The Japanese Navy was early to see the importance of aircraft for reconnaissance and offensive operations. This may be partly due to the fact that all of Japan was sujrrounded by sea, which made alighting and takeoff from the sea a prerequisite.
Having started with floatplanes from France (Henry Farman), which were built in licence and quickly modified for the Japanese operations.
The Japanese Navy started in 1913 with adding an aviation department to the Naval Air Arsenal at Yokosuka. They were lucky to acquired the services of a young engineer Lieutenant Nakajima, who later after the war came to great fame with his Nakajima aircraft.
In 1918 Nakajima designed this three-bay biplane reconnaissance floatplane. The plane came too late in the war, but was mass produced in the early 1920's. Various engines were fitted and this appears to be a Hispano-Suiza type E (licence built as the Mitsubishi Type Hi rated at 200 - 220 hp.
As the Japanese language is wide outside my reach, the identification of this machine is given with the equally difficult to understand id. Navy Kokosho Ro-go Ko-gata Reconnaissance Seaplane. The Ro-go Ko-gata is probably a transliteration of the Japanese characters.
I would be delighted if someone can read the Japanese characters underneath.
Source: Robert C. Mikesh and Shorzoe Abe (1990). Japanese aircraft 1910 - 1941
Tags: 1920's Floatplane Japan Navy reconnaissance
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During a Japenese inspection tour in England in 1915 the Japanese Navy was able to purchase one sample of the Sopwith Baby single seat floatplane. Delivering a much needed seaplane to the Japanse was a great favour to them.
The Sopwith arrived in Japan in May 1916 and was the first single seat fighter plane in service with the Japanese navy. The machine was used in 1918 as a fighter trainer.
In 1921 10 machines of this type were built under licence by the Japanese Aichi firm, which were identified as the Navy Ha-go small seaplane. As this machine - powered by a 110 hp Le Rhône rotary - was already old fashioned earlier than 1921 it would be interesting to know why it was decided to build 10 samples of this type in the beginning of 1921.
As ever I could not read the Japanese text of this card.
Tags: Baby Floatplane Japan Ltd. Navy Ha-go Schneider Sopwith Sopwith Aviation Company Yokosho
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A rather unqiue picture. In 1917 the British Admiralty ordered 25 Short "320" (Admiralty type, Short 310-A4) tractor biplane seaplane with serials N1480 - N1504. The engine was a Sunbeam Cossack rated at 310 hp (normal) and 320 hp (maximum). Hence the identity Short 320.
All 25 were delivered to the RNAS, but N1485 was delivered to Grain and then transferred to the Japanese government on 9 October 1917.
As shipping took so long the Short 320 reached Japan probably at the earliest in the beginning of the second quarter in 1918.
Clearly the machine is seen here at a Japanese navel air base. Mark also the floatplane at right, unfortunately too hazy to identify.
This was the last of my Japanese cards (at the moment). Please give some hints about the translation of the Japanese text.
Tags: 1917 310-A4 Japan Short Floatplane 320
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A post war view of an airfield in Japan, showing mostly Nieuport biplane trainers. These Nieuport trainers (Nieuport 81 or 83) were licence built in Japan by Mitsubishi and Nakajima. These machine were used at the Japanese Army training fields and were identified in the Army as Army Type Ko 1 (Nieuport 81) and Type Ko 2 (Nieuport 83). The Nieuport trainers were in service from ca. 1922 till 1926.
There are at least two Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter biplanes in the background.
As ever, I cannot read the Japanese characters on the card and I would be delighted if someone can translate it.
Tags: 1925 Japan Nieupoirt Sopwith
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Art Smith performing in Japan. It can clearly been seen how Art Smith sat just before the lower wing, fully in the open. Prachutes were not worn by aviators at that time.
If anyone could translate the Japanese text, I would be very delighted.
Tags: 1916 Aerobatics Art Smith Curtiss Exhibition flying Japan Pusher
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