The wrekcage of this Zero was remarkably discovered in Guadalcanal's jungle in 2008. Assigned to carrier Shokaku, the fighter was Mitsubishi constructor's number 2666, and based at Rabaul in August 1942. It was a presentation aircraft (Ho Koku-515), and the subscript under Ho-Koku 515 translates "presented by the Kure Chapter of the Hiroshima Commercial Trade Association Patriotic Society.

At this stage we do not know who the pilot was, although possible contenders are Yoshio Iwaki (lost 24 August 42), Seiji Iishi (lost 29 August 42), Tsuguo Ogihara or Ko Nakamoto (both lost 30 Aug 42). The Fifth did not operate over Guadalcanal, however it is probable that this A6M2 fought against some of the Fifth's early B-17 and B-26 raids against Rabaul.