Eagles of Mitsubishi - The Story of the Zero Fighter

The birth of the Zero fighter marked the beginning of a new era in naval aviation. Because of its extraordinary maneuverability and range, the Zero quickly established itself as the world's finest carrier-based fighter. It led the attack on Pearl Harbor and dominated the Pacific in the early days of World War II. For a time, it seemed invincible and to many it symbolized Japan's conduct of the war.

This book is the complete story of the Zero as told by its chief designer, Dr. Jiro Horikoshi. It begins with a brief account of his early life and training as an aeronautical engineer. Dr. Horikoshi then discusses the problems he faced in the 1930's as he attempted to develop fighter aircraft in Japan that were on a par with those of the Western world.

This book is both the saga of the development and performance of a great airplane and a personal account of how a famous aircraft designer went about his task. For a Western reader, it is all the more interesting because it views World War II from a Japanese perspective.