Comments:
There are very few times I have just looked at an item and pondered its significance. The Longines Weems is an Imperial Japanese Weems that is extremely rare. But even more rare... an ID plate from a Mitsubishi Zero. General Douglas MacArthur ordered all Japanese planes burned at the end of the war. This plane was found on a Pacific Island. It is undergoing restoration. My sort of donation will help the project bring back a very rare fighter. Also shown is a letter from the owner of the plane. Finding an IJN Weems was far easier than finding a fragment of a Mitsubishi Zero that is unmistakably part of an actual fighter and not an ordinary piece of scrap of metal someone says is a Mitsubishi Zero. To get an actual war plane out of most of the countries where they may exist in the Pacific, special government paper work is required since these planes are considered historic and part of the heritage of the countries they are found in. Also, as often is the case with restoration, multiple planes are used to produce a final air worthy aircraft. This is why this ID plate became available.
The aircraft serial number appears to be 2302
Depending on the part, there would be serval of these located on the aircraft.
Something very rare arrived today.
There are very few times I have just looked at an item and pondered its significance. The Longines Weems is an Imperial Japanese Weems that is extremely rare. But even more rare... an ID plate from a Mitsubishi Zero. General Douglas MacArthur ordered all Japanese planes burned at the end of the war. This plane was found on a Pacific Island. It is undergoing restoration. My sort of donation will help the project bring back a very rare fighter. Also shown is a letter from the owner of the plane. Finding an IJN Weems was far easier than finding a fragment of a Mitsubishi Zero that is unmistakably part of an actual fighter and not an ordinary piece of scrap of metal someone says is a Mitsubishi Zero. To get an actual war plane out of most of the countries where they may exist in the Pacific, special government paper work is required since these planes are considered historic and part of the heritage of the countries they are found in. Also, as often is the case with restoration, multiple planes are used to produce a final air worthy aircraft. This is why this ID plate became available.
The aircraft serial number appears to be 2302
Huge congrats. Well, the watch in itself is just incredible, but you go even higher, here, with this plate.
I’ve been reading your posts with great interest.
I wouldn’t have guessed that there’d be a non-Japanese watch used by a Japanese aviator, but I suppose the troops used the best equipment they could get their hands on, origin be damned. And that Zero fragment is amazing to see.
Thank you for sharing your interest in and scholarship on some amazing, historically significant pieces (and the people who made them so).
My (and I’m guessing, our), pleasure.
Correct me if I’m overstepping by implying your approval here, Vlad 😇.
Here is more about the data plate
Below you can buy on the internet a data plate just like the original.
Note that the serial number of this one is 20 away from mine. Now we can see what it would have looked like new.
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Seiji, a magnificent post
What a marvel!
There would never be a nicer watch than that Lindbergh you post.
Even the story of the Mitsubishi Zero fighter plain is astonishing.
I took my WPS nickname in honor of the Longines Weems, and u put on the diamonds on the cake (Mitsubishi). 3 Diamonds.
Albeit i can not ignore my Honda cars enthusiasm.
Together with Longines and Apple, it are my favorite companies of the world.
A different special car.
Datsun Y series.
Great that i snapped a Honda Jazz per coincidence when i took the pictures.
Pictures by Weems at 8.
Oh,my, posting this, i mentioned i wear a Longines Conquest on my wrist.
There would never be a nicer watch than that Lindbergh you post.
Even the story of the Mitsubishi Zero fighter plain is astonishing.
I took my WPS nickname in honor of the Longines Weems, and u put on the diamonds on the cake (Mitsubishi). 3 Diamonds.
Albeit i can not ignore my Honda cars enthusiasm.
Together with Longines and Apple, it are my favorite companies of the world.
A different special car.
Datsun Y series.
Great that i snapped a Honda Jazz per coincidence when i took the pictures.
Pictures by Weems at 8.
Oh,my, posting this, i mentioned i wear a Longines Conquest on my wrist.
A walhalla for Honda freaks
Thanks for the great pictures Seiji.
I have more pictures also.
To dive a bit deeper into Honda from my side.
My current Honda.
I have more pictures also.
To dive a bit deeper into Honda from my side.
My current Honda.
Explanation of the Mitsubishi Zero Fighter Data Plate
Depending on the part, there would be serval of these located on the aircraft.
This is not the main data plate for the aircraft. There would be one for the
frame, wings, landing gear, tail section, engine, and this is the pilot seat.
There are many more data plates, but those do not have the aircraft serial number
on the plates. This is special because we can identify the aircraft.
This is probably going beyond the scope of most people's interests. The
aircraft serial number in the 2300 range will indicate that this is an A6M2
aircraft since 3000 is where the A6M3 generally start. The Zero is technically
an A6M aircraft and 2 indicates this is the second generation. This is the
aircraft model that when introduced, no other aircraft of the time could
match the performance. There was nothing else like it in the skies and
the kill ratio was 10:1. 18 year old pilots were dropping USA squadrons
out of the skies like flies. 2302 is also very close to the serial number of
Saburo Sakai's Zero that he flew with the Tainan Air Group.
