Published in the November 1942 issue of All Hands, this intelligence summary on the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” fighter reached Navy personnel at a pivotal point in the Pacific air war. The Zero had shocked Allied aviators in the opening months of the conflict with its exceptional range, maneuverability, and climb rate. By late 1942, American pilots and intelligence officers had gained hard-won knowledge of the aircraft’s weaknesses — including its light construction, lack of armor protection for the pilot, and tendency to catch fire when hit — and the Navy moved to disseminate this information fleet-wide. This single-page feature summarizes what was known about the Zero by the end of the first year of the Pacific War.
Click to enlarge
