Japanese 109?

[lyric1]

Interesting story here.





The first letter of August the 21st of 1943 is probably one of my favorites. A two-page handwritten letter where James includes photograph of all things, an ME-109. Now, the ME-109 was a German aircraft. Somewhere along the way the Germans and the Japanese must have shared some technology, since here James was in combat, flying a mission and being attacked by an ME-109 painted in Japanese Air Force colors! James managed to snap a shot with his camera of the ME-109 as it passed over his B-24 top turret. Moments later he shot it down during another pass. He states in the letter, “My last confirmation was an ME-109, nothing like variety.” There is also an enclosed newspaper article where a local man toasts Jim’s three kills with a drink, as there was a running bet/wager for drinks for every kill Jim could score. I dare say this photograph is the only existing photograph of a Japanese employed ME-109 engaging in direct aerial combat against U.S. forces in WWII.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/JAPENESE-ME109-SHOT-DOWN-14TH-AAF-GUNNERS-RECORDS-ORDERS-LETTERS-COMBAT-PHOTOS-/121915557442?hash=item1c62bbc642%3Ag%3AD-sAAOSwZQxW24Ha&nma=true&si=OEJsuCG%252FogsOsh5SNE5Pl8vI0Bc%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

[LCADolby]

Over in India 1944 I have a photo my Grandad took of a friend on a battered Jap 109. It's somewhere on my Facebook, the aircraft had been gutted for parts then propped up for show. I think it's fantastic there is a picture of one in flight. 

[bustr]

Like this?

[Devil 505]

The 109 in the first picture is an F model or later and I see no clear Japanese markings in that picture. The only known 109s to have been evaluated by the Japanese military were E models, as the 2 other photo's show.

While the 109 was not liked by the Japanese, they did like it's DB601 engine - which was built under license in Japan for use in the Ki-61.

[lyric1]

Might have to dig about online to see what units were about in China at that time. Have found photos of the B-24 that shot it down.

http://www.b24bestweb.com/ramprooster-v1-1.htm

http://www.b24bestweb.com/ramprooster-v1-2.htm

http://www.b24bestweb.com/ramprooster-v1-3.htm

http://www.b24bestweb.com/ramprooster-v1-4.htm

[lyric1]

Know where in China now.
Same date as the letter about the 109 shoot down in the EBAY link.

"Hankow, China, on 21 Aug 1943"


http://www.usaaf-in-cbi.com/308th_web/308_history.htm

[lyric1]

Looks like 25th Sentai was most likely units for IJAAF for that time frame.

https://www.asisbiz.com/IJAAF-Units.html

https://books.google.com/books?id=j0HZay_yOLkC&pg=PA127&lpg=PA127&dq=10th+Dokuritsu+Hiko+Chutai+-+became+25th+Hiko+Sentai+Oct+1942&source=bl&ots=pY3kTJBQoF&sig=dDnh6ycUTuFT5Dqfb-SxUqIwoNg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi856LhkJHMAhXEQCYKHZiBCrAQ6AEIHTAA#v=onepage&q=10th%20Dokuritsu%20Hiko%20Chutai%20-%20became%2025th%20Hiko%20Sentai%20Oct%201942&f=false

25th Confirmed.


"21 August 1943
14 B-24s, 7 B-25s, and 11 P-40s from the 14th AF attacked docks and the airfield at Hankou. A large force of enemy fighters, estimated at 50+, attacked the B-24 formation, shooting down two of the B-24s. Gunners on the B-24s claimed 40+ fighters shot down!
374th and 375th BS, 308th BG, received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for this raid on Hankou.
Major Toshio Sakagawa, commander of the 25th Sentai, claimed to have shot down the lead aircraft from a formation of B-24s, his unit also claiming a second of these bombers. Sakagawa’s claim was reportedly the first B-24 brought down in China and the pilot a Major Beat, became a POW."

http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/sino-japanese-1943.htm

[lyric1]

I see no clear Japanese markings in that picture.

I do on the fuselage.
It looks to be be in the exact spot as the colourised 109-E version only the white line is thinner.

[lyric1]

From another forum on this topic. 109-G4

"According to the attached document from the files of German export company Fokkes & Koch, two Messerschmitt Me 109G-4 aircraft were supplied to the Japanese in early 1943. The document is a credit note detailing the Fokkes & Koch commission on the sale of the two aircraft to Japan. One would think that this would only be prepared if delivery actually succeeded.  It also gives the serial number of the two aircraft as 16309 and 16310".

[Devil 505]

From another forum on this topic. 109-G4

"According to the attached document from the files of German export company Fokkes & Koch, two Messerschmitt Me 109G-4 aircraft were supplied to the Japanese in early 1943. The document is a credit note detailing the Fokkes & Koch commission on the sale of the two aircraft to Japan. One would think that this would only be prepared if delivery actually succeeded.  It also gives the serial number of the two aircraft as 16309 and 16310".

Now this is an excellent find. A G-4 definitely fits the shape of the plane in the first picture.

[Ack-Ack]

The 109 in the first picture is an F model or later and I see no clear Japanese markings in that picture. The only known 109s to have been evaluated by the Japanese military were E models, as the 2 other photo's show.

While the 109 was not liked by the Japanese, they did like it's DB601 engine - which was built under license in Japan for use in the Ki-61.

The Japanese Bf 109s also didn't come with guns.

[Devil 505]

The Japanese Bf 109s also didn't come with guns.

That was true for the 109E's, but the picture and manifest from '43 indicate a G-4 model. I believe that the G-4 was probably evaluated at the same time as the 190A-5 which was definitely sent to Japan fully armed.

[lyric1]

That was true for the 109E's, but the picture and manifest from '43 indicate a G-4 model. I believe that the G-4 was probably evaluated at the same time as the 190A-5 which was definitely sent to Japan fully armed.

(Image removed from quote.)

Correct

Also there was a second page I forgot to list.