A6M3 Zero-Sen/Zeke Diecast Model, IJNAS 251st Kokutai, Hiroyoshi Nishizawa, 1943
AE-7896-013Product Details
Atlas Editions Fighter Aces of World War II 7896-013 |
1:72 Scale | Length | Width | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero-Sen/Zeke | 5" | 6" |
Hiroyoshi Nishizawa remains Japan's "Naval Ace of Aces." Known as the "Devil of Rabaul," he has been credited with well over 100 aerial victories by some sources and would the qualify as Japan's all-time "Ace of Aces." He destroyed six Grumman F4F Wildcats over Guadalcanal on November 2, 1942. With the 203rd Ku, Nishizawa's flight of four Zeros escorted five other bomb-laden Zeros in the IJNAF's first official suicidal "Kamikaze" attack, destroying two of 20 intercepting Grumman F64 Hellcats on the mission of October 25, 1944 - the very next day of October 26, Nishizawa was killed while a passenger on a Nakajima Ki.49. Donryu "Helen" Army Bomber transport aircraft that was shot down by intercepting Hellcats of VF-14 from the USS WASP. Funeral services for Nishizawa were delayed until December 2, 1947.