In December of 1941, a task force of the Imperial Japanese Navy was steaming towards the US Naval base at Pearl Harbor. This voyage culminated in the attack that brought the United States into the war. Aboard the Japanese Carriers were various types of aircraft and amongst them, the Mitsubishi Zero. This elegant and well-designed little fighter soon earned a reputation as a worthy adversary for any other aircraft available in the Pacific Theatre of operations at that time. Its pilots were well trained in its use and had a great respect for the agility and performance of the Zero. This respect was acknowledged equally by opponents of the famed fighter.