The reputation of the Zero Fighter preceded it. Even before the US had entered the Second World War, intelligence had reached them. Rumours of a near-invincible fighter that had achieved a kill ratio of 12:1 against the Chinese in 1940. But just a few years later, the A6M Zero was being used as cannon fodder in the Kamikaze campaign, deemed a virtually useless aircraft, except as a make-shift missile. And yet despite the Zero’s fall from dominance, this aircraft had a significant long-term influence on the tactics and engineering of Allied aircraft. So how did the Allies beat the Zero? And how exactly did this mighty fighter shape the air war in the Pacific? History Festival at IWM Duxford Max Hastings will be at IWM Duxford's History Festival alongside many other speakers, 23 & 24 Nov, find out more: https://www.iwm.org.uk/events/iwm-duxford/iwm-history-festival Credits Thumbnail image courtesy of Brian M. Silcox Photography Mitsubishi A6M Zero Replica N7757 In Flight By Cody Logan Wind tunnel test model pictures of A7M via Secret Projects Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Film archive Explore and licence the film clips used in this video: https://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/collections/5135
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Cite This Work
APA Style
Museums, I. W. (2026, August 03). How did the Allies overcome the Zero Fighter?. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/video/3430/how-did-the-allies-overcome-the-zero-fighter/
Chicago Style
Museums, Imperial War. "How did the Allies overcome the Zero Fighter?." World History Encyclopedia, August 03, 2026. https://www.worldhistory.org/video/3430/how-did-the-allies-overcome-the-zero-fighter/.
MLA Style
Museums, Imperial War. "How did the Allies overcome the Zero Fighter?." World History Encyclopedia, 03 Aug 2026, https://www.worldhistory.org/video/3430/how-did-the-allies-overcome-the-zero-fighter/.
