Japanese pilot

rammjaeger · 5 September 2006, 09:24 AM

Is anything known about Inokichi (Onokichi?) Isobe´s later development.
Navy engineer. Born in Tokio 14 August 1877.

He learned to fly in Germany (# 598) with a Rumpler-Taube in 1913.

TIA.

Rammjaeger

ONEALM · 5 September 2006, 12:55 PM

Hi Rammjaeger -

If you are look for Isobe's post-war life, I'm afraid I can't be much help.

Tsuru started a thread http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=26225 about Kiyotake Shigeno which might be of interest.

I have very little about Isobe's war-time career, but you are welcome to it if interested. Let me know, I'll post all I have about him. Tsuru has been busy as well and may have more.....

-Regards
Mike

TomVrille · 5 September 2006, 06:16 PM

I have only a bit of information about Lieutenant Onokiti Isobe's wartime career, taken from Cross & Cockade (US), Vol. 26, No.1

Lieutenant Onokiti Isobe
Assigned Spa.57 --- 28 January 1917
Sent to hospital --- 6 March 1917 (injured in Take-off accident)
Decorated Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur --- 7 March 1917

I hope this little input is of some use to you.

Barrett · 6 September 2006, 03:12 PM

Take a look at J-aircraft.com and the JAAF message board. Might be worth posting there.

rammjaeger · 7 September 2006, 11:25 AM

Thank you very much, dear forumites!

Well done!

VBR
Rammjaeger

Tsuru · 7 September 2006, 02:58 PM

Hi Rammjaeger,

Please find hereafter some information on Onokichi Isobe:

Link: http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defe...&_C=-696878528

Photomontage: Isobe and his Taube? A reference to von Plüschow and his Taube maybe? I am sorry; I don’t speak / read Japanese.

Keep you posted on further findings.

Cheers,
Tsuru

Sources (Attachment):

Photo #1:
Japanese magazine

Photos #2 and #3:
Book title: Nihon Hikoki Hyakusen - A Selection of 100 Japanese Aircraft -
Author: Tadashi Nozawa
Publisher: Akita Shoten

rammjaeger · 11 September 2006, 10:50 AM

Thank you very much, Tsuru!

Very helpful information.

VBR
Rammjaeger

ONEALM · 11 September 2006, 08:30 PM

Tsuru -

The captions are too small for me to read completely, but it does say the airplane is a "German Rumpler Taube" at some kind of gathering and that the top photo is a man named "Omura". There's also a reference to something taking 2 years 3 months, but I'd need a larger image to have any hope of reading it completely.

Hope that helps.....

Memoire de Hommes gives Isobe's first name as Onokitchi. "Onokiti" is a westernization for certain - there is no "ti" in Japananese. His service records indicate he was born on 14 April 1878 in Kanasawa, Japan. He was married upon entering service, employed as a Marine officer. Entered aviation on 3 March 1916. Trained at Chartres (?), Avord, Cazeaux and Pau.

May have first served with N.76 after leaving GDE on 19 Oct (?) 1916. Convelescing as of 15 January 1917.

His name was probably written like the attached Kanji characters. The first character read "Iso" is almost exclusively used in place or family names. Windosock V7/2 1991 has a nice article about Kiyotake Shigeno and includes a speculative color profile of Isobe's Nieuport 17 while with N.57.

That's about all I have -
Mike

ONEALM · 13 September 2006, 07:51 PM

Tsuru -

Thanks for the higher res scan. I'm working on it now. I can tell you the article talks about an aerial event during the 2nd year of Taisho (1914) in which Isobe flew the Taube pictured. There are a few kanji I will need assistance with (I should have studied harder !) - but have a good (and very, very cute) friend working with me on the full translation. Should have the whole thing for you in a few days.

Keep at it,
Mike

ONEALM · 14 September 2006, 07:36 AM

Tsuru -

My good friend, mentor and chief American conservator of the French Aviation unit histories of the Great War, Bill Bailey, saw your post and forwarded the following on Isobe.

ISOBE, Onokichi Lt
GDE 20 Sep 16 26 Oct 16 -
N 48 26 Oct 16 2 Dec 16 -
Conv 15 Jan 17 -
GDE 15 Jan 17 28 Jan 17 -
N 57 28 Jan 17 6 Mar 17 - Injured
Hosp/Conv 6 Mar 17 - -

Born 14 August 1878, Japan.
Naval officer before the war.
Enlisted 1 February 1916, 1er Régiment Étranger.
Promoted Lieutenant 18 February 1916.
Student pilot 3 March 1916, trained at Chartres, Avord, Cazaux and Pau.
Military Pilot Brevet #3656, 10 June 1916, as Lieutenant.
AéCF Pilot Brevet #3933, 22 July 1916.
Flying a Nieuport XXII when severely injured during crash on take off.

Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur 7 March 1917:

A Lieutenant of the 1er Régiment Étranger, pilot of Escadrille
N 57: a very good chasse pilot. Engaged in the service of
France, he has shown in the escadrille the highest military
qualities, serving as an example to all in searching for
combat with ardor. He was seriously wounded in combat on 6
March 1917, during the course of a patrol.@

Croix de Guerre with 1 palme.

Thanks Bill !