Japanese A6M5 Mod. 52 Zero s/n 2551 302nd Kokutai, by Ron Cole

The 302nd Kokutai (Naval Air Group) was one of the most important Japanese air-defense units towards the end of World War II. The 302nd's primary mission was to intercept American B-29s then firebombing Tokyo and other major population centers, and they scored over 300 confirmed 'victories' by war's end. Based at Atsugi, in the Yokohama/Tokyo region, they were primarily equipped with later-model Zero Fighters (A6M5s) and Raiden interceptors (J2M3s). After Emperor Hirohito's radio broadcast that ended the Pacific War on August 15th, 1945, Atsugi pilots and officers rebelled against the Japanese government and briefly took up arms against their own countrymen who were acting under orders to disarm the military, though the Atsugi garrison ultimately surrendered without bloodshed. General Douglas MacArthur chose Atsugi to host his personal arrival in Japan, and thus mark the beginning of the official Allied occupation of the country on August 30th. MacArthur's reasoning at the time was that if the Supreme Allied Commander could land safely at Atsugi without incident - any Allied serviceman would be safe anywhere else in Japan! 

Each signed & numbered by the artist.