Heh, Howard Hughes actually developed the Zero’s prototype, which the U.S. military scoffed at, just like the Christie tank chassis, which went on to become the T-34.
Not quite. The Soviets used a modified Christy suspension for the T-34, but the hull design married to a diesel engine were their concepts. The original Christy design was weight limited to about under 30 tons. As far a Hughes developing the Zero prototype. His H-1 racing aircraft, used a low wing, radial engine concept. It was developed in 1935. Also in 1935,the Japanese designers at Mitsubishi developed the A5m series which also used radial engines and low wing design. This aircraft was the predecessor to the A6M series Japanese Naval fighters To say Hughes developed the prototype of the Zero is like saying he developed the prototype for the FW 190, the F4U, F4,F6,F8,P47, and the A1. All radial engine, low wing designs.