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Re: Exports to Japan
This is an interesting but rather complicated subject, even if original documents are used as sources. There are several causes for conflicting data: Export statistics will contain different figures if they reflect date of acceptance at the factory, date of dispatch from the factory or date of shipping, and these dates might be different for a batch of, say four aircraft. Some aircraft WERE delivered from the factory but were diverted or destroyed on their way to Japan so never arrived there.
Two He 119s were ordered by the Japanese Navy. Partial payments were made in 1939 and by May 1940 Heinkel was discussing the release of these aircraft for export. He argued that they had no value at all for the Luftwaffe as they had been built especially for Japan. A report on Heinkel for the period January-March 1941 states that the purchase by Japan of two He 119Ks was now complete and final payment was due. This normally means that the aircraft has been delivered.
The RDLI export statistics contain 2 He 119 to Japan in 1941.
According to Volker Koos, Heinkel delivered He 119 SV2 and SV4 to Japan, but the problem with this is that these aircraft were part of a batch of prototypes built to RLM orders. The designation He 119K probably indicates that they had been built for export from the outset.
Japanese sources show that two He 119s were imported.
Lennart Andersson
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