List of Mitsubishi A6M Zero operators
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The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was the most well-known Japanese warplane of World War II. A6M Zeros were predominantly used by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) on aircraft carriers, and also by its land-based fighter units. At the start of the Pacific War in 1941, the A6M constituted about 60% of the IJN fighter force. It took part in carrier operations throughout much of the Pacific Ocean, as well as over the northeast Indian Ocean.
China
Both the Nationalists and Communists operated a number of captured A6M's (A6M2, A6M3, A6M5s, etc.) in the Chinese Civil War. The planes captured by the Nationalists had originally been flown as part of Japan's 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th Naval Units as well as Shanghai Kōkūtai on the mainland, and as part of Japan's Formosan Navy units: Hao Toko, Takao, Tetshu, Kagi, Toki, and Tainan Kōkūtai.
France
The Armée de l'Air (French Air Force) used the Mitsubishi A6M2 Model 21 "Zeke" and Nakajima A6M2-N "Rufes" against rebels in Indochina during 1945–1946, according to Harvey Low in "Japanese Aircraft in foreign service (WWII and Post WWII)" research. The Aéronautique Naval also pressed a single Nakajima A6M2-N into service, but the aircraft crashed shortly after being overhauled.
Indonesia
In 1945, Indonesian pro-independence guerrillas captured a small number of A6M aircraft at numerous Japanese air bases, including Bugis Air Base in Malang (repatriated 18 September 1945). Most aircraft were destroyed in military conflicts between the newly proclaimed Republic of Indonesia and the Netherlands, during the Indonesian National Revolution of 1945–1949. Small numbers of surviving aircraft were saved in Kalijati Air Base, near Subang, West Java and Museum Dirgantara Udara, Yogyakarta (near Adi Sucipto Airport).
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