The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a lightweight fighter that comes with the Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun Koku Hombu, service aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1940-1945.
The official designation was obtained by dialing the ‘A’ for ‘aircraft embarked’, ‘6’ because it was the sixth model built for the Japanese Navy and the ‘M’ initial manufacturer: Mitsubishi. The A6M was usually called by the Allies as the ‘Zero’, a name sometimes associated by mistake to other fighters such as the Nakajima Ki-43.
In addition to zero, the model was called by the Americans with other nicknames, such as ‘Zeke’, ‘Hamp’ and ‘Hap’.
The Japanese called it Reisen (Zero Fighter), Americans Zeke (diminutive of Zechariah), but it was the same airplane, the small, acrobatic and elusive of the Mitsubishi A6M.
Why Zero, and why Zechariah?
Zero because it entered service for the Navy lmperiale in the year of Christ 1940, corresponding to the year 2600 the mythological calendar of the Rising Sun; if it entered service in 1936 (2596) it would be called Type 96, if in 1939 (2599) Type 99.
As for Zechariah, is explained by the fact that the code allied planes taking Japanese male names if they were fighter – Tony, Oscar, George, Frank – if female bombers – Sally, Betty, Nell, Peggy.
For Japan the Zero was, in fact, much more than an airplane, but the symbol of the air power of the Empire.
For the Allies it was much more of a relentless opponent, but a nightmare and at the same time a myth.
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