Visitors - Fairchild FC-2 in Japan

According to "Encyclopedia Vol. VI" in May 1928 Fairchild executive Robins and Captain Gebel (?) brought one Fairchild FC-2 to Japan and performed exhibition flights for the Army and the Navy (with floats) hoping to sell the type. The "Encyclopedia" does not mention anything more but according to "Nihon no Koku-shi" they were unsuccessful.  

Below are two photos from a vintage publication but I was unable to find any information regarding this sales pitch or the persons and the particular aircraft involved.

 

Interestingly an Army document dated May 1932 details a request to transfer a "Fairchild" aircraft currently located at the Shimoshizu Aviation School to Kwantung Army to be used as ambulance during the Manchurian Incident. An officer and an engineer were to be send to spend 90 days training with the type. The next Fairchild type of aircraft to arrive in Japan after the FC-2 was in 1933 when a Fairchild 22C-7b was brought over.

So what Fairchild aircraft was at Shimoshizu in 1932?   

Visitors - The "Soviet" connection (take #2)

On September 1, 1925 the Polikarpov R1-M5 registered R-RMPA flown by famous Soviet aviator Mikhail Mikhaylovich Gromov landed at Tokorozawa airfield. Information is very scant on the net but it seems that a group of seven Polikarpov R1s one Polikarpov PM-1 and one Polikarpov R-2 took off from Moscow on a friendship flight to Peking and Tokyo on June 10, 1925. One aircraft made an emergency landing in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi prefecture, the other reached successfully Tokyo. The crew members of these two aircraft were pilots Mikhail Gromov and Mikhail Volkovoinoff with engineers Evgenii Rodzewitch and Vasilii Kuznetsoff. They all received commemorative silver cups (ginpai).

The photos below are from a vintage publication.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The newspaper "Amsterdam NY Daily Democrat and Recorder" featured the following photo with a caption: 

"FLYER HOLDS DONOR INSTEAD OF GIFT - Michael Gromov flew from Moscow to Tokio where he was presented with a bouquet by Midori Motoori, Japanese singer. But as the crowd gave Michael an ovation, he mixed his signals and held up the singer instead of the flowers"

 

The same photo was featured in the October 4 issue of Chicago Tribune with the following caption:

"THE BRAVE DESERVE THE FAIR, said Michael Gromov after flying from Moscow to Tokio, whereupon he set on his shoulder a little Oriental admirer of his bravery, who came with an offering of flowers. The lady is Miss Midori Motoori, a Japanese singer who  has toured the United States. At the right is Victor Kopp, the Soviet ambassador at Tokio." 

 

Motoori Midori was the first singer of children songs in Japan, was the daughter of Motoori Nagayo, a famous composer of children songs in Japan. 

On this UTube link you can hear two splendid children songs sang by her amazing voice accompanied by her father playing the piano. The first song she is singing is the very famous children's song "The Blue-eyed doll"

Lyrics (translation by Yamagishi Katsuei):

"The beautiful blue-eyed doll was born
In America and it is made of celluloid
When she arrived at the Japanese port
Her eyes had long been filled with tears

“I don't understand the language.
What should I do if I get lost here? ”

Kindhearted Japanese girls, Oh please
Be friendly and hold her near"

Visitors - The French Female Connection

After quite some time, here's another post in the "visitors" series. This time of a French aviatrix, Maryse Hilsz, who visited Japan twice.

 

Born in Levallois-Perret on March 7, 1903, this pioneer of French aviation specialised in parachuting. From 1922 to 1929, she made 112 jumps including 20 in tandem, during 61 air shows in France, Belgium and Germany.

In 1930, she flew solo from Paris to Saigon in her Moth-Morane. In 1932, accompanied by her mechanic, she added the return flight from Paris to Madagascar to her list of achievements.

On August 19, 1932, she broke the women's altitude record in the Morane "Jockey", achieving 9781 metres at Villacoublay. Subsequent to this performance, she presented our best prototypes in the capitals of Europe and set a new altitude record of 11265 metres on June 17, 1935 in the Morane "Saulnier".

She won the Hélène-Boucher Cup twice: in 1935, in "Paris-Cannes", with an average of 277.263kph and again in 1936 in a Caudron Rafale at 366.760kph.

Maryse Hislz was the first woman pilot in the Air Force and was appointed second lieutenant with the "GLAM" Ministry Air Liaison Group in Villacoublay. On January 30, 1946, her GLAM Sibel 204 ran into bad weather and crashed near Bourg-en-Bresse, above Moulin-Le-Pont (Ain), having broken up in flight. Maryse Hilsz was killed in the accident.

Maryse Hilsz was made Officer of the French Legion of Honour in 1937 and received the Aeronautics Medal posthumously for her outstanding service to both civil and military aviation.
(source for the above short bio, here)

 

The first time she reached Tokyo was in 1933 arriving on April 16 flying a Farman F.291 named "Joé II" and registered F-ALUI. She was the first female pilot to ever visit Tokyo. Check HERE for more about her aircraft (in French). 

 

The second time was a year later arriving in Tokyo on March 6, 1934. This time she flew a Breguet 27S called "Joé III" registered F-AKFM.

