WesWorld

February 4, 1942
Yesterday, an explosion ripped through an munitions warehouse of the Japanese Imperial Army at Hirakata, Osaka. The explosion was followed by an outbreak of fire. Troops assisted firemen in order to get the fire under control. 94 people were killed and several hunderds were injured, some seriously. 800 homes were reported to have been burned as a result of the fire.
(OTL a March 1, 1939 event)


March 6, 1942
Today, the participants for the 1942 Tall Ship Race left Osaka for Europe. Tenjin, Ryujin, Fujin and Uzume, Japan's 1940 Tall Ship Race participants, will be joined by the Barque Ningyo and the ship of the line Deroiteru Maru. The ship of the line Asahi Maru will also be join the group, but will not participate in the race. The ships will meet up with the Geobukseon from Chosen and the Naou from Pacifica for the journey to the starting point at Cobh, Ireland.

March 17, 1942
Two Tachikawa X-1 planes piloted by Juukou Nagatomo and Masaaki Iinuma took off early this morning from Tachikawa Airfield for a trip to Australia. Joining the 10 men of the two planes is Wing commander John Balmer of the Royal Australian Air Force, who will assist with navigation over the vast landscape of Australia.

March 18, 1942
Today, Don Juan de Salcedo and Yosuke Matsuoka signed the Philippine-Japanese Treaty of Amity and Commerce.

March 19, 1942
This afternoon, the two X-1 planes returned from their flight to Australia. The non-stop flight took them to Melbourne and back to Tachikawa Airfield via Sidney and Port Moresby, a total distance of 16,770 km. It took the two planes about 58 hours and 11 minutes at an average speed of 288.2 km/h to complete the trip, breaking the flight distance record set in 1938 by two RAF Vickers Wellesleys and becoming the first planes to pass the 10,000 mile mark in a non-stop flight.

Quoted

Originally posted by Rooijen10
March 17, 1942
Two Tachikawa X-1 planes piloted by Juukou Nagatomo and Masaaki Iinuma took off early this morning from Tachikawa Airfield for a trip to Australia. Joining the 10 men of the two planes is Wing commander John Balmer of the Royal Australian Air Force, who will assist with navigation over the vast landscape of Australia.

March 19, 1942
This afternoon, the two X-1 planes returned from their flight to Australia. The non-stop flight took them to Melbourne and back to Tachikawa Airfield via Sidney and Port Moresby, a total distance of 16,770 km. It took the two planes about 58 hours and 11 minutes at an average speed of 288.2 km/h to complete the trip, breaking the flight distance record set in 1938 by two RAF Vickers Wellesleys and becoming the first planes to pass the 10,000 mile mark in a non-stop flight.

Interesting.

For reference, since I was skeptical, this is the historical aircraft: Tachikawa Ki-77.

Why fly over Australia? Seems to be kinda pointless saber-rattling to me...

Acctually this seems more odd given past relations between australia and SATSUMA.

Quoted

Joining the 10 men of the two planes is Wing commander John Balmer of the Royal Australian Air Force, who will assist with navigation over the vast landscape of Australia.

Quoted

For reference, since I was skeptical, this is the historical aircraft: Tachikawa Ki-77.

I was actually thinking of having them take off from and return to Misawa Airbase (which is some 500 kilometers or so further north and should still be within the capabilities of the plane), but Tachikawa Airfield seemed to make more sense. Not only because the the 1937 record flight took off from there, but also since the Tachikawa Aircraft Company is located there.

For simplicity I stuck to the 288.2 km/h average of the historical Ki-77 endurance flight to determine the flight time.

Quoted

Why fly over Australia? Seems to be kinda pointless saber-rattling to me...

Japan has its reasons as well as permission from the Australian government (could not really find a good flight destination I was happy with, but at one point I was envisioning the newspapers with a large photo on the front of the planes flying over Sidney Harbour Bridge so I then asked DF for permission).

Australia has its reasons for giving permission. It's all part of their sinister plan.

In the mean time, Balmer can add another record to his resume.

Quoted

Originally posted by Rooijen10
Australia has its reasons for giving permission. It's all part of their sinister plan.

Have the Japanese fly over Australia so they can arm-twist Momma Britannia to give them free stuff and protect them?

Dang! He found out about...

Whoops!

Uhm... I mean, Japan denies that is it part of any sinister Australian plot which will result in them receiving free goodies and additional protection from Great Britain.

Yeah, Foxy's never shy about playing both ends against the middle.

...in other news today, the Australian Government has approved a budget increase for the RAAF for the purchase of new advanced interceptors...

And that's all I'm telling.

