Mitsubishi A6M2, 5439, "BII-124"
History
Manufactured by Mitsubishi, this A6M2 Zero was completed on October 4, 1941. It was assigned to the aircraft carrier Hiryū, one of Japan's most advanced carriers at the time. The aircraft bore the tail code BII-124 and was equipped with a Nakajima Sakae 12 radial engine, providing 940 hp. Its armament included two 7.7mm Type 97 machine guns and two 20mm Type 99 cannons. The Zero was renowned for its agility and long range, making it a formidable opponent in aerial combat.
On February 19, 1942, during the first Japanese air raid on Darwin Harbour, Flight Sergeant Hajime Toyoshima piloted this Zero. While conducting low passes over the harbour, the aircraft's oil tank was struck by a .303 calibre bullet, forcing Toyoshima to make an emergency landing on Melville Island. This incident marked the first capture of a Japanese airman on Australian soil. Toyoshima was taken prisoner and later became one of the key figures in the infamous Cowra Breakout of 1944. He died in 1944 under a false name, Tadao Minami, and is buried at the Cowra War Cemetery.
The wreckage of Zero 5349 was recovered by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) from Melville Island. In the 1980s, the remaining wreckage was moved to Darwin and placed into storage at the Australian Aviation Heritage Centre. Since the late 1990s, it has been on display at the museum. The exhibit includes the forward fuselage, inboard wings, engine, and propeller, with a piece of the outer wing and a profile view of the aircraft displayed on the wall. Nearby are paintings depicting the air war over Darwin and a photograph of the crash site.