- Jiro Horikoshi
Dr. Jiro Horikoshi (June 22, 1903 - January 11, 1982) was the chief engineer behind many Japanese fighters of WWII. Most notable of such was the
Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter.He was born in near the city of Fujioka, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. In 1927, he started his career in Mitsubishi Internal Combustion Engine Company Limited, which later became Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagora Aircraft Manufacturing Plant. He built the successful
Mitsubishi A5M Claude first ,before in 1937, he and his team in Mitsubishi were asked to design Prototype 12 (corresponding to the 12th year of the reign of the Emperor). Prototype 2 was completed and in July 1940, it was accepted by the Japanese Imperial Navy. Since 1940 was the Japanese year 2600, the new fighter was named as "00" or "zero." Also known in Japan as the Rei-sen (literally meaning "zero fight," shortened for zero fighter airplane).Subsequently, he was involved in many other fighters manufactured by Mitsubishi,including the
Mitsubishi J2M Raiden ( Thunderbolt ) and theMitsubishi A7M ReppuHis memoir, regarding the development of Zero was published in Japan in 1970, and it was translated in the 70s, by the University of Washington Press as "Eagles of Mitsubishi, the story of the Zero Fighter." ISBN 0-295-95826-X
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