Zero on hold

Air Classics, Jan 2004 by O'Leary, Michael

CAF project needs major funding

The Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force is now housed in two magnificent hangars that contain the unit's growing collection. One of the CAF aircraft assigned to the Wing is Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero N58245. This aircraft was purchased by the CAF from a Canadian collector in 1980 with the condition that the plane be restored to flying condition.

The Zero, along with numerous other hulks, was recovered from the South Pacific in the late 1960s. Fitted with a Pratt & Whitney R-1830, the plane made its first post-restoration flight on 12 August 1985 and was delivered to the CAF's then-headquarters at Harlingen, Texas.

The quality of the restoration was a bit suspect and over the years numerous attempts and a lot of money have been spent by the CAF in an effort to get the Zero into better condition. Currently, the aircraft is partially disassembled at Camarillo and some repair work has been undertaken. "Once we got into the plane and found out its condition, we realized that we had gotten ourselves into a very big project," said a CAF member. "We are estimating that it will take $300,000 to get the plane back into the condition we require." Currently, the Zero restoration is on hold while the Southern California Wing concentrates on maintaining and restoring other aircraft in their collection.