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From Zeke to Zero

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Sabre-Wulf (U2142937) on Wednesday, 10th May 2006

  Does anyone know why the Mitsubishi A6M designated as "Zeke" was more commonly known as the "Zero"?
  
  Is it anything to do with the red sun circle on the fuselage/wings? The chances early allied aviators in outclassed fighters stood against them? It sounded better?
  
  Any comments gratefully received.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by maraudingsaxon (U3567176) on Wednesday, 10th May 2006

  As far as I know the zeke got the name zero because the allies gave every japanese plane a name .And the zeke was classified as zero.
  
  
  

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by abrazier (U3915690) on Wednesday, 10th May 2006

  The Americans gave each Japanese type it's own "name" to simplify identification, hence Val's, Judy's, Zeke's etc. The Japanese designation for the Zero was "Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter Model 11". Type 0 = Zero. The Japanese nickname for the type was Reisen, an abbreviation of Rei Sentoki; Zero Fighter. Zero was a catchy name that stuck with pilots of both sides even though the official US "name" for the type was Zeke.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Sabre-Wulf (U2142937) on Wednesday, 10th May 2006

  "Zeke" was the official name given to the A6M, just like other Japanese planes were designated "Kate", "Val" or "Jill" depending on what they were. I'm guessing this process continued, with designations like "Flanker", "Bear" and "Hind" being assigned to different types of Russian aircraft.
  
  My question, thogh, is having designated it "Zeke" it is almost universally know as the "Zero"?

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Sabre-Wulf (U2142937) on Wednesday, 10th May 2006

  Sorry abrazier, took so long correcting all the typos in my post I missed yours.
  
  Thanks for the explanation!

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by clankylad (U1778100) on Wednesday, 10th May 2006

  British and Empire flyers used to call the type the 'Navy Nought', at least early in the war, before Zero became the accepted name by all sides.

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Erik Lindsay (U231970) on Wednesday, 10th May 2006

  It's my understanding that the reason the Mitzubishi fighter was designated the ''zero'' was because its design and construction was completed in the year 2600 in the Japanese Imperial Calendar (which was in use at the time). Since the year ended in a '0', the a/c was designated, by the Japanese, the zero. (I don't know what the Japanese word is for Zero, but that's what they called it).
  
  The US armed forces gave each Japanese a/c an Americanized designation to make them easy to remember. All fighters were given male names, bombers were given female names. The Zero was called the ''Zeke'', the earlier army fighter was the ''Oscar''...the twin engine bomber (cannot remember the Japanese designation) was the ''Judy'', and so on....

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