Japanese Zero Type32 fighter restoration

Restoration of a Type 0 Model 32 Japanese Zero fighter at the Legend Flyer's hanger in Everett, WA.

See how the plane looked in October 2012 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO7b05Fk4QE

Here is the history of the plane:
This Zero, serial number 3143, was manufactured by Mitsubishi in September 1942. Its model designation was AEMB, Navy Type O Carrier, Fighter Model 32. It was a Presentation model' (called Hokoku aircraft) funded by a Middle school in Manchuria, the Manshukoku Chuto Gakko Go (Manchurian Secondary Schools), and had graphics on the fuselage side referencing the school. The airplane was assigned to the Japanese Air Group 252, 22nd Air Flotilla. The main force of Air Group E2 was originally placed on board the aircraft carrier TAIYO and participated in the defense of QUADALCANAL between November 1942 and February 1943. The Air Group 252 also fought from bases at RABAUL, BALIALE, LAE and MUNDA. The group was then ordered to the Marshall Islands. It was assigned to the Japanese air base on the island of TAROA, located at MALGELOP ATOLL in the Marshall Islands in March of 1943.

The island of TAROA was small, about two miles in diameter, and had two runways. The Japanese were in the process of constructing a third runway when the American forces began a bombing campaign, which eventually led to the abandonment of the island by the Japanese leaving all their equipment behind, including our Zero.

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