Below is a letter regarding the second flight of Ms. Hylze sent by the French ambassador to Tokyo at the time, Fernard Pila, to Hirota Koki who was serving as Foreign Minister at the time.

Perhaps our French speaking readers can sent over a translation.

 

The photo below was taken on March 16. On that day Ms. Hylze took two maiko working in Shimbashi for a 15 minute flight over Tokyo. On the left is her flight engineer René Prax. A beautiful photo combining the modern independent woman in the face of Ms. Hylze and the traditional Japanese female in their kimono and marumage hairstyle*.

And finally, HERE is a video I found on the net showing a ceremony paying homage to Ms. Hylze.

 

*An amazing illustration by Shimura Tatsumi showing the hairstyle.

Visitors - The British Connection

On March 25, 1924 Squadron Leader Archibald Stuart Charles Stuart-MacLaren, Flying Officer William Noble Plenderleith, Sergeant W. H. Andrews of the Royal Air Force set off from Calshot in a Vickers Vulture II amphibious bi-plane (G-EBHO) in an eastbound attempt to circumnavigate the world. They arrived in Kasumigaura on July 8, photo below, after many mishaps but the attempt ultimately led to failure when their aircraft crashed on August 4 in the Commander Islands in the Bering Sea.
More details HERE.

On THIS pdf file we have uploaded from JACAR a number of interesting messages from the British Counsellor in Tokyo at the time Michael Palairet regarding this flight.

Visitors - The British Female Connection

One of the lesser known aviatrices was the Hon Mrs Victor Bruce, the first to circumnavigate the world. A truly amazing woman with a most interesting life.

Here's what Wikipedia has to say about her trip:

[Around the world flight 1930

In June 1930, on a whim, she purchased a Blackburn Bluebird IV via a London showroom. After delivery of the aircraft (G-ABDS) in late July 1930, she took her first flying lessons with Norman Blackburn at Brough aerodrome, went solo within a week, and soon built up 40 flying hours. On 25 September 1930, she named the aircraft "Bluebird" and took off on a round the world solo flight from Heston Aerodrome. She flew to Rangoon and then on to Shanghai and across the Yellow Sea to Seoul, Korea. On 24 November 1930, having covered 10,330 miles (16,625 km) in 25 flying days, she reached Tokyo. She travelled by ship to Vancouver, where the Bluebird was re-assembled. She flew via Medford (Oregon), Tucson, San Diego and Baltimore to New York, where she embarked on a ship bound for Le Havre. On 19 February 1931, she flew to Lympne Airport, having flown about 19,000 miles (30,577 km). She was the first person to fly from England to Japan, the first to fly across the Yellow Sea, and the first woman to fly around the world alone (crossing the oceans by ship). The five-month journey had been marked by forced landings beside the Persian Gulf, also at San Diego and Baltimore, a near-abduction by brigands, and a forced landing in a southeast Asian jungle during the monsoon. On 20 February 1931, she was given an aerial escort by Amy Johnson, Winifred Spooner and others to Croydon Airport, where a reception of press and celebrities awaited her.]

The photo above, from a vintage publication was taken during her arrival in Tachikawa.

  On November 21, 1930 at 8:25 she took-off from Seoul arriving over Hiroshima at 13:20. She flew over the city twice and was then escorted by an Asahi newspaper airplane to Osaka airport where she arrived at 15:14. She was greeted by the British consul and other dignitaries, stayed in "Osaka Hotel" and attended at 20:00 a party on her honor by Osaka Asahi Shimbun.

  The next at 13:30 she gave a speech at the Asahi newspaper hall entitled "Flying to Japan" which was followed by a tea-party in Kobe.

  Two days later, on the 24th at 11:25 she took-off from Osaka escorted by an Asahi plane, landing in Tachikawa airport at 13:40 from where she was taken to the "Imperial Hotel" by car.

  The next day she was awarded the "Yukosho" (Red Cross Order of Merit) during a ceremony held by the Teikoku Hiko Kyokai (Imperial Aeronautic Association).

HERE is a link with more information about her whole trip (don't forget to follow all 3 links: DATA FILE | THE FLIGHT | MAP OF THE FLIGHT).

Visitors - The U.S. Connection

  Van Lear Black (1875-1930) was a Baltimore banker and businessman turned civil aviation pioneer.

  In 1927, Black undertook a plane journey around the world to prove the viability of civil air flight, with a Fokker plane chartered from the Royal Dutch Airline, K.L.M. His crew consisted of K.L.M. staff: chief pilot G.J. Geysendorffer, copilot J.B. Sholte, and mechanic Peter Bunk, as well as Black's personal secretary, J. Leo Bayline. Additional trips were made over several years time, some combining air and ship travel. In February 1930, Black commissioned a Fokker VIIb trimotor aircraft G-AADZ "The Maryland Free State" to fly from London to Tokyo to Java. He created his own company for the flight, VLB ltd. The flight included stops in Venice, Italy, and Athens, Greece, landing in Tachikawa, Tokyo (photo above) on 7 April 1930. The aircraft was disassembled for the Pacific voyage to San Francisco, then reassembled for the final flight to Baltimore on 18 May, a 16,000-mile (26,000 km) trip.

