I was looking through several Majetek watches and noticed there are several with a low dome mineral glass crystal. They might have left the factory with mineral glass along with others before the specification was updated.

All of these Certificates were all done together during a visit over 2 days by the same staff so there should not be inconsistencies. On the "Certificates of Origin and Authenticity"; as expected, Longines will identify any part that is not made by Longines or just doesn't belong on the watch. The low dome mineral glass did not get called out as non-Longines. Not sure if this means it is original.



These parts did get called out as not original on my other watches.










All dated May 8th, 2019 ( Bernard Portal Master Watchmaker of the Heritage Workshop)

 

This reminds me that I need to get back to searching for a correct crown.

 

As a result of the Sempill Mission of November 1921, the Imperial Japanese Navy aquired more than 90 Gloster Sparrowhawk planes and several other types. The Sparrowhawk was built for the Imperial Japanese Navy. The identification numbers all begin with J.N. ####
for the Japanese Navy.






Aircraft carriers did not exist yet so they were launched off of battleships. The flight deck was
mounted on the turrents of the ship allowing the flight boss to turn the cannons into the wind.



As a result the interwar era, IJN developed many airplanes.


And this interesting event also occured with a Japanese military pilot as member of the RAF.


Here is an image of the Mark V attached to the instrument panel of a RFC aircraft.



What is important about this Mark V, is it has an extremely rare set of markings from both the RFC and IJN.
The issue number is #166 indicating that this was likely from the very first batch of aeroplanes delivered to
the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Services between 1918 when the watch was made and 1922 at the end of the Sempill Mission. This watch that shows the transfer of technology from the British to Imperial Japan is unique.
While there are many Mark IV and Mark V watches still in existance and available at any given moment, a
double issued watch like the one below is perhaps one of the most unique watches in existance. Each J.N.
aircraft would have had a watch matched to the plane. Since none of these Sparrowhawks seems to exist,
the chances of finding another IJN Mark V is extremely low.




Sempill standing next to the future Empiror of Japan.






The Airbase developed in Japan.



British Instructor showing IJN Pilot Trainee how to drop a torpedo.

 

It's a little hard to understand the scale of the Sempill Mission based off of Wikipedia and a couple of photos. I found the source of the photos and found much more information that shows how much the British Empire was supporting the Sempill Mission. This was not simply a small arms deal, it was a mission to build a complete Japanese Airforce starting with 90 airplanes and the technology to design and build new ones including airfields, fuel refineries, airplane factories, and radio.

Below is the flight school and these were the British instructors.




This smilling Captain Yamamoto is Admiral Isokuro Yamamoto the Imperial Navy Field Marshall that is the commander of the entire Imperial Japanese Navy.




These diagrams are taken from the plans on how to build oil refineries to make aircraft fuel.








This is knowledge transfer about the engine technology.



Radio Technology and Morse Code training.


Japanese learned how to build planes from the R.F.C.
50 Gloster SparrowHawks were delivered complete to IJN.
40 SparrowHawks were constructed at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal Technical Center
using British kits.



And finally, the then H.R.H. The Prince of Wales visited Japan

 

On June 11, 1920, Sempill left London on the Nippon Yusen Sado Maru, accompanied by his wife Irene, their young daughter, and a maid, and arrived in Kobe on July 31. On the morning of August 1, he arrived in Tokyo by train, took the Joban Line train from Ueno, and arrived at Kasumigaura Air Base, which had just been established by the Navy, in the afternoon of the same day. Other members have been coming to Japan one after another since July. The group members lived in a specially prepared accommodation for foreigners, and Sempil lived in a house on the outskirts of Tsuchiura.

Mr. and Mrs. Sempill arriving at Kobe Port on July 31, 1921 (front row)

Sempill lived in a house on the outskirts of Tsuchiura. Sempil and his wife Irene in Japanese clothes. Irene died in 1935
This was the beginning of a 1 year and 3 month course run by the Sempil Flying Group, which lasted until October 1922.

The planes that the Japanese Navy purchased from Britain for the training included 72 Avro land trainers, 24 Avro surface trainers, 50 Sparohawk carrier-based fighters, 12 carrier-based reconnaissance planes, 12 carrier-based torpedo bombers, and 12 carrier-based torpedo bombers. A total of 181 aircraft, including 5 boats, 4 amphibious observation aircraft, and 2 torpedo bombers.

