What Japanese Pilots Said When They First Fought The American F6F Hellcat

On August 31, 1943, over Marcus Island, a Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero pilot spotted a new silhouette on the horizon. For two years, the Zero had reigned supreme over the Pacific. But when this new American fighter opened its throttle, it didn't try to dogfight. It powered vertically into the sky, rolled over like an anvil, and brought six .50 caliber machine guns to bear.