Called it.

Damn, must break that record again. *Goes off to the drawing board*

Incidentally, the X-1 may have been the first airplane to pass the 10,000 mile mark in non-stop flight, but it's not the first air vehicle to do so. One of the Chilean airships logged around 11,800 miles airborne, which can almost certainly be replicated by most of the US and Canadian airships.

Quoted

Damn, must break that record again. *Goes off to the drawing board*

Bad Hood! *slaps Hood's hands with a ruler* You have had your time holding the record. Now another nation should be allowed to take it. *looks at US*

Quoted

Incidentally, the X-1 may have been the first airplane to pass the 10,000 mile mark in non-stop flight, but it's not the first air vehicle to do so. One of the Chilean airships logged around 11,800 miles airborne, which can almost certainly be replicated by most of the US and Canadian airships.

I did say plane deliberately as I am well aware of that. I thought I spotted an airship with the search that exceeded that range, but I could have been mistaken as I can't find it anymore. I can find the La Estrella Solitaria with its +10,000nm range travelled (which is the next milestone to reach for an airplane).

... of course, the X-1 took less than 2 and a half day to cover the +10,000 miles range, while the La Estrella Solitaria took more than 11 days to cover the +10,000 nm range.

Eh, the price of being a big blubberous airship - you don't go all that fast.

Still, the Japanese feat might spark more French interest in Monsieur Hurel's HAR research.

April 2, 1942
Standing at a safe distance, Professor Tomoe and his men were watching the 15 meter tall Hibari rocket on its launch site.

Flames shot out of the exhaust as it took off from the launch site. The men started to celebrate when all of a sudden the rocket turned into a large ball of fire. They all watched as burning pieces of the rocket started to fall back to earth.

"Maybe I gave it a little bit too much 'oompfh'," one of the men mumbled.

"Maybe you have a little bit too much 'oompfh' between your ears!" another snapped back.

"Back to recalculate things," Tomoe sighed.

"Yes, professor."

"... but let us make sure that the fires are contained first."


April 3, 1942
Yesterday, a fire raged on Magejima. While the fire was quickly contained and little damage was caused, there were several casualties who ended in the hospital with burnt bottoms.


April 8, 1942
Due to the work pressure of ruling two nations, Queen Purilun announced today that she would hand over control of Chosen and concentrate of Japan.

Popular prime minister Jong Un, a former attorney and leader of the National Korean Front (NKF), will be in control of Chosen from now on.


April 19, 1942
Today, Japan announced an unchanged team for this year's Tour de France. Sasaki, Kimura, Ikeda, Hashimoto, Fujii, Fukuda, Fujiwara, Okamoto and Harada will all be present.


April 27, 1942
The French heavy cruiser Indochinie and its escorts arrived at Sasebo for a visit. About 5000 people were present to welcome the French crews to Japan.



May 1, 1942

A small article from Black Ocean Society Supporter monthly international magazine of May 1942. The monthly magazine for those who support the cause of the Black Ocean Society and Greater Asianism.


We are all well aware of how Great Britain uses is might and power to suppress the Asian nations, steal their natural resources and bully the Asian citizens. This is something that has been going on for many centuries and, when nothing is done about it, will go on for many more centuries.

Naturally we, the members of the Gen'yMsha, were shocked when we found out that their acts of greed and thievery were not just limited to the overseas territories, but also affected the good and hard-working British citizens living on the British Home Isles.

On April 11, the British Air Ministry (BAM) decided to requisition Northolt airfield located in Middlesex. That in itself is nothing special.

However, the BAM also decided to confiscate the farmlands of numerous farmers around Northolt airfield. These farmers were chased off their property, their lands stolen and their livelyhood taken away in a blink of an eye. Many houses were also taken by the BAM, using these acts of 'legal' theft. Many citizens were driven from their homes and are now homeless, unable to afford a new home to live in. All this for the sake of a new Airport at the location.

As you read this, these farmlands and homes have all been demolished by now. Leveled to the ground thanks to Wimpey Destruction, the wicked firm that was willing to accept tainted pounds from the BAM in order to destroy the lives of many.

The Evilness of the British Government and firms like Wimpey Destruction truly has no limits. If they do this to their own citizens, who knows what those fiends will do to the people to Asia.



June 18, 1942
Professor Tomoe and his men watched as the Hibari rocket took off. Unlike two months ago, the rocket remained intact as it began to climb higher and higher. The men were cheering and congratulating each other.

"You know... isn't the rocket supposed to head westward?" Tomoe then asked.

The men stopped celebrating and watched the rocket as it headed northward. "Uh-oh," one said.

