The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a lightweight fighter that comes with the Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun Koku Hombu, service aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1940-1945.<br />The official designation was obtained by dialing the &quot;A&quot; for &quot;aircraft embarked&quot;, &quot;6&quot; because it was the sixth model built for the Japanese Navy and the &quot;M&quot; initial manufacturer: Mitsubishi. The A6M was usually called by the Allies as the &quot;Zero&quot;, a name sometimes associated by mistake to other fighters such as the Nakajima Ki-43.<br />In addition to zero, the model was called by the Americans with other nicknames, such as &quot;Zeke&quot;, &quot;Hamp&quot; and &quot;Hap&quot;.<br />The Japanese called it Reisen (Zero Fighter), Americans Zeke (diminutive of Zechariah), but it was the same airplane, the small, acrobatic and elusive of the Mitsubishi A6M.<br />Why Zero, and why Zechariah?<br />Zero because it entered service for the Navy lmperiale in the year of Christ 1940, corresponding to the year 2600 the mythological calendar of the Rising Sun; if it entered service in 1936 (2596) it would be called Type 96, if in 1939 (2599) Type 99.<br />As for Zechariah, is explained by the fact that the code allied planes taking Japanese male names if they were fighter - Tony, Oscar, George, Frank - if female bombers - Sally, Betty, Nell, Peggy.<br />For Japan the Zero was, in fact, much more than an airplane, but the symbol of the air power of the Empire.<br />For the Allies it was much more of a relentless opponent, but a nightmare and at the same time a myth.