A machine gun that seems to have been mounted on a wartime fighter was found in a paddy field in Otaki Town, Chiba Prefecture.
On the day of the end of the war, there are witness testimonies that the Zero battle of the former Japanese army's main fighter crashed in this area, and experts say that it is a valuable discovery because it is likely to be a part of this Zero battle. I will.
In the paddy fields of Otaki Town, there were testimonies left by several neighbors witnessing the crash of Zero on the day of the end of the war.
Masahide Koji (77), who continues to search for the place, dug up this paddy field using heavy machinery on January 22, with the cooperation of the Mutsuzawa Municipal Museum of History and Folklore.
As a result, a machine gun about 1 meter 80 cm long and weighing 23 kg was found in the ground about 2 meters underground.
The machine gun was also loaded with bullets, and as a result of the appraisal, it was found that it was the same model as the one installed in the Zero Battle manufactured at that time.
Mr. Taizo Nakamura, who is familiar with the aircraft before the war, said, "It is highly possible that the parts of this Zero War aircraft were found. It is rare and valuable to find such a large part."
Mr. Koji said that he was asked by the bereaved family of a man who died in a sortie from a base in Mobara City in the Zero Battle on the day of the end of the war and searched for the place. I think I have to take over the investigation of the place where I died for many years. "
From the same place, a part that seems to be an engine was found three days later, and it will be stored at the History and Folklore Museum for the time being.