Mitsubishi A6M2 "Zero"

The Mitsubishi A6M2 "Zero" was primarily used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service as a carrier-based and land-based fighter across the Pacific Theater from 1940 to 1945. It saw extensive action in the Sino-Japanese War, Pearl Harbor attack, Philippines, New Guinea, and in Kamikaze missions. 
 
Key Deployment and Usage Areas:
China (1940): First combat debut occurred in the skies over China.
Pacific Theater (1941–1945): Deployed on aircraft carriers (including all six involved in the Pearl Harbor attack) and at land bases across the Pacific.
Key Campaigns: Heavily used during the invasion of the Philippines, the Battle of the Coral Sea, and the Battle of the Bismarck Sea.
Kamikaze Missions: A6M2 models were frequently utilized for suicide attacks against US naval forces beginning in October 1944.
Post-War Use: Captured aircraft were used by Indonesian pro-independence guerrillas in 1945. 
 
The A6M2 was favored for its exceptional maneuverability and long range, making it the dominant fighter in the Pacific until mid-1943.