Zero on Peachtree Street

[bobatl]

For many years, a Japanese Zero was displayed behind a Victorian mansion on Peachtree Street in Atlanta, Georgia. James Elliot, who had been one of the first aviators to use the Candler racetrack that later became the Atlanta Municipal Airport, later became an antiques dealer and used the mansion for his business with many oddities exhibited as the Atlanta Museum. The Zero had an accident while visiting Atlanta, probably a groundloop judging by the damage, and he managed to obtain it. The Zero had been stored in an open shed which collapsed in the 1960's and had been cleared away by the time this photo was taken in 1972. I understand that it is now in the Flying Heritage Collection in Washington.

[vintageproductions]

I remember seeing this on the side of the building in the late 80's - early 90's.

[sundance]

Wow - I'd love to see something like that.

[tankerman]

I live near Atlanta and saw this several times. It was sinking into the dirt and I'm glad it was rescued. I wonder what happened to the WW1 artillery piesce thaqt was out front for decades. Lots of cool stuff inside. It was one of those ünusual"places to see.

[Blacksmith]

Wow, is that thing ever cool! Thanks for sharing.

[bobatl]

Another photo showing Technical Air Intelligence markings. The museum was known for the questionable stories about it's relics. A sign said that they had the first Zero captured from the Aleutians but it is a later model so it was more likely one of the group brought back from Saipan. The most likely story is that it was wrecked while visiting Atlanta. It's odd that it doesn't have US markings but I suppose that they might have used water based paint that could be cleaned off easily? The museum items were auctioned off in 2005 after the founder's son died. I think that the Whittington brothers had bought the Zero prior to that. I do remember the French 75 on the north side of the house pointing towards Peachtree; just what everyone needs to exercise their right to bear arms.