  Traveling a total of 200,000 miles in five years, Black's trips were the first intercontinental flights of such length for purely civilian purposes.

  Black died suddenly in 1930, apparently falling from the afterdeck of his yacht Sabala in rough water enroute to Baltimore following an excursion to New York.

Visitors - The Italian Connection (take #2)

  On September 1925 pilot Francesco De Pinedo with engineer Ernesto Campanelli landed with their Savoia S.16 flying boat named "Gennariello" at the Navy base in Kasumigaura. They had started from Rome on April 20 and covered 55,000 miles in six months flying to Japan via Australia and back to Italy!

  After Australia they continued through the Philippines leaving Luzon on September 19 and reaching Tamsui in Taiwan the same day. On the 21st they departed early in the morning and reached shanghai at 14:00. Two days later departed from Shanghai and reached Mokpo in (South) Korea where they spent the night at a hotel and experienced the hospitality of Geisha for the very first time in their lives leaving the next day, September 24 at 12:40, with particularly fond memories. At 16:40 they had to make an emergency landing at Kushikino, Kagoshima prefecture but managed to reached Kagoshima on the 26th.

  During their stay in Japan they were invited to numerous celebration parties and were presented with a medal by the Teikoku Hiko Kyokai (Imperial Aeronautic Association). They Italian aviators left Kasumigaura on October 17 and reached Rome on November 7.

Some more details on THIS site.

Visitors - The German Female Connection

On August 29, 1931 German aviatrix Margarete (Marga) von Etdzorf landed at Haneda, the new airport of Tokyo, with her Junkers A50 Junior registered D-1811. She was the very first non-Japanese aviator, male or female, to land in Haneda.
She had started on August 18 from Berlin and had flown over Siberia the very first woman solo pilot to do so. Her route stops were Königsberg-Moscow-Kazan-Novosibirsk-Hailar-Lake Baikal-Mukden (Shenyang)-Sinuiju (North Korea)-Pyongyang-Seoul-Daegu.
she finally arrived in Hiroshima on August 28 at 18:30 and was greeted enthusiastically. She spent the night at the famous at the time Kikkawa Ryokan and the next day at 07:20 took-off from Hiroshima, making a brief stop in Osaka before reaching Tokyo amid great celebrations.
A magnificent video on UTube about her from Junkers Filmdokumente shows her arrival in Tokyo.

Two days later on August 31 she was awarded the "yukosho" (Golden medal of Merit) from the Imperial Aviation Association.
On October 14 took-off from Haneda and traced back her steps in Japan but chose the Southern route for her return to Germany effort. Unfortunately her plane was destroyed in Bangkok where she suffered very serious injuries.
Feel free to send us more information!

Visitors - The German Connection (take #3)

"Wolfgang von Gronau was convinced that the Dornier Wals could be used to establish a commercial air route between Germany and the United States.  The German government was not convinced of von Gronau's ideas even after he had made two successful round trip Atlantic crossings. To prove his case, von Gronau decided to make a third crossing. Once started, he decided to extend his 3rd trip to a round-the world flight.  He hoped for world-wide recognition to get the attention of the German government for his air route ideas. 
 On July 22, 1932 in a Donier seaplane called the "Gronland-Wal" (Greenland Whale) he took off from List, Island of Sylt (northern most part of Germany) for his Atlantic crossing flight which he changed to a round-the-world flight.  He was accompanied by his co-pilot, Gerth von Roth and mechanic, Franzl Hack and radio operator, Frtiz Albrecht." (extract from THIS site).

On September 4, 1932 at 10:52 von Gronau's Wal registered D-2050 reached Nemuro in Hokkaido and then finally Kasumigaura on the same day at 15:35. At 19:33 the train took him to Ueno Station for a short but warm welcoming party at the German embassy while on the 5th they all attended a proper party held at the roof garden restaurant of the Imperial Hotel. The crew stayed in Tokyo for about two weeks visiting famous tourist sites in Niko and Kamakura.
Their plan was to start their journey around the world again on the 16th but due to bad weather conditions they took-off from Kasumigaura at 9:35 the next day flying towards Nagoya. Due to heavy rain they had to make an emergency landing at Hiratsuka finally reaching Nagoya at 15:20 where they stayed for four days. On the 21st left Nagoya at 08:40 reaching Kagoshima the same day at 13:00 and leaving on the 23rd at 8:50 and landing in Shanghai at 13:10.

Photo below from a vintage publication probably taken on September 17 in Kasumigaura. Interestingly on-line artwork shows the plane in overall "orange" colour.

