List of Mitsubishi A6M Zero operators

Mitsubishi Zero Model 52 (A6M5)

This is a list of Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carriers and land Air Corps equipped with the Mitsubishi A6M more commonly called Mitsubishi Zero, the most celebrated Japanese warplane of World War II.

The A6M was the best-known symbol of Japanese air power and remains the best remembered fighter from this nation.

In fact, with the eruption of Pacific War, the Mitsubishi A6M constituted about 60% of the fighter force of Japanese Naval forces, sowing terror and destruction in Pacific and Indian Ocean areas. It took part in the Pearl Harbor Attack, escorted bombers over Australia and Ceylon, and supported actions in the Philippines and Dutch Indies.

Aircraft carriers

• Akagi:-Flagship of Admiral Nagumo in Pearl Harbor Attack, equipped with A6M2. This carrier operated from Rabaul, Indian Ocean, and Midway where it was sunk by US Navy bombers.
• Hiryu:-Participant in the Pearl Harbor Attack, Wake Island, Port Darwin, Indian Ocean and Battle of Midway, armed with A6M2 Zero fighters.
• Hiyo:-Operated in Salomon Islands, Rabaul, Admiralty Islands (New Guinea), and Truk armed with A6M2 and A6M3 Zero fighters.
• Junyo:-Participant in diverse operations in Aleutians, Battle of Santa Cruz and Salomon Islands, armed with A6M2 and A6M3 Zero fighters.
• Kaga:-The A6M1 zero was first evaluated aboard this carrier. It took part in the Pearl Harbor Attack, Rabaul, Indian Ocean, and Midway, where it was sunk. It was equipped with A6M2 Zero fighters.
• Ryujo:-Flagship of Admiral Hosoyaga, in Aleutian operation, Solomon Islands, where she was sunk. Her main fighter was the A6M2 Zero.
• Shoho:-Transported some 30 Reisen fighters to Rabaul, took part in battles at Tulagi, New Britain (Admiralty Islands), Solomon Islands and Battle of Coral Sea, with the A6M2 Zero as her main fighter.
• Shokaku:-One of most active of Japanese carriers, she participated in the Pearl Harbor Attack, Rabaul, invasion of Port Moresby, Port Darwin strike, Admiralty Islands, New Guinea, Battle of Coral Sea, Santa Cruz, and Philippines. She was equipped with a variety of planes including the A6M2, A6M3 and A6M5 Zero fighters.
• Soryu:-Another old combatant in battles at Pearl Harbor, Wake Island, Indian Ocean, and Midway where she was sunk along with her wing of A6M2 Zero fighters.
• Zuhio:-Escort Flattop, participated in the Battle of Midway, Battle of Santa Cruz and Rabaul Base. Later sunk, she was equipped with A6M2 and A6M3 Zero fighters.
• Zuikaku:-A veteran of the Pearl Harbor Attack, she took part in Rabaul, Indian Ocean, the invasion of Port Moresby, New Guinea, Battle of Coral Sea, Santa Cruz Islands. She was armed with A6M2 and A6M3 Zero fighters.
• Chuyo:-Escort Carrier armed with A6M2 and A6M3 Zero fighters.
• Hosho:-Escort Flattop armed with A6M2, A6M3 and A6M5 Zero fighters
• Unyo:-Escort Carrier armed with A6M2 and A6M5 Zero fighters.
• Chitose:-Escort Flattop armed with A6M2 and A6M5 Zero fighters.
• Amagi:-Great carrier projected for use with A6M5c and A6M6c Zero fighters.
• Katsuragi:-Large carrier projected for use of A6M5c and A6M6c Zero fighters.
• Taiyo:-Escort Flattop equipped first with the A5M4, later replaced with A6M2 and A6M3. She operated in New Guinea, South Pacific Mandate, Singapore, Indian Ocean, and Philippines.
• Shinyo:-Escort Flattop equipped with A6M3 and A6M5 Zero fighters with actions in Philippines and Singapore.
• Chiyoda:-Medium class carrier, equipped with A6M3 and A6M5 Zero fighters. Participated in South Pacific Mandate, Guam, Dutch Indies and Philippines actions.
• Tahio:-Great Carrier, participated in defense of Mariana Islands, equipped with A6M3 and A6M5 Zero fighters.
• Shinano:-Giant Carrier armed with A6M5c, A6M6c and A6M7c Zero fighters.
• Unryu:-Escort Carrier equipped with A6M5 Zero fighters. Was sent to Philippines with load of 30 "Ohka" Suicide Rockets of the Thunder-Gods Corps for transport to Manila.
• Kasagi:-
• Aso:-
• Ikoma:-

