Question about A6M Duraluminum?

[drgondog]

Originally Posted by JoeB

I've only seen this in tabular form. One example is "WWII Fighter Conflict" by Price, p.59, so don't know exactly how it relates to standard USN loss reports. Your point about disappeared a/c is well taken; it's mentioned that it doesn't include them, but in case of the 80% it would only increase it. I also agree even for planes whose loss was observed by surviving pilot or sdn mates, the degree of possible precision as to cause would vary a lot.

But another way to slice it is that of 308 a/c in the sample hit but returned safely, where damage assessment was likely more accurate, only 6 were hit in the fuel system. So aside from statistical precision, it seems that even in an air arm well equipped with self sealing tanks, planes actually returning with holes in fuel tanks or lines weren't very common. But again the tank protection might help the pilot more than the plane.

Joe

I agree your points Joe - just relating my own research difficulties in pinning a cause. In the case of the 355th FG there were quite a few 'Mechanical' failures resulting in a guy ditching or going over the side - and the 8th tried to distinguish between a mechanical failure (like losing manifold pressure, prop control, etc) from coolant leak to running out of fuel.. but a lot of guess work in the anaysis.

A nick in a fuel line would be insidious if you had been in combat for 15 minutes over Berlin and noticed you were running dry near the coast..

Bill

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by Micdrow

The information you have above is correct. The ESD was used on the Zero but not for the skin, It was used for what is usually the most single heaviest member of the structure, The main wing spar.

This metal is also the main reason why there are so few zeros left that can fly. When it was cast and made it was super strong. But never tested to hold the age of time. Now 60 plus years later the stuff had turned to power. From what Ive read you can take a hammer and screw driver to the wing spar and the stuff comes out like flour laid-en with moisture or packed together like dried mud.

Since this is the main wing spar it is just two expensive to rebuild for a restoration or time consuming because basically you have to start from scratch.

From what I hears its also one of the reasons why one of the CAF's orginal zeros is now a permanent resident in the pearl harbor museum because the main wing spar was starting to disintegrate.

Great info Paul - and the Zero that was flying out of Camarillo (now at the Missouri memorial) actually had the spar welded - yikes! Eric posted a bunch of info on this about a year or two ago...