Visitors - The New Zealand Connection

Sir Francis Charles Chichester was a brave aviator from New Zealand who visited Japan in 1931. His aircraft was a de Havilland Gipsy Moth, fitted with floats, registered ZK-AKK and named "Madam Elijah". With this small aircraft with an engine of only 100hp he set out to circumnavigate the world departing from Sydney on July 3, 1931. On the 17th he arrived in Manila having flown over New Guinea and then proceeded to Taiwan and Shanghai. From Shanghai he flew to Kagoshima arriving on August 13, a distance which normally took 5-6 hours but in his case it took more than 10. This caused some concern to the Japanese authorities questioning the flier as to his whereabouts and demanding him to describe in detail the cause for the delay. The suspicious pistol with the 17 bullets he had in his possession didn't help either. But once cleared Sir Francis flew to Katsuura harbour, Wakayama the next day, arriving at 15:30. On August 15 he set out to continue his attempt flying to Kasumigaura, taking off at 9:50 but while flying at a low altitude the port wing hit some telephone cables, cutting two but also loosing the port float which caused the aircraft to lose balance and fall in the sea. Sir Francis was seriously injured and had to be hospitalised at the city's local hospital for at least 40 days while his aircraft was completely destroyed thus giving a rather unfortunate end to the bold attempt.

Visitors - The German Connection

On May 11, 1929 at 10:05 in the morning a sole Klemm L20 named "Kamerad" took off from Osaka's Kizugawa airport. The weather was bad but the "mame hikoki" (pea airplane) as it was nicknamed by the Japanese arrived safely in Tachikawa at 15:40. The pilot was Friedrich Karl von Koenig-Warthausen who had arrived on April 28 in Kobe by the German cargo ship Vogtland as part of his successful attempt to fly solo around the world. Nobody expected him in Kobe and the Japanese public was pretty surprised by his sudden arrival without prior notice. The Klemm L20 was transported to Osaka by car and assembled there.

After staying in Tokyo for a few days, on May 22, at 10:30 the German aviator took off from Tachikawa and at 11:08 arrived in Negishi horse-race track on his way to Yokohama. On May 25, at 15:00 left Yokohama with Siberia Maru that would take him to San Francisco.

HERE is a link to a very interesting discussion about the aviator and the aircraft.

And HERE is a page with some rather interesting information in connection with the German ship Vogtland.

Visitors - The Italian Connection

The very first international aviators to visit Japan were the four crew members of the two Italian Ansaldo SVA 9 aircraft who arrived in Yoyogi Parade Ground of Tokyo on May 31, 1920. They were Lt. Arturo Ferrarin with Gino Cappannini and Lt. Guido Masiero with Roberto Maretto.

An excellent article full of details about this flight can be found HERE, a really very good site about aviation pioneers from around the world.

Visitors: The Danish Connection

On March 16, 1926 two Fokker C.VE belonging to the Danish Air Force took off from Copenhagen in an effort to reach Japan. Their crew members included pilot Capt Botved with mechanic Olsen and pilot 1stLT Herschend with mechanic Petersen and the Southern route, via India, was chosen.

On the 21st the two aircraft managed to reach Yesilköy in Turkey. The next they tried to reach Aleppo but only one aircraft reached the city due to bad weather. Capt Bodved landed in Eskisehir, and the following description is from his memoirs:

“The reception was polite although somewhat formal.

We were taken to the Chief of the Aviation Forces, a slight brown man with pitch black

well groomed hair. He greeted us standing on a leopard skin in front of his desk. We were given delicious Turkish coffee in small cups and had to tell details about our trip. Because of unfavourable weather forecasts we decided to wait until next day for our departure. We went into town on a small cart on a narrow gauge railway as no paved road existed. In the afternoon we visited the highest military authority an Army Corps General. Surprisingly we had to climb a ladder to reach his office on the first floor. Many civil authorities were also present, but nobody really addressed us and after half an hour the audience was over. In the evening the Turkish officers invited us for dinner in the town’s best restaurant. The take-off the next day was difficult as the propeller whirled mud up into our faces and it took three attempts to get airborne.” (Source: a quite interesting paper, HERE)

Unfortunately only one of the two aircraft R1 piloted by Capt Botved reached Japan arriving in Tokorozawa on June 1st, 1926 at 11:8 o' clock in the morning.

We had great difficulty finding information about these Danish aviators. Another interesting link with good information is THIS. Perhaps friends from Denmark reading this posting might be interested to send us more information.

Photos: Arawasi Collection

Visitors - The Argentine Connection

Major Pedro Zanni and his mechanic, Felipe Beltrame left Amsterdam, Holland from Schiphol *Airport on July 26, 1924 flying a Fokker C-IV biplane named "Ciudad de Buenos Aires" on an attempt for a round-the-world flight. 

On August 19, 1924 while in Hanoi, French Indo-China after having flown 7,727 miles in 85H 25M flying time, the aircraft crashed upon take-off. A replacement seaplane version of the previous aircraft now called "Provincia de Buenos Aires" was transported from Buenos Aires to Haiphong. The crew then flew on to Kagoshima, Kyushu on October 9 and then Kasumigara**, Ibaraki Prefecture on October 11, 1924 flying an additional 2,939 miles in 34H 25M flying time. The next morning the aviators arrived in Ueno Station, Tokyo where they were greeted by the Argentine Ambassador and other members of the small Argentinian community. They spent the winter in Japan and made a new attempt for their round-the-world flight attempt the following spring preparing for the next stage of their flight via the Kuriles and the Aleutian Islands to North America. While in Japan Major Zanni was "offered the post of military attache for the Argentine Republic at Tokio, which he accepted, enabling him to perfect his arrangements for crossing the Pacific Ocean."

