This is Part 2 of a series of posts on the construction of a diorama depicting the Zeros of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Akagi aircraft carrier preparing to take off as part of the first wave attack on Pearl Harbor. Providing the history of the Zero or its technical details is beyond the scope of this article. This post concerns only the tail numbers of the Zeros of Akagi’s first wave. To understand the concept of this diorama project, please refer to the previous post.
The Akagi Zeros and Their Tail Numbers
As previously mentioned, the Akagi contributed nine Zeros and 27 Kates to the first wave attack. Below is a photo of the Zeros on the deck of the Akagi just prior to take-off.
To create the diorama, it is necessary to determine what tail numbers were used in the first wave. In the aftermath of WWII, there was some controversy and confusion concerning the tail numbers of the various aircraft that participated in the attack and whether they 
were in the first or second wave. Plastic model manufacturers, including Tamiya, even issued models of the AI-101 Zero with yellow command stripes. Photos later proved conclusively that the AI-101 did not carry the horizontal yellow command stripes on the tail and, in fact had participated in the second wave, not the first. Further research shed more light on the tail numbers and at this point the issue is mostly settled.
The table below provides context regarding where each of the Zeros fit within the organizational framework of Akagi’s aircraft. As in the past, I created the table for learners like me who want to visualize where a small piece fits into a larger whole. As I’ve previously made clear, I’m just an amateur enthusiast (redundancy intended) so please use the table at your own risk. I relied on a number of sources, particularly Peter Smith’s Mitsubishi Zero, photos of an Akagi display at the USS Arizona Memorial Museum, and bits and pieces from the internet. Note that the squadron was made up of three flights (shotai) of three aircraft each. The Zeros with horizontal yellow stripes led each three-plane flight. The two Zeros below each yellow-striped Zero belonged to the shotai’s wingmen, in order of rank. 
For purposes of the diorama, I will be using nine prebuilt models made by AFV Club, Corgi, Dragon Wings, Forces of Valor, and Witty Wings.
Again, thank you for your indulgence and I hope you enjoyed the post. If something looks amiss, please let me know. I would be delighted to correct inaccurate information so that this may be useful to other 1/72 scale collectors and wargamers. As always, comments, questions, corrections, and observations are welcome. Stay tuned for a photo overview of prebuilt 1/72 scale Zero models made specifically for the Akagi to be used in the diorama.
chules says:
Hello David,
Thank you for visiting the site. I don’t know much about the AI-101 but here is what little I know. The AI-101, piloted by Tadao Kimura, participated in the second wave at Pearl Harbor, with Kimura flying as wingman for Saburo Shindo, the Akagi’s second wave squadron leader, who was flying the AI-102. Parshall and Tully’s Shattered Sword p.501 lists Kimura as serving on the Akagi’s Combat Air Patrol at Midway and as being recovered by the Hiryu after the Akagi was sunk.
Thus, one can reasonably assume that the AI-101 participated in all the Akagi’s battles from the beginning of the war at Pearl Harbor in December 1941 until its sinking at Midway in June 1942. As is the case with most other Akagi Zeros, the AI-101’s operational history spanned a mere six months. This assumes that Kimura was the AI-101’s pilot during that entire time. Keep in mind that while Japanese pilots usually flew the same individual aircraft, they sometimes used other aircraft if their usual one was being serviced or otherwise unavailable. It is therefore entirely possible that something happened to the AI-101 and Kimura was flying some other aircraft at Midway. But, again, it’s reasonable to assume that since Kimura made it to Midway, so did the AI-101.
By the way, the Akagi was not present at Wake Island so the AI-101 would not have seen combat there. Below are two photos of the AI-101. Note that while the AI-101 has often been depicted with two yellow horizontal tail stripes — one above and one below the tail number — the actual aircraft had no tail stripes. I hope this is helpful.
Regards,
chules
David says:
Any idea on history of AI-101 which likely would have seen combat over Wake Island and potentially later at Midway.