Harry Geier comments

To the Editor, I saw this coverage of ‘Zero fighter flies over Japan for 1st time since WWII’ and thought that I would provide you with some information. In 1978 the Planes of Fame Air Museum located in Chino California USA shipped its Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero fighter serial number 5357 (tail number 61-120) the only fully authentic flyable Mitsubishi Zero fighter plane in the world powered by its original Nakajima Sakae radial engine to Japan for a tour where it took part and flew in eight air shows. In 1995 the Zero was again shipped to Japan in company with a Planes of Fame Air Museum North American P-51D Mustang. Both aircraft took part in five air shows during a tour titled “Flying As Friends” before returning to the United States. The Planes of Fame Air Museum’s A6M5 Zero returned to Japan once again in 2013 for an extended display at the Tokorozawa Aviation Museum where it was on display and engine run-ups were performed to large crowds. The Planes of Fame Air Museum’s Zero was captured on Saipan in 1944 and shipped to the United States to be flown for evaluation purposes and to give a number of American aviators a chance to experience its flying characteristics first hand. Among the American pilots who flew the Zero were aviation pioneer Charles Lindberg and noted U.S. Marine Corps ace Marion Carl. Three A6M Zero fighters were re-manufactured in 1993 using a few components from several wrecked Japanese fighter planes recovered from jungles in the South Pacific. The aircraft are A6M3 models re-manufactured in Russia, and are powered by American Pratt & Whitney radial engines. It is one of these aircraft that you are featuring in your article. Thank you,