Unfortunately the seplane was heavily damaged on May 14, 1925 when taking off from Kizugawajiri in Osaka, and the flight plan was cancelled.

Major Pedro Zanni was born on March 12, 1891. He entered the Military Academy in 1906 and graduated as gunner in 1909. He crossed the Andes twice in 1920 with Captain Antonio Parodi and was a prominent aviator in Argentine and the rest of South America. (source: CENTRO NAVAL of the Argentine Republic, article in Spanish with more photos: HERE)

*According to Wikipedia: "Before 1852, the Haarlemmermeer polder in which the airport lies was a large lake, in the shallow waters of which sudden violent storms could claim many ships. In English, Schiphol translates to 'Ship Grave', a reference to the number of ships lost in the area." How interesting name for an airport!! 

**Take a look here for more on lake Kasumigaura.  

"Provincia de Buenos Aires" upon arrival in Kasumigaura.

While searching for Major Zanni on the net I discovered this amazing source, TROVE of the National Library of Australia, with an amazing collection of vintage newspapers. So below is a selection of vintage newspaper clippings mostly from Reuters revealing some very interesting details about Major Zanni's adventure. There are some mistakes but I think they are very useful for exact route and departure/arrival details as well as other first hand trivia. I hope you will find them as interesting as I did. I kept the original language and spelling (note "Tokio") but removed the constant mentioning of "Major Pedro Zanni (MPZ) from Argentine on world flight".

1. LONDON, February 27

TREASURE TROVE. Major Pedro Zanni (MPZ), of the Argentine, who will embark in May on a world flight in a British aeroplane, purchased a quantity of bedding at a furniture sale in Buteshire. He found £2000 worth of war bonds in a pillow.

2. AMSTERDAM, JULY 26.

MPZ started this morning on his flight around the world-Reuter

PARIS, July 26.

MPZ arrived here this afternoon.-Reuter

3. Lyons, July 27.

MPZ, arrived here today from Paris. He is following a route similar to that taken by Squadron Leader MacLaren.

4. CONSTANTINOPLE, July 31.

MPZ, arrived here yesterday, and has left for Aleppo. He says that he expects to follow the same route as Major Pelletier d'Oisy the French aviator.

5. Bagdad, July 31.

MPZ, arrived here at noon to-day, and departed for Basra four hours later. He reports that his machine is running splendidly.

6. Friday, August 1

MPZ arrived at Bandar Abbas.

7. ARRIVAL IN INDIA. (Monday, August 4, 1924)

MPZ arrived at Karachi at eight minutes past four o'clock this morning.

8. Karachi, August 5

MPZ left here for Nasirabad this morning.

9. August 5.

MPZ reached Nasirabad (Bengal) this afternoon. He will arrive at Allahabad (United Provinces) tomorrow.

10. August 7.

MPZ, attempted to start for Calcutta at 5.30 this morning, but the undercarriage of his machine sank into the sodden earth, smashing the propeller. A spare propeller was fitted and MPZ left at 9:20 a.m.

11. Calcutta. August 8

MPZ, who was on his way to Calcutta from Allahabad, is reported to have made a forced landing at the village of Isri (198 miles from Calcutta).

12. AIRMAN IN TORRENTIAL MONSOON.

(Reported from) LONDON, Friday, August 22, 1924

The Argentine airman, Major Zanni, reached Rangoon in a- non-stop flight, from Calcutta in eight hours. He flew through a torrential monsoon, over the Bay of Bengal.

13. The above was reported from London on August 22, but MPZ had the accident in Hanoi on August 19. So the above indicates the conditions under which he crossed to Burma.

14. (Reported from) Tokio. August 22, 1924

Major Zanni will continue has flight with the spare aeroplane which arrived in Kobe

to-day on board of a vessel from London. It will probably be transhipped to the steamer Wakasa Maru to-morrow, and it should reach Haiphong (Tongking) within a fortnight.

An announcement to this effect was made to-day by Dr. S. Garcia Uriburu (the Argentina Minister to Japan), who received a cable message to-day from Major Zanni asking for the immediate shipment of the machine to Haiphong. Major Zanni said in his message: "My machine crashed, but I am determined to continue my flight."

Patricio Murphy, Major Zanni's advance agent, has been directed to continue his work of' laying out the route of the flight.

The question of whether a trans-Pacific flight will be attempted will not be settled till Major Zanni reaches Tokio, but Dr. Uriburu, several Japanese officials, and a number of American air officers who assisted the American fliers, consider that the season is too late for such a venture. - Reuter

15. HONG KONG, September 22.

MPZ arrived here to-day.

16. DETAILS OF ACCIDENT

(Reported from) TOKIO, Wednesday.

The Argentine world flier, Major Zanni, and his companions left Kowloon at 8.15 this morning, aboard a motor boat for their aeroplane for the purpose of resuming the flight to Foochow. When off the naval yard the motor boat collided with the Government steam launch Victoria. The motor boat was struck on the starboard quarter and slightly damaged.

