hashiguchi is a virtuoso flutist in Japan.
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The fourth plane is a A6M2 Zero Type
21 A6M2 V-141, PO2c
Yoshisuke Arita, Tainan Air Group, Bali, Dutch East Indies, February 1942. Arita
was killed in an air battle with the 8th FG P-39's on 1 May 1942. Lt
Donald C. McGee 36thFS scored the kill, making it the first victory in the
36th.
The fifth plane is a
captured A6M2 Zero Type 21 EI-111, Lt Hideki
Shingo, squadron leader, Shokaku fighter squadron, battle of Santa Cruz, 26
October 1942. Lt Hideki Shingo has a full career during the war including
a number of important Command positions and flew escort for the initial
attacks on Lba and Clark fields in the Philippines. He also flew
missions against Henderson field and went on to survive the war and fly with
the Japanese Defense Air Force.
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The sixth plane is a A6M2 Zero Type
21 BII-120, PO1c
Shigenori Nishikaichi, Hiryu, Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941. PO1c
Shigenori Nishikaichi was shot down during Pearl Harbor and crash landed on the
small island called Niihau. This island was suggested by Japanese
intelligence as a good island to evade capture to be later picked up by a
rescue submarine with the help of traitorous Japanese born Americans living
on the island. The actions of these Japanese born Americans was used
as an example by then President Roosevelt to intern thousands of Americans
of Japanese heritage. PO1c
Shigenori Nishikaichi burned his aircraft and shot loyal Hawaiian Ben Kanahele
three times which did little more than really piss off Ben. He grabbed
Nishikaichi and threw him against a wall knocking his out. Ben wife
started bashing Nishikaichi's head in with a rock and Ben finished him off
by slitting his throat and ending the life of this 22 year old Japanese
pilot. The disloyal Japanese American shot himself fatally. More
on this story can be found here http://www.historynet.com/magazines/world_war_2/3038111.html
and http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=14587
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The decals were flawlessly printed. The colours look good and will cover very well.
The hinomarus aren't included because the ones in the Tamiya kit are very
well done and of the correct size.
I'm a Pearl
Harbor history buff and this sheet is of particular interest to me along
with the other Zeros on this sheet.
I would like to
thank Cutting Edge
Modelworks for providing me with this review sample.
Steve
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