Army cooperation/observation plane

In June 1941, Japan received one example of the Fi 156 for evaluation. The IJA was impressed with the ‘Stork’ and desired to have its own version. The result was the Kokusai Ki-76, codenamed Stella by the Allies. The Ki-76, despite the obvious similar­ity to the Fi 156, was not a direct copy as the prototype was completed and flying before the Japanese received their Fi 156. In com­parison testing, the Ki-76 was actually found to be superior in all areas except landing distance.

Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 Bachstelze rotorkite

This little engine-less rotorkite (the German name means ‘wagtail’) was used by a small number of German U-boats as a means to provide increased visibility to observers while the submarines were on the surface. The Fa 330, after being unpacked and assembled, was tethered to the submarine and the wind would turn the three-bladed rotor as the sub­marine moved forward. Once airborne, the observer could see up to 25 miles instead of the few miles afforded to an observer in the conning tower. One intelligence report sug­gested that the Japanese may have shown an interest in the Fa 330 had they been made aware of it.

Focke-Wulf Fwl90A-5 fighter

In 1943, the Japanese imported one example of this aircraft to pit against Japanese fighter designs and compare their performance. Figuring that Japan would use the Fw 190 in combat, the Allies assigned the codename Fred to the aircraft but none encountered.

Focke-Wulf Та 152 high-altitude fighter

In April 1945, the Japanese purchased the specifications for the Та 152 as a means to rapidly acquire a high-altitude fighter. How­ever, by this time, there was simply no way for the Japanese to act on the material obtained.

Gotha Go 242 transport glider/

Go 244 transport

In a letter dated 7 February 1944 discovered at Bad Eilsen in May 1945, the Deutsche Mitsui Bussan requested from the Germans design plans for both the Go 242 and the Go 244, the latter being a twin-engine version of the glider. No evidence has surfaced to suggest that either of these craft were sent to Japan. However, it is suggested that they were the inspiration for the Kokusai Ku-7 Manazuru (meaning ‘Crane’) glider and the powered version of the Ku-7, the Kokusai Ki-105 Otori (‘Phoenix’). Both the Ku-7 and the Ki-105 were codenamed Buzzard by the Allies.