a Mitsubishi ja havia criado o lendario Zero, o primeiro caca a usar canhoes (2 de 20mm)(http://www.chuckhawks.com/1v1_zero_wildcat.htm) e que, alem das excepcionais qualidades acrobaticas, perdendo apenas para o Kawasaki ki-43 Hayabusa Oscar, alcancando quase tres vezes a distancia dos Grumman, sendo, tambem, o primeiro caca de longo alcance entre todas forcas aereas, sendo construido pelo revolucionario Extra Super Duralumin (ESD), duraluminio da Sumitomo Metal Industries a partir de 1936. Era mais veloz e sua razao de subida era proxima aos inimigos, tinha velocidade e acelaracao superior a qualquer caca embarcado ate entao......Historically, during the first part of the war when the Japanese pilots were better trained and had more experience, the Zero maintained a favorable victory ratio. Later in the war, when Allied pilots had the advantage in training and experience, the Wildcat achieved a favorable kill ratio... =...Historicamente, durante a primeira parte da guerra, quando os pilotos japoneses foram melhor treinados e tinham mais experiencia, o Zero manteve uma relacao de vitoria favoravel. Mais tarde na guerra, quando os pilotos aliados tinham a vantagem no treinamento e experiencia, o Wildcat conseguiu uma taxa de destruicao favoravel.... - http://www.chuckhawks.com/1v1_zero_wildcat.htmCom a captura do Mitsubishi Zero Tipo-52, ficou demostrado em combates simulados, que o Grumman F6F Hellcat era mais rapido em todas as altitudes. Porem, excepcionalmente, o F6F, acima de 14.000 pes rolava mais rapido a 235 mph. O Zero era superior a baixa velocidade e a baixa altitude e tinha uma razao de subida melhor. Surpreendentemente o relatorio dos ensaios concluiu:...Do not dogfight with a Zero Type-52. Do not try to follow a loop or half-roll with a pull-through. When attacking, use your superior power and high speed performance to engage at the most favourable moment. To evade a Zero Type-52 on your tail, roll and dive away into a high speed turn. ="...Nao lute com um Zero Tipo-52. Nao tente segui-lo em uma manobra em espiral ou meia-rolagem com um pull-through. Ao atacar, use o seu poder superior de desempenho em alta velocidade para engaja-lo no momento mais favoravel. Para escapar de uma Zero Tipo-52 em sua cauda, role e mergulhe fora em uma curva de alta velocidade. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F6F_Hellcat#cite_ref-Spick_p._118._42-0Ver: http://www.aviation-history.com/mitsubishi/zero.html : The Mitsubishi A6M Zero-Sen legendary status mirrored the fortunes of the rising sun in which four years, the sun would finally set. For the Japanese and its former enemies, the A6M was the symbol of Japanese air power. The A6M fighter marked the beginning of a new epoch in naval aviation and was the first shipboard fighter capable of surpassing land-based aircraft. With its tight turning radius, it was an extremely deadly weapon in a dogfight, and was famous for its ability to outmaneuver, the Brewster F2A Buffalo, the Curtiss P-40 and the Grumman F4F Wildcat. As early as 1937, Claire Chennault, the author of 'The Role of Defensive Pursuit', warned the USAAF about the dangers of Japanese air power. Apparently his warnings were ignored as the superiority of the A6M was a complete surprise to the American forces. As leader of theFlying Tigers, Chennault constantly stressed to his pilots,