Mitsubishi A6M Zero

The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was the most famous Japanese aircraft of WWII and a symbol of Japanese air power. When it appeared over China in 1940, it outclassed every Allied fighter in the Pacific. Its extraordinary range of 1,600 nautical miles was achieved by eliminating armor and self-sealing fuel tanks, making it lightweight but vulnerable. The Zero dominated from Pearl Harbor through Midway until new American fighters like the F6F Hellcat exploited its weaknesses. Designed by Jiro Horikoshi, over 10,900 were built. It remains an enduring symbol of both Japanese engineering excellence and the cost of prioritizing performance over pilot protection.