IJN/IJAA and Luftwaffe Exchange Pilots

[Larry deZeng]

Originally Posted by Broncazonk

I am unaware of IJN/IJAA pilots flying or training with the Luftwaffe--ever. Even mid-1930s, I've never read an account of this happening.
Conversely, I've never read an account of Luftwaffe pilots flying or training in Japan--ever.
Am I missing something? (Obviously.) So would someone please tell me what I am missing?
It seems to me that both the IJN/IJAA and Luftwaffe missed an incredibly important training/professional development opportunity.
Bronc

This excellent work says there were extensive numbers of Japanese military, diplomatic and civilian personnel transported back and forth between Japan and Germany aboard the Trans-Siberian railway from August 1939 to March 1943. Surprisingly, a treaty between Japan and the USSR permitted this. But no German passengers, however. There was also some travel by ship (mainly prior to the war) and by submarine. Aside from Japanese military attache personnel, the remaining Japanese military were all technical personnel sent to study aeronautical and other developments that Japan hoped it could use against the Allies in the Pacific. There was no exchange of trainees or aircrew, according to the source.

L.

Krug, Hans-Joachim, Yōichi Hirama, Berthold J. Sander-Nagashima and Axel Niestlé. Reluctant Allies: German-Japanese Naval Relations in World War II. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 2001. ISBN: 1-55750-465-2. Hb. Dj. 414p. Illus. Appendices. Glossary. Source notes. Bibliography. Index. See pages 199-201.

[Broncazonk]

Originally Posted by Larry deZeng

This excellent work says there were extensive numbers of Japanese military, diplomatic and civilian personnel transported back and forth between Japan and Germany aboard the Trans-Siberian railway from August 1939 to March 1943. Surprisingly, a treaty between Japan and the USSR permitted this. But no German passengers, however. There was also some travel by ship (mainly prior to the war) and by submarine. Aside from Japanese military attache personnel, the remaining Japanese military were all technical personnel sent to study aeronautical and other developments that Japan hoped it could use against the Allies in the Pacific. There was no exchange of trainees or aircrew, according to the source.

L.

Krug, Hans-Joachim, Yōichi Hirama, Berthold J. Sander-Nagashima and Axel Niestlé. Reluctant Allies: German-Japanese Naval Relations in World War II. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 2001. ISBN: 1-55750-465-2. Hb. Dj. 414p. Illus. Appendices. Glossary. Source notes. Bibliography. Index. See pages 199-201.

An awesome post about a mostly unknown history.

I've always wondered if, how and why not.

Thank you.

Bronc