The Mitsubishi A6M Zero, a long-range carrier-based fighter aircraft, first flew in April 1939. It was the primary fighter of the Imperial Japanese Navy in WWII and was a shock to Allied forces due to its incredible range and maneuverability. The Zero was a dominant force in the Pacific early in the war.

The Zero became a symbol of Japanese military prowess and the threat posed by the Axis powers in WWII literature and poetry. Its legendary performance and the tales of its pilots were common subjects in wartime writing. Later, it became a symbol of the Japanese 'kamikaze' spirit.