"Uh-oh indeed. Follow that rocket!"


June 19, 1942
Good Ne... I mean Bad News!!

Manzo has ended up in the hospital yesterday. According to witnesses, Manzo was preparing to take off from Kagoshima Airfield when something big fell out of the sky and obliterated his plane and part of the runway, leaving behind a crater and lots of debris from both the plane and whatever hit it.

The doctors have stated that he will be out of action for at least 9 months.

It is good to see that TMyama Mitsuru still lives, and pulls sufficient strings to keep the politicians of Edo busy.

Well, there is no reason for him not to be alive, is there?

July 8, 1942

The Navy will start to construct a training camp today on Kuba-jima for its special forces. The Navy will also build a refueling base for its flying boats on Minami-Ko-jima and replace the old lighthouse on Uotsuri-jima with a modern one.


July 22, 1942

Another impressive finish by cyclist Hashimoto Sato in the Tour de France. Hashimoto finished third behind Karl Litschi and Jean Darracq.


August 10, 1942

Today, the 11. Air Demonstration Squadron departed for Europe. They will take part in the Les Chevaliers du Ciel garthering which will take place between August 29 and September 6 in France.

The team will also be in France during the Paris Air Show of this year in November.


September 4, 1942

Numerous companies are busy moving goods or planning to move goods to France. Various car producers are shipping their wares for the Paris Motor Show while aircraft manufacturers are praparing for November's Paris Air Show.

A spokesman for the Tachikawa Aircraft Company Ltd. told AWNR that thay had something special planned for the Paris Air Show though he refused to reveal any further information. Rumors vary from a special Jet-powered fighter prototype to a prototype reconnaissance glider powered by the legs of cyclist Hashimoto Sato.


September 27, 1942. Aboard I-303, about 1200 kilometers southwest of Okinawa.

Captain Teraoka Masao was scanning the horizon through his periscope. A couple of ships were visible but none of them were naval vessels.

"Sending an experimental sub into this area," Masao grumbled. "What is Naval Command thinking?"

"Sir, it is probably because this was the submarine that can remain submerged the longest on battery power."

"Makes me wonder why I vollunteered for this position." Having seen what he wanted, Masao lowered the periscope.

"Well, obviously Naval Command wants us to keep an eye on what's going on down here."

"Then I guess we'll just do that for them then."


October 1, 1942

Matsuda Masayuki, leader of Japan's Antarctic team, watched as the large C-6 transport aircraft taxied over the ice taxiway. It was a good thing that the ice runway was as long as it was. The big plane needed almost the entire length to slow down enough to be able to turn off the runway and onto the taxiway.

Getting stuff to the Shirase Base had always been problematic. Small stuff could be carried by the existing cargo planes, but bigger stuff had to be hauled across the ice from MEVOS to here. Due to the complexity of the buildings of the Shirase Base and amount of materials needed, it took 8 years to build just the main buildings so it could become operational. More building still had to be build for the base to be truly complete.

Matsuda got word of a large bomber that Nakajima was designing. He had asked permission to look at the design. Having seen the design, he had immediately asked if Nakajima could build a cargo version of the bomber which could haul the heavy stuff for him all the way south faster than any transport ship could. The plane still required a few fuel stops including a pair in Australia, but it would be able to do the job.

When the plane reached its destination, it swung around and came to a halt 200 meters from Matsuda. Men were already there to receive the cargo from the plane and refuel it. The clamshell doors underneath the plane's tail swung open and the men started the process of unloading the plane.

Matsuda walked up to the plane and greeted the crew coming out. "So what do you have for me?" he asked.

"The first parts to build the repair shop," the pilot replied.

"Good. It's getting to be a real pain having to drag more vehicles up here every time because of all the breakdowns. When we have it set up, we'll have a proper place to fix things."

"The hardest part will be the hangar parts. After all, you wanted something that can hold a plane of this size."

"That's correct."

"Well, we'll get that stuff once all repair shop material has been moved here. Also, anything that is in need of repairs can be moved aboard once the plane has been unloaded."

"Thanks. I appreciate that."

Six hours later, the C-6 took off, heading back to Japan.

Some short distance away, at Nautilus Station (the ARC South Pole Base)...
"Hm, interesting," commented Captain Augusto Pinochet, lowering his binoculars. As the commander of Nautilus Station, he had been called out to see the landing aircraft.

Pinochet's Atlantean second-in-command borrowed his binoculars. "Looks like the Japanese have a new plane."

"Converted bombardier lourdes," one of the French scientists said, pulling his fur-lined hood down over his eyes. "Not quite as good a choice as our Breguet-Nords."

