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Sempill British Aviation Mission to Japan
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Sempill British Aviation Mission to Japan
Admiral of the Fleet Viscount Togo I.J.N. watching the Flight, Rear Admiral Baron Kato in the background. 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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EDITORS COMMENTS
Admiral of the Fleet Viscount Togo I.J.N. watches with keen interest as William Francis Forbes-Sempill, 19th Lord Sempill AFC, AFRAeS, leads a flight demonstration during the Sempill British Aviation Mission to Japan in the 1920s. Rear Admiral Baron Kato stands at attention in the background, observing the impressive display of British aircraft technology. This historic moment captures a pivotal moment in aviation history and international relations between Britain and Japan.
Lord Sempill's mission was part of a larger effort to showcase British innovation and expertise in aviation to Japanese officials and military leaders. Little did anyone know at the time that this Scottish peer would go on to play a significant role in aiding the Imperial Japanese Navy's development of its air service, sharing sensitive information that would later have far-reaching consequences.
This photograph is a rare glimpse into an era of diplomatic engagement and technological exchange between nations. The image has been preserved by the Royal Aeronautical Society Archive as a glass lantern slide, providing us with a unique window into history.
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