SM 75 to Japan, 1942
Posted By: Gus Euripides <
geuripides@yahoo.com>I just read that the Italians succeeded in traveling via a SM-75 to Japan in late 1942. The purpose of the flight was to deliver code information to Tokyo. The aircraft apparently stopped in northern China, and was repainted in Japanese markings before the last leg of the journey to Japan. Does anyone know where I can find a copy of this aircraft, the color scheme and markings?
Posted By: Peter Willicks <
peter.willicks@stk.rlp.de>Hello Gus,
I've got Peter Herde's book on the "Japanflug"-plans, which mainly covers the Italian plans in detail. Unfortunately I'm at the office now - and the book is at home. I'll check it this evening and shall tell you tomorrow, what I have found. The book includes some pictures of the plane, but I'm not sure, if these are good enough to recognize the color scheme. I don't know either if a kit of the SM-75 exists. An Italian modelers website (IPMS Italy) "accuses" Aviation Usk to have done it, but on their new homepage only the SM-82 is mentioned, which con be made into an impressive model, although it is a vacu.
Until tomorrow
Peter
Posted By: Gus Euripides <
geuripides@yahoo.com>Thanks Peter. I've ordered Herde's book as well, and will be interested to find out what he's learned. The SM 75 trip was quite amazing given the fact that the pilots had no navigational equipment save for their compass. They flew the first leg at 2500 feet and were almost hit by AA. So, what does Herde say about the German efforts reach the Far East? I had always suspected the Germans knew the route. I mean, how they ship aircraft to Manchuria? Did they ship them or did they fly them there? I know at least two He-116's were used in Manchuria, as well as Ju-86 airliners. Let me know what you think of Herde's book. Is it well documented? Are the photographs simply generic photos of the "types" of aircraft or did they find photos of the actual aircraft involved? Do you know the farthest flight ever made by the Germans during wartime? The Japanese flew a DC-3 all over Persia and East Africa, from what I understand. I would be interested to know if the Germans did the same. Probably flew to Argentina? Cheers!
Posted By: Mike Goodwin <
Mike.Goodwin@iname.com>There is one picture of this aircraft in Mikesh's "Japanese Aircraft Code Names and Designations", the under wing marking is visible, but not to the extent that it can be distinguished between Japanese and Italian.
Cheers,
Mike
Posted By: Peter Willicks <
peter.willicks@stk.rlp.de>Hello Gus,
Here is some information on the SM 75 from P. Herde's book, as promised yesterday:
Serial nr: MM 60539. The plane was modified to extend the range and it was painted in a very dark color, called nerofumo = soot, so it seems to be a dull black. There is one picture, which shows that s a small hinomaru was painted on the white band around the aft' fuselage. This marking of Italian planes was retained as was the "savoyan cross" on the fin. The hinomarus on the wings are not shown.
The book itself is a very detailed study of the theme. The main focus seems to be the Italian flight and plans. I haven't finished reading, but I suppose nearly half of it covers this part. The reason is that the author has discovered many sources in Italian archives and he even met one of the pilots of the Italian flight, who gave him additional information and handed over his never published autobiography.
But Herde also used most of the German diplomatic sources and also many of the American magic reports, which covered the reports of the Japanese diplomats and attachés in Germany. So the German and the Japanese parts of the story are also reported in detail.
But ... and there some big "But". First Peter Herde is a historian, but not a military historian and definitely not an expert in aircraft. I suppose, when he started his research he couldn't tell a Focke-Wulf Condor from a SM 75 and I have my doubts if he will be able to do it now.
He confuses the Japanese planes and tells us, that they used a Tachikawa Ki-74 (!) instead of the Ki-77, although he once used the correct "A-26" nomination. He put two pictures of the Ki-74 in his study and although he used a book by Kenneth Munson where the types are listed correctly, he didn't notice it. He mentioned a retired teacher of an academy of the modern Japanese air force as the source of this mistake.
On the other hand, he suffered from a typical German tendency to do it right and cover your subject in detail. I'm German too and just look at my long response. For example, the Axis planned to carry Subhas Chandra Bose as a passenger to Japan by plane. But Herde also tells us all he could find about Bose and his fight for India and what Hitler thought of him. And he also reports every detail and every change, of the discussion of the exact route of the flight. I'm not an expert in Asian geography, so this makes it a hard piece of reading.
To summarize it, I'm glad, that our library has got this book, I' wouldn't pay 60.- DM for it.
Peter
Posted By: Gus Euripides <
geuripides@yahoo.com>Thanks Peter. Despite your review of the book, I am still anxious to get my copy. If Herde has anything to say about the Luftwaffe's infamous (non)flight to Japan, I would be interested in knowing it. Could you be so kind when convenient to summarize in one or two sentences whether Herde concurs with the German aviation historians? Oh, by the way, I read in the Monogram Close Up, Ju-290 that three "Ju-290A-9's" were used due to their "extremely long range". Before, you see, I had read that A-3's or A-5's were used! Thanks again.
Posted By: Peter Willicks <
peter.willicks@stk.rlp.de>Good morning Gus,
I'm sorry, if I did not mention it clearly. Of course Herde covers the German plans, from the first discussions to use a Blohm&Voss Bv 222 flying boat up to the never realized Ju 290 flight. As we have stated here some weeks ago: The Japanese did not agree to use the northern route over soviet territory and the Germans didn't want to use the southern route via Iraq and India, because the range of their planes was insufficient. So the trip was cancelled, as mentioned by Ott & Koessler. So if you want to make a diorama "Ju 290 at Tokyo" you have to put it into the "Luftwaffe 1946" section. Herde used many diplomatic sources of German and Japanese origin, so I think he gives us a good description of these plans, much more detailed than Ott & Koessler in their book on the Ju 90& co. I'll check what they say about the Ju 290 A-9
Cheers