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Sempill British Aviation Mission to Japan
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Sempill British Aviation Mission to Japan
Sunbeam Coatalen Aircraft engine Sikh 12 cyl. 800/900 H.P.. William Francis Forbes-Sempill, 19th Lord Sempill AFC, AFRAeS (1893-1965) was a Scottish peer and record-breaking air pioneer who was later shown to have passed secret information to the Imperial Japanese military before the Second World War. In 1921, Sempill led an official military mission to Japan that showcased the latest British aircraft. In subsequent years he continued to aid the Imperial Japanese Navy in developing its Navy Air Service and began giving military secrets to the Japanese. Although his activities were uncovered by British Intelligence, Sempill was not prosecuted for spying and allowed to continue in public life. Date: 1920s
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Media ID 19874650
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Step back in time to the 1920s with this photograph of Sempill British Aviation Mission to Japan, featuring the Sunbeam Coatalen Aircraft engine Sikh 12-cyl. 800/900 H.P.. This historic moment captures Lord William Francis Forbes-Sempill, a Scottish peer and record-breaking air pioneer, leading an official military mission to showcase the latest British aircraft technology in Japan.
As part of his mission, Sempill aimed to strengthen ties between Britain and Japan through aviation cooperation. However, unbeknownst to many at the time, he would go on to secretly share sensitive information with the Imperial Japanese Navy, aiding their development of their Navy Air Service.
This remarkable image is a rare glimpse into a pivotal period in history when international relations were being shaped by pioneering figures like Lord Sempill. The photograph has been preserved as a glass lantern slide from the Royal Aeronautical Society archive and offers a unique window into the past for historians and enthusiasts alike.
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