"Of course you'd say so; national pride and all," the Atlantean joked back at the Frenchman. "Naturally everything French is better-made, right Jacques?"

"Oui, naturally," the Frenchman replied with a tone of impugned honor.

"Looks like they're getting out more construction supplies for their base, though."

"Probably going to build a repair shop to fix all their broken-down vehicles," Pinochet said. "It's starting to look like Juan's Used Antarctic Tractor Lot over there."

"Only two thousand miles on this model! One owner! Only driven on Sundays and parked in a garage the rest of the time! All yours for only three thousand yen, honorable Pinochet-san!" the French scientist joked.

The three men chuckled amongst themselves. Though the Japanese base-building efforts amused them, there had always been a peculiar sort of camaraderie between them and the Japanese, courtesy of them being the only other humans within a few hundred miles. National rivalries mattered little this far south, even though the Japanese still insisted on constructing - and using - their own ice runway rather than the earlier ARC-built runway that had been offered to them. Again, national pride, Pinochet thought to himself.

"Well, I don't know about you lot," the Atlantean scientist said. "But I'm going back inside to see how my experiment's running along, and get some more hot cocoa. I'm freezing my rear off out here."

October 3, 1942

Matsuda Masayuki watched the arrival of the second C-6 plane. When it had come to a halt, Matsuda walked over to meet up with the crew.

"Got your food here, sir," the pilot told.

"Food? I was actually expecting the diggers."

"Well, the priority list listed the food above the diggers."

"Guess we'll have to wait for the next flight. So what do you have?"

"35,000 pounds of rice, sir."

"Rice? Only rice?!"

"Yes, sir."

"Couldn't you load anything else in this plane?"

"There was only rice on the top of list."

"We need some variety down here!"

"I'm sorry, sir. The rest of the food is well down the list. You will have to wait for it."

Shaking his head, Matsuda watches as his men started to unload the sacks of rice from the plane.

Ten hours later, the empty C-6 took off, heading back to Japan.


October 17, 1942

All Japanese planes, ships and personel that are assigned to locate and help out people and ships in distress while at sea have been reorganized with the formation of the Japanese Agency for Maritime Safety. Officials hope that this will improve the response times as well as increase the efficiency of cooperation between the various units.



November 1, 1942 (edit: date chaged to the 1st)

Today the Atlantic Fleet was officially formed. No further details were released regarding the fleet at this point. Atlantic Fleet Commander Admiral Mayakashi Ikamono was not available for comments.



December 5, 1942

The Navy acquired a number of merchant ships. They will be converted into various support ships for the Navy, starting in January next year. The plans show that each pair of carriers will be supported by two types of auxilliaries. The only exceptions are the two carriers of the Hiyo class. Due to their size, the navy has made up plans for a single support ship specifically designed to support these two carriers once they are completed.

December 10, 1942
Some details were released today regarding the Atlantic Fleet. Confirmed units are the carriers Shokaku, Zuikaku, Kaiyo and Ryujo as well as the cruisers Ginchiyo, Nouhime, Oichi, Kongo, Haruna, Kirishima, Myoko, Maya, Takao and Ashigara.

Atlantic Fleet Commander Admiral Mayakashi Ikamono was not available for comments.

As ever, SAER remains a threat and AWNR believes that in case of a conflict, the Imperial Navy plans to have units ready in order to react swiftly against any enemy aggression forming in the Atlantic which is aimed at the Asian theatre.

AWNR believes that the formation of this fleet also explains the current Imperial Navy plans to convert the recently acquired merchant ships into support ships. The plans to create a large support ship for the Hiyo class carriers is a probably indication that, once completed, these two carriers will also join the Atlantic Fleet.

However naval expert 'Ken' (name changed to protect his identity) disagreed and told AWNR: "The formation of this fleet is no surprise at all. It is a clear reply to the Atlantean Pacific Fleet so we knew that it would be happening but the sure took their sweet time to get it done. While the idea of being able to engage a possible Atlantic threat right there makes sense, I do believe that the Navy is not that stupid to plan and send units that far away because the Navy's true strength lies close to home as indicated by naval plans called '5-10-15'."

No Imperial Navy officials were available for comments.


December 11, 1942

The Naval expert known as 'Ken' was found dead in his Fukuoka home this morning. Shinsengumi officials concluded that he accidently brutally cut his head off while shaving.

The body of an associate of Mr. 'Ken' was also found. Shinsengumi officials confirmed that he committed suicidy by stabbing himself in the back twelve times before jumping out of the aircraft he was on.