By airbase name

• Chitose:-Unit that operated from Chitose, in metropolitan areas of Wake Island, Kwajalein (South Pacific Mandate), and Salomon Islands, with A6M2, A6M3 and A6M5 Zero fighters. Later merged with 653rd Air Corps
• Genzan:-Famous unit known as "the Protector of Chosen", for its principal airbase; they operated from Genzan, Saigon (French Indochina, Malaca, Rabaul base and Admiralty Islands, using A6M2 and A6M3 along G4M Bombers; on return to main base they acted as operational trainers with A6M5b, A6M5-K and served as interceptors with J2M3, N1K2 and A6M5c against the Soviets and Americans
• Kanoya:-Mixed group which operated with Reisen and G4M "Betty", from Kanoya, Kagoshima, Kyūshū, Malaysia and returned to metropolitan area equipped with A6M5c
• Konoike:-Operative Trainer Unit, equipped with A6M2, A6M3 and A6M5a, later enter in Kamikaze operations with A6M2 and A6M5
• Ōita:-Operative Trainer Unit as previous section, form part of Second striking line in front, with Base in Ōita and Kyūshū, with A6M5
• Ominato:-mixed unit with A6M3 and A6M5, along B5N2 "Kate and E13A1 "Jake", with bases in Ominato, Aomori and Honshū
• Ohmura:-At first was a Combat unit, later converted to an Operative Trainer Unit, including instructor Saburo Sakai. Its bases were Ohmura (Sasebo), Nagasaki, Hiroshima and Kyūshū. Later converted to an interceptor unit with A6M5c
• Saeki:-Unit began with E13A1 "Jake", later equipped with A6M5 and A6M5c
• Tainan:-The most famous air corps of the Japanese Navy Air Force, with many principal Air aces; Operated from Tainan, Rabaul (where they acquired their fame and triumphs), over the Philippines, Taihoku, Dutch Indies, Lae, New Guinea, Admiralty Islands and finally as interceptors over mainland Japan against USAAF. Equipped with A6M2, A6M3, A6M5 and A6M5c
• Takao:-Mixed unit equipped C5M2 "Babs", G3M bomber and A6M2, later returned to base in Takao with A6M3 and A6M5, to convert to interceptors with A6M5c
• Toko:-Mixed unit with H6K4 "Mavis", E13A1 "Jake" and A6M2 later converted to interceptor with A6M5c
• Tokushima:-Operative Trainer Unit, with bases in Tokushima, Shikoku and Okinawa, equipped with A6M2, A6M2-K and A6M5
• Tsukuba:-Operative Trainer Unit, with bases in Tsukuba, Ibaraki and Honshū with A6M2 and A6M2-K. In 1945 was equipped with A6M5c as part of Metropolitan defense
• Yabate:-Operative Trainer Unit, with bases in Yabate, Honshū and Metropolitan area; latterly in process of converting to interceptors with A6M6c
• Yokosuka:-Additionally of Naval Air Technical Institute, Flight Test Department and Naval administrative service, this unit was known for its principal base. They operated also from Kanagawa and Honshū; Hiroyoshi Nishisawa acted as an instructor in the detachment from December 1942 to January 1943. The unit was converted to interceptors equipped with A6M5c, A6M6c, J2M5 and N1K2-Ja in 1944-45
• Mihoro:-Mixed unit equipped with G3M and G4M bombers along with A6M2. They operated from Mihoro, Okinawa, Hainan, and French Indochina, and participated in seeking and sinking of British vessels HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse
• Iwakuni:-Combat unit, which participated in metropolitan defense equipped with A6M5c
• Naruo:-Combat Unit which acted in defense of Japan with A6M5c
• Kokubu:-Interceptor unit equipped with A6M5c
• Kagoshima:-Combat Unit with A6M5c
• Atsugi:-one of the most important bases, its unit participated in actions in overseas, returning as interceptors with A6M5c and A6M6c
• Kanoya:-Another mixed unit equipped with G3M, G4M bombers and A6M2 fighters. They participated in Kamikaze operations with G4M equipped with Ohka glider bomb, and were interceptors equipped with A6M5c
• Usa:fighter air unit equpied with A6M,based in Usa,Oita Japan. This unit provided some fighters that participated in the Pearl Harbor Attack.
• Kasumigaura:-Operative Trainer Unit, equipped with A6M3 and A6M5. Later converted to interceptor with A6M5c
• Yokohama:-Combat unit equipped with A6M2, along A6M2-N "Rufe" hydro fighters, later operated with A6M5c as interceptors in mainland Japan
• Aomori:-Another combat unit, which returned to Japanese skies as interceptors with A6M5c and A6M6c
• Hyakuri:-Operative Trainer Unit, later converted as interceptor with A6M5c
• Tsuikui:-Operative Trainer Unit, later in process of conversion to interceptor with A6M6c
• Otsu:-Combat unit with A6M2, A6M2-N "Rufe" and N1K1 "Rex" Hydrofighters. Later returned as interceptor with their hydrofighters and A6M5c from the Biwa Lake area.
• Kisarazu:-Combat unit from Kisarazu, equipped with A6M and G4M
• Misawa:-Combat unit from Misawa, equipped with A6M and G4M
• Chichijima:-Air group based in Chichijima, equipped with twin engined bombers and Reisens
• Sasebo:- As Navy arsenal and other Air unit equipped with land-based torpedo bomber and fighters also
• Himeji:-Air group organized in Himeji, equipped with bombers and A6Ms
• Amakusa:-Unit created from Amakusa, with trainer group and fighter operative units
• Fukuyama:-another combat group equipped with hydroplanes, bombers and fighters
• Tateyama:-Unit with base in Tateyama, equipped with twin engined bombers and fighters.
• Takuma:-Combat group with base in Takuma, equipped with twin engined bombers and fighters
• Kisarazu:-Unit with base in Kisarazu, equipped with land based torpedo-bombers and fighters
• Matsushima:-Group with base in Matsushima, equipped with twin engined bombers and fighters
• Kashima:-Operative Training group with base in Kashima, later converted to a Combat unit.
• Shanghai:-Air group based in Shanghai, occupied Chinese land, equipped with twin engined bombers and fighters, also possessed an operative training unit. The unit participated in Kamikaze actions
• Suzuka:-another Operative training unit, later converted to a combat group
• Tsuchiura:-Air Group, based in Tsuchiura, equipped with A6M and Hydroplanes, later served with interceptor squadron over Japan
• Nan-Yo:-Air Unit based in the Southern Mandate, equipped with Transports, Bombers, Hydroplanes and A6Ms. Same unit fighting against US Navy in same area and Philippines
• Southern Philippines Air Group:- Air Group based in Davao, Philippines and equipped with Nakajima L2D "Tabby" transports and fighters.
• Okinawa:-Air Group based in Yontan and Kadena airfields, Okinawa, conformed by Fighters and Torpedo bombers, acted during Okinawa Campaigning against US forces.
• Oppama:-Unit with base in Oppama, originally equipped with Torpedo bombers, later converted to defensive squadron with Zeros.
• Other minor aircorps was provided from bases of Tetshu, Kagi and Toki in Formosa. The units also used A6M fighters and light and medium bombers