According to the recollections of Lieutenant Asazou Kikuchi, the training course began in Yokosuka as a re-education course for those who had already become full-fledged pilots in Japan, and then at Kasumigaura Airfield for aeronautical students who were about to learn how to fly. (later flight students) were taught from scratch.

Among the instructors who received Sempill's instruction were Captain Torao Kuwabara (later lieutenant general), Captain Takijiro Onishi (later lieutenant general), Captain Shunichi Kira (later lieutenant general), Captain Sadatoshi Senda (later lieutenant general), and Mikimori. During the Pacific War, many people, such as Captain Hiko (later Rear Admiral), led naval aviation units as air squadron commanders and air fleet commanders.

Sempil (front row center, with legs crossed) and Japanese Navy airmen at Kasumigaura Airfield
In August 1921, instruction by the Sempil Squadron began. Sempil is in the center
The training group's military discipline was strict, and its education could only be described in one word: "severe.'' All of the courses were conducted in English, but the training was not just about imparting knowledge, but also instilling in the Japanese instructors the mindset that pilots must share their fate with their beloved aircraft, and the strict cleaning of airplanes and equipment after flight work. If there was even the slightest mistake or lack of attention, he would scold her mercilessly.

"This later became the foundation for what would become our naval aviation."

That's what Kikuchi wrote in his notebook.

Sempill and others generously taught Japanese Navy instructors about the latest airplanes and new weapons such as aerial torpedoes. The UK has already commissioned the aircraft carrier "Argus'', which is a converted passenger ship under construction, and the aircraft carrier "Eagle'', which is a converted battleship that is currently under construction, and they are using completely new tactics to freely attack enemy territory with the aircraft they carry. I was groping.

Seaplane training by Sempil Air Group

Aerial torpedo drop scene. Sempill is believed to be piloting this plane.
The Japanese Navy has also noticed this possibility and has already laid down construction for the aircraft carrier Hosho. Of the ships that were originally designed as aircraft carriers, the Royal Navy's Hermes was the first to start construction, but the Hosho was completed earlier, in December 1922, and the Hosho became the world's first regular aircraft carrier. became. Sempill and his team also provided guidance to the Japanese side on construction techniques for aircraft carrier flight decks. The first Japanese to successfully land on an aircraft carrier (March 16, 1923) was Captain Shunichi Kira, one of the instructors.
Landing on the aircraft carrier "Hosho" by Captain Shunichi Kira


Sempill and his group taught 70 officers, 6 special officers and warrant officers who had graduated from the ranks, and 142 non-commissioned officers, and they laid the foundation for the later development of the Japanese Naval Air Corps. The Japanese government awarded Sempil the Order of the Rising Sun, Third Class, with Ribbons for his achievements. After returning from Japan, Sempill took on a job advising governments on purchasing British weapons.

While Sempill and his group were busy teaching aviation in Japan, the Washington Disarmament Conference was started at the request of the United States, which felt threatened by Japan's increasing naval power. As a result of this conference, Japan's number of capital ships (battleships) was limited to 60% of that of the United States and Britain, and the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, which had lasted more than 20 years, was set to expire in 1923.

Due to the Washington Disarmament Treaty, the battleship Kaga and battlecruiser Akagi, which were being built beyond the capacity of capital ships, will be converted into aircraft carriers. However, at the time, the Japanese Navy had very little know-how about operating aircraft carriers, and was still trying to find a ship to take off and land planes.

https://gendai.media/articles/-/76411?page=2

 

Imperial Japanese Navy bought and used the Sopwith Pup. We have definite proof the Mark V was installed on
the Sopwith.






This is an instrument panel for the RFC Sopwith Pup. You can see the Mark V is mounted
on the instrument panel on the right side.






Sempill Mission definitely brought over the Sopwith Cuckoo and one was flown by Sempill demostrating how to drop a torpedo.

 

Despite having been an avid Biggles fan (and still owning over twenty of my childhood volumes) and subsequently having read a great many Royal Flying Corps WW1 autobiographies, I had never previously heard of the Sopwith Cuckoo, so I’ve been really interested in learning about them. Thanks.

 

Here is a better shot of the Mark V. Unfortunately, the way the close up works on this webpage, I can't get the Mark V part to show up in the zoom. If you know anything about a Mark V or Mark IV, then you will know that the Mark IV says "8-Days" on the bottom of the dial and the Mark V all have the two letter maker and 4 digit serial number of the watch. So this is definitely a Mark V installed on this British RFC Sopwith Pup. Basically identical to the IJN Sