DFS230 to Japan ?

[Peter Ocker]

Dear all,
on 20.november 1942 the Germany-based japanese company Mitsui Bussan asked for an offer for 3 DFS230 gliders, on 14.january 1943 those aircraft were ordered.

• Did they ever arrive in Japan ?
• If so, what was done with the aircraft ?
• Is there any evidence (photo or paperwork) that those gliders were in Japan ?

Regards, Peter

[R Leonard]

FWIW, from a USAAF report entitled “German Technical Aid to Japan” issued on 31 August 1945:

“DFS-230:
Clearance for Japanese purchase of three DFS--230 gliders was given during the latter half of 1942; two of those gliders were listed as being left behind at Bordeaux. There is no evidence of the third glider, nor of any data concerning this glider type, having been sent to the Far East. A descriptive booklet on the DFS-230 was found among papers left behind in the Japanese Embassy in Berlin.”

Rich

[Peter Ocker]

Dear Rich thank you, but what could be "left behind at Bordeaux" ?
The invasion was in 1944, so no idea why the transport would have been stopped for any reason ?
Best regards, Peter Ocker

[Lennart Andersson]

I agree that these three DFS 230s were recorded as exported to Japan. I would guess that they were stored in France until a suitable transport opportunity in the form of a ship going to Japan turned up - which never happened. As you probebly know the Germans and Japanese were so desperate that they even sent aircraft and other high value cargo with special transport submarines.

Lennart Andersson

[edwest]

I suggest you ask here:


http://www.j-aircraft.org




Ed

[Boomerang]

Hello Peter:

The description of two DFS 230's being left behind at Bordeaux is consistent with them being intended for transport to Japan via U boat - transport U Boats used Bordeaux as a base for departure for Japan.

This link provides some information about the fascinating story of the Far East U Boats:

http://www.uboataces.com/articles-fareast-boats1.shtml

One thing you will note is the very heavy losses of these boats. Even if any DFS 230 was ever sent, it is very likely to have been lost en route.

To take your research forward, you could try to find the cargo lists for all the transport U Boats dispatched to the Far East. This would be one for the U Boat community.

Regards

Don W