Those 2 pictures about preparing a Japanese fighter for shipment from Dutch Harbor are interesting. I think that fighter was reconstructed, flown and studied to prepare US fighter pilots about it’s strong points and weaknesses and to develope tactics to defeat it in the air. I think it also had some influences in the final F6F Hellcat design in which it was superior to the Zero in every aspect. These posts are fascinating....I look forward to seeing them every morning.
It occurred to me to wonder whether the Japanese knew we had acquired an intact Zero prior to the publication of these photos. I'm surprised the War Department allowed it.