Fiat BR-20s in Japanese service

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Admiral Yi
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Fiat BR-20s in Japanese service

#1

Post by Admiral Yi » 08 Aug 2005, 10:42

Hello,

I know that the IJAAF acquired 85 BR-20s which were operated briefly during the second Sino-Japanese war but had been phased out of operation by the time the Pacific War began.

What happened to the BR-20s after its bomber sortie? Were they used as transports?

What did the Japanese Army and Navy think about the Piaggio P.108?

TIA. Cheers

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TISO
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#2

Post by TISO » 08 Aug 2005, 19:41



Larry D.
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#3

Post by Larry D. » 09 Aug 2005, 00:30

What happened to the BR-20s after its bomber sortie? Were they used as transports?
3d Dokuritsu Hikōchūtai, with an allowance of 9 Fiat B.R. 20’s, began operations in China in June 1938. A little later in August-September, 12th Hikōsentai and 98th Hikōsentai, each with an allowance of 36 Fiat B.R. 20’s, began flying long-range missions to Chunking and other targets. Both Hikōsentai suffered moderate to heavy losses, especially in the raids of Feb 39. 12th Hikōsentai was withdrawn from operations to re-equip on 14 Jul 39 and 98th Hikōsentai by 1 Sep 39, thus ending the use of the B.R. 20 as a bomber. At this stage there were about 50± left. Some of them were used as transports and courier planes, but attrition was very rapid due to a lack of spare parts and a very strong dislike for the type by the Aviation Dept. in the War Ministry and the Inspector General of Aviation in the IGHQ. I can find no evidence of any still in operation by 7 December 1941.

IZAWA, Yasuko. Japanese Army Heavy Bomber Units. Tokyo: Gendaishi shuppankai, 1982.
SEKIGAWA, Eiichiro. Pictorial History of Japanese Military Aviation. London: Ian Allan, Ltd., 1974. pp.68-69.

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Admiral Yi
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#4

Post by Admiral Yi » 09 Aug 2005, 12:10

Interesting! Thank you very much for your much appreciated help. BTW, do you know if there will be an English translation of IZAWA's & Yasuko's "Japanese Army Heavy Bomber Units. Tokyo: Gendaishi shuppankai" available? Thx.

Larry D.
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#5

Post by Larry D. » 09 Aug 2005, 13:28

BTW, do you know if there will be an English translation of IZAWA's & Yasuko's "Japanese Army Heavy Bomber Units. Tokyo: Gendaishi shuppankai" available?
Very, very, very doubtful. There just isn't enough demand to justify the Japanese publisher spending the money to have it translated. Unfortunately, this is true for most Japanese language books. Wouldn't it be great if we could have an English language edition of the 102-volume Senshi Sōsho work! There are many, many others that need to be translated, too.

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Peter H
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Re: Fiat BR-20s in Japanese service

#6

Post by Peter H » 27 Apr 2009, 05:09

Photos of Fiats over Lanzhou,23rd February 1939.

From: http://www.fpschina.com/index.php?s=ba9 ... owforum=66
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JoeB
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Re: Fiat BR-20s in Japanese service

#8

Post by JoeB » 27 Apr 2009, 21:16

BR20's were sometimes reported in action by Allied units early in the Pacific War, though all such identifications seem to have been incorrect. For example the action report of USS Walke in the attack on Crace's cruiser/DD task force May 7 1942, during the Battle of Coral Sea, identified the horizontal bombers as BR20's. They were Type 96 Land Attack Planes (later called 'Nell') of the Genzan Air Group, also twin tailed.

Joe

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Peter H
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Re: Fiat BR-20s in Japanese service

#9

Post by Peter H » 11 Apr 2010, 02:20

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Re: Fiat BR-20s in Japanese service

#10

Post by Luftflotte2 » 21 May 2011, 21:18

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