The impact caused it to heel over, and Major Zanni and Senor Rouillon were thrown into the water. Major Zanni’s mechanic, Beltrame, jumped aboard the Victoria. Senor Rouillon swam, but Major Zanni disappeared and as he was unable to swim his companions gave him up for lost, but another motor boat which was passing picked him and Senor Rouillon up.

The Victoria came around and took the party aboard, landing them at Kowloon.

Major Zanni lost a pocket book containing bank notes and a letter of credit, but recovered a chart. He retained his composure after the accident, and was none the worse for his immersion. Beltrame exhibited considerable anxiety for the safety of his chief, who was not seen for five minutes after the collision.

Major Zanni hopes to "hop off" for Foochow to-morrow morning.-Reuter

17. HONGKONG, Saturday, 27 September

MPZ, left for Foochow this morning, and arrived there this afternoon.

18. SHANGHAI, October 1

MPZ left Foochow for Shanghai this morning, and reached Shanghai at 3 p.m. -Reuter.

19. SHANGHAI, Thursday, 9 September

MPZ has left for Kagoshima.

20. KAGOSHIMA, October 9

MPZ arrived here at 4.10 p.m. to-day from Shanghai.

21. ROUND THE: WORLD

Major Zanni's Progress.

NOW AT TOKIO - February 25, 1925

The Argentinian aviator, Major P. L. Zanni, will resume, his flight round the world, starting, from Tokio, on May 1. This announcement was made by an attache to the Argentine Legation at Tokio, who has arrived here, to make final arrangements for the Pacific to be crossed by the Aleutian route, to Vancouver, thence to San Francisco, New York and Newfoundland.

An attempt will be made to cross the Atlantic.

22. MAJOR ZANNI OFF AGAIN.

TOKIO, Tuesday

MPZ, who had to postpone his attempt last year to fly round the world, owing to the lateness of the season, will probably be leaving Kasumigaura, in the Kurile Islands, for Alaska on May 24. If the Soviet refuses him permission for landing at Petropavlosk, Kamchatka, Major Zanni proposes alighting on the sea surface.

23. AN UNFORTUNATE AVIATOR.

MAJOR ZANNI'S PLANE DAMAGED - OSAKA, May 14, 1925

Major Zanni’s seaplane overturned today while he was attempting to start, about noon, for Kasumi Gaura. It was just leaving the water when the two floats broke off, the machine being overturned. A launch immediately proceeded to the scene, taking on board the Argentine aviator and his two assistants, who were unhurt. The plane was towed by a launch to land and lifted by a crane.-Reuter.

24. MAJOR ZANNI'S FLIGHT ABANDONED.

DELAY WITH THE MACHINE.

(Reported from) BUENOS AIRES, May 29

The attempt at a world flight, by the Argentine airman, Major Pedro Zanni, is considered here to have ended. It is understood that the organising committee will shortly adopt a resolution to this effect.

A message from the aviator in Tokio stated that the repairs to his machine could not be completed before July, and the weather conditions would necessitate postponement of the flight till September, by which time the charter of the vessels engaged to patrol the route would have expired.-Reuter 

Visitors - The German Connection

Perhaps you noticed the phrase regarding a "Condor" visit to Japan in our previous post. Here's the story with some info from the net and extras from Japanese sources. All photos are from Japanese vintage publications.

Three months after the remarkable for the time non-stop flight from Berlin to New York, Fw200 registered D-ACON and carrying the name "Brandenburg" decided this time to to visit Japan.  On November 28, 1938 Flugkapitane Alfred Henke, Capt. Rudolf von Moreau (2nd pilot), Paul Dierberg (wireless operator-engineer) and Walter Kober (radio operator) together with crew chief Georg Kohne (Focke Wulf) and Consul Heinz Young (Director of Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau GmbH Berlin) took-off from Berlin's Tempellhof airport and after stops in Basra, Karachi and Hanoi finally landed in Tachikawa, Tokyo (Haneda was undergoing repairs). The time was 46 hours, 15 minutes and 52 seconds corresponding to an average speed of 192 km/h, including ground time at the stops. 

The Condor arriving at Tachikawa airport, November 30, at exactly 22:34:24.

Crew and passengers are getting off.

An enthusiastic crowd had gathered, eagerly waiting their arrival.

A welcome ceremony was held at a nearby hangar.

After that they were all driven to the Imperial Hotel

where they stayed for the rest of their visit.

A map showing the route and the distance covered.

The next day was really hectic. The schedule included visits to Meiji and Yasukuni shrines, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of the Navy, Army Aviation Headquarters, Army Ministry and Foreign Ministry followed by a tea party at the house of Transportation Minister at 16:00. The photo above was taken somewhere along this route. The "X" indicates the German Ambassador to Japan Eugen Ott.  

On December 2 (or 4) the schedule included a party at Kabuki-za (HERE) sponsored by Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shinbun. In the above photo Captain Henke is shaking hands with one of the most famous Kabuki actors of all time Onoe Kikugoro the 6th.

