The Akutan Zero was a type 0 model 21 Mitsubishi A6M Zero Japanese fighter plane which crash-landed on Akutan Island during World War II. It was captured intact by the Americans in July 1942 and became the first flyable Zero acquired by the United States during the war. Following its capture, it was repaired and flown by American test pilots. As a result of information gained during these tests, American strategists were able to devise tactics to defeat the Zero, which was the Imperial Japanese Navy's primary fighter plane throughout the war. The Akutan Zero was "a prize almost beyond value to the United States", and "probably one of the greatest prizes of the Pacific war". Japanese historian Masatake Okumiya noted that the acquisition of the Akutan Zero "was no less serious" than the Japanese defeat at the Battle of Midway, and that it "did much to hasten [Japan's] final defeat". The Akutan Zero was destroyed in a training accident in 1945. Pieces of it are preserved in several museums in the United States.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akutan_Zero

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1850:

Louise of the Netherlands married Crown Prince Karl of Sweden-Norway. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_of_the_Netherlands

1939:

Former American baseball player Lou Gehrig was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, now commonly known in the United States as "Lou Gehrig's Disease". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Gehrig

1953:

Americans Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed as spies who passed U.S. nuclear weapons secrets to the Soviet Union. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_and_Ethel_Rosenberg

1961:

Kuwait declared independence from the United Kingdom. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait

2005:

Only six race cars competed in the United States Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana, after all the Michelin-shod entrants were withdrawn due to safety concerns. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_United_States_Grand_Prix

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

truss (v): 1. To tie up a bird before cooking it.

2. To secure or bind with ropes http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/truss

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear. --Aung San Suu Kyi http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Aung_San_Suu_Kyi