Quote:
Originally posted by Colonel Sanders
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the Zero un-matched during the first years of the war?
L J
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The A6M was an able dogfighter; a very maneuverable aircraft at low to middle altitudes. At high altitudes [above 25,000] and high indicated speeds it became difficult to maneuver. That is why U.S. tactics were to take the fight into the vertical. Its main advantage was its dogfighting ability and very good range. I have read of some missions were A6Ms escorted bombers over 500 miles; this at a time when a normal combat radius was <350 miles.
To say it was “unmatched” is an error. You must remember that the Japanese had been flying and fighting since the mid 1930s in China. Nothing takes the place of combat experience. Nothing. The Japanese A6M pilot had ample combat experience in the early part of the war. As the conflict lengthened the experience level decreased and with it the supposed “invincibility” of the A6M. That was evident after Midway when most of the experienced Japanese pilots died. From the battle of Midway [June 4-5 1942] until early to mid 1943 the same aircraft [F4Fs P40s] faced the A6M; the A6M was hardly “invincible” during this period. When the second generation fighters [F4U, F6F, P-38, P-51] came into use the A6M was hopelessly outclassed.