By unit number

• 1 (equipped with A6M2, A6M5)
• 2 (equipped with A6M2, A6M3 and A6M5)
• 3 (with A6M2, and A6M3)
• 4 (equipped with A6M2)
• 6 (with A6M2, A6M3)
• 11 (equipped with A6M2, A6M3 and A6M5)
• 12 (mixed)(with A6M2, A6M3 and A6M5)
• 202 (equipped with A6M3 and A6M5)
• 203 (with A6M5c and A6M6c)
• 204 (equipped with A6M3)
• 251 (equipped with A6M2 and A6M3)
• 252 (with A6M5c)
• 253 (equipped with A6M2 and A6M3)
• 261 (with A6M2 and A6M5)
• 302 (equipped with A6M5c and A6M5d-S (night fighter version))
• 303 (equipped with A6M5c)
• 309 (with A6M5)
• 316 (with A6M5c and A6M6c)
• 332 (equipped with A6M5c)
• 341 (with A6M5, A6M5c and A6M7)
• 653 (with A6M5c)
• 702nd
• 705th
• 706
• 721
• 722
• 751
• 752
• 753
• 755t
• 761
• 762
• 763
• 765
• 951
• 1021

Hydro fighter units

Units with standard use of the seaplane Nakajima A6M2-N "Rufe"

• 11th Air Flotilla (Seaplane Tender Kamikawa Maru)
• Yokosuka Air Fleet
• 5th Air Fleet
• 36th Air Fleet
• 452nd Air Fleet (Seaplane Tender Kimikawa Maru)
• 934th Air Fleet
• Toko Air Corps
• Yokosuka Air Corps (technical evaluation)
• Yokohama Air Corps
• Otsu Air Corps