On November 5 at 6:00am Prince Chichibu-no-miya visited Tachikawa airfield and was given a tour by Capt. Henke. 

Unfortunately the return flight of the next day, Nov. 6 did not have a happy ending. The aircraft took-off at 5:37 from Tachikawa, flew over Okinawa without any problem at 11:00 but had to make an emergency landing at 16:40 (Japan time) in Rosario beach, Cavite, Manila Bay due to a malfuction of the fuel pomp that resulted in three engines shutting down.

Visitors - The French Connection

On March 2, 1931 a single Farman 190, called "Alsa" took-off from Paris with a crew of two; (Ernest) Christian Moench and Johanny Burtin. Covering a distance of 2,800km on March 21 at 15:05 they arrived in Tokyo's Tachikawa airport where they were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd.

The stops were:

Athens/Greece (3/3, 18:45)

"Persia"

Karachi - British India (now Pakistan) (10/3 take-off )

Bangkok - Thailand (13/3 12:00 arrival)

Hong Kong - China (17/3 take-off) 

made emergency landing the same day in Shantou-China due to heavy fog

Shantou (18/3 take-off)

Shanghai (18/3 arrival)

Seoul - Korea (19/3 arrival)

Seoul (21/3 take-off)

The very French-looking Moench (right) and Burtin enjoy a Gauloises (maybe) upon arrival.

On March 24 the two pilots were decorated with the "Yukosho" (medal for brave deeds. Similar to the British "George Cross") at the "Hatonoma" (Pigeon Hall) of the "Hikokan" (Aviation Building) belonging to the "Teikoku Hiko Kyokai" (Imperial Aviation Association).

Two days later they took-off from Tachikawa, at 07:08, and arrived back to Le Bourget airport of Paris on April 19.

The Farman 190, No.52, serial number 7222, registration F-ALAP    

Visitors - The "Soviet" connection

"A Soviet aeroplane flew to Tokyo from Moskow, a distance of 10,000 kilometers in 12 days."

"Top-Left: Pilot Shestakov and Mechanic Fufaiev being given a hearty welcome at Tachikawa, September 1.

Top-Right: The airmen were presented with flowers.

Center-Left: Major Abe, hero of the Asahi European flight, welcome M. Shestakov.

Center-Right: The plane landing at Okayama, August 31."

"Right-in-Oval: A welcome dinner was given at the Tokyo Asahi Office, September 2. Dr. Shinomura, Director of the Asahi, addressing the guests. 

Lower-Left: The plane being led by an Asahi plane over Hakone mountain range.

Lower-Right: A welcome dinner at Heijo [Pyongyang]."

Photos from "Asahi Graph" September 14, 1927 issue. Original captions.

According to Wikipedia (here):

"In 1927, the British minister at the foreign office, Austin Chamberlain, brother of British Prime Minister Neville, severed diplomatic ties with the USSR. In response, the next journey by an ANT-3 was a flight from Moscow to Tokyo and back to Moscow, which took place between August 20 and September 1, 1927, and the plane was titled “Our Reply.” The flight was titled “The Great Eastern Overflight,” and was piloted by Semion Shestakov. The ANT-3 used was powered by a Mikulin M-5. The expedition covered about 22,140 km (13,500 mi) in 153 flying hours (today, it would take 18 hours), by going from Moscow- Sarapul- Omsk- Novosibirsk- Krasnoyarsk- Irkutsk- Chita- Blagovenshensk- Nanian- Yokohama- Tokyo, and then return. Though not the most direct possible, there were good propaganda opportunities."

From the net:

Registration was "RR-INT" Osoaviakhim SSSR Nash Otvet (Our Answer). Pilot S. A. Shestakov and mechanic D.V. Fufaev were awarded the Order of the Red Banner for their effort. 

One more photo from our collection:

Iskender sent the following:

I'd like to provide some information regarding the pilot. 

   Shestakov Semen Aleksandrovich (1898-1943). Test pilot, Colonel. Participated in Great October Revolution (1917), Russian Civil War (1917-1923), Great Patriotic War (1942-1943). 

   In 1920’s Shestakov worked as a test pilot at Scientific Research Institute of the Air Force (NII VVS). In spring 1927 he was also a member of commission accepting (in Leningrad) Junkers C.30 (Yug-1) bombers produced in Germany for VVS RKKA. 

   He participated in a number of long distance flights. Between August 20 and September 1, 1927 pilot Shestakov and flight mechanic Fufayev D.V. completed the long distance flight in ANT-3 (R-3) “Nash otvet” (Our Answer) between Moscow-Sarapul-Omsk-Novosibirsk-Krasnoyarsk-Irkutsk-Verkhneudinsk-Chita-Nerchinsk-Blagoveshensk-Spassk-Nanyan-Okayama-Tokyo and back (September 10-22), covering 21 700 km. in 153 flight hours. Shestakov was awarded the Red Banner order for this feat.

   Shestakov had approached Tupolev A.N. (aircraft designer) and Baranov P.I. (VVS RKKA commander in chief) with a suggestion for a transcontinental flight. Boris Sterligov – leading specialist at NII VVS (later to become chief navigator of VVS) and navy pilot Filipp Bolotov (commander of seaplane detachment) were invited to the crew. The first unsuccessful flight commenced on August 6, 1929 in TB-1 (ANT-4) named “Strana Sovetov” (Soviet Country). Engines stopped after the fuel has run out close to the city of Chita and the plane crashed in taiga. 

   The crew returned back to Moscow and took off on a second flight using a backup plane. First pilot Shestakov S.A., second pilot Bolotov F.Y., navigator Sterligov B.V. and flight mechanic Fufayev D.V. flew the path of Moscow- Chelyabinsk-Novosibirsk-Krasnoyarsk-Irkutsk-Chita-Blagoveshensk-Khabarovsk-Nikolayevsk on Amur-Petropavlovsk Kamchatskiy-Attu-Unalaksha-Seward-Sitka-Waterfall-Seattle-Oakland-San-Fransisco-Chicago-Detroit-New York. The distance of 21 242 km. was covered under extremely unfavorable weather conditions (constant fog and storms along the whole course) in 141 hours 53 minutes of flight time. Wheels were changed for floats in Khabarovsk and back to wheels in Seattle. The distance of 8 000 km. was flown over the ocean in 50 hours and 30 minutes. The welcome party in Seattle on November 1, 1929 was triumphant. 

   Later in his career Shestakov commanded TB-1 bomber detachment in the Soviet Far East. In 1933 his detachment was reequipped with TB-3 bombers. On October 16, 1941 together with flight engineer Rozenfeld A.A. he took off in the experimental Pe-2M plane equipped with M-105TK (turbocharged) engines and flew it from Kazan to Moscow.

   Shestakov took part in the Great Patriotic War. In October 1942 he took command of 146th fighter regiment, which was at the time fighting on South-Western Front. He was shot down flying his Yak-7b fighter and wounded in both legs on August 1, 1943 during heavy fighting close to Lokno-Borilovo village at Orel salient (Battle for Kursk). According to a later research after bailing out over the enemy lines he became POW and perished in German captivity. His wingman was also shot down and captured in the same fight, but later managed to escape.

   Unfortunately Shestakov and his long distance flights were undeservedly forgotten in the USSR, unlike the pre war deeds of other famous Soviet flyers: Chkalov, Baidukov, Levanevskiy, Grizodubova, Kokkinaki etc. 

Link to Shestakov’s pre war picture (here).

Thank you very much Iskender for the most interesting information.

Visitors - The "Czecho-Slovakian" connection

Two photos from a vintage publication; "AsahiGraph" September 14, 1927 . Original article captions.

"Czecho-Slovakian plane, piloted by Lieut. Colonel Skala arrived at Tokorozawa Army aerodrome on September 4. The picture shows the airman with mechanic Taufer being greeted at the aerodrome. Mr. Svagrovsky, Czecho-Slovakian Minister, is seen with the airman."

"The Czecho-Slovakian airman, Lieut.-Colonel Skala, is seen exchanging greeting with general Shirakawa, War Minister and Admiral Okada, Navy Minister when a welcome luncheon was given in his honour at the Imperial Hotel, September 5. M. Taufer, mechanic, is seen in the centre."

Miroslav Kárník of RISING DECALS sent us the following information:

The flight from Praha (Prague) to Tokyo (cicra 23,000km) was undertaken by pplk. Jaroslav Skála and mechanic Matej Taufer with Czech bomber/scout aircraft Letov Š-16 in 1927. In the attached links you can see some photos of the aircraft, a map of the flight and more.

Fragment (tail fin) of the aircraft is on display in the Museum of Flight in Praha (Prague) - Kbely - link for photos here. Link with details about the flight here. Link about the aircraft, here. Video from Czech TV about the flight, here.

Letov Š-16 is probably one of only two Czech pre-war aircraft that flew to Japan. The next aircraft was Zlin Z-XII (here). The other pre-war Czech aircraft with hinomaru was Avia Ba-33 (here) but it flew only in China, not in Japan.

Thank you very much Mirek and Peter for the additional interesting information.

Our friend Yokokawa Yuichi with the fantastic blog (HERE) sent us today one more photo (from here) of the arrival of Skála/Taufer in Tokorozawa.

We also discovered one more photo in our vintage publication archives.

Harold K：

George, from the photos of the rudder in the Praha-Kbely museum, can you translate for us the Japanese inscriptions on it?

Mukden is present day Shenyang in NE China. Pyongyang and Daegu are in North and South Korea respectively. Half of the last name is hidden. The visible part could be read as "Tokoro". HTH. 

Yokokawa-san sent us some more information regarding locations and dates (thank you very much).

27/8/1927 from Mukden to a location north of Sonchon

27/8/1927 → Pyongyang

01/9/1927 Pyongyang → Daegu 　

03/9/1927 Daegu → Osaka　

04/9/1927 Osaka → Tokorozawa

12/9/1927 Tokorozawa → Okayama

14/9/1927 Okayama → Daegu → Pyongyang

15/9/1927 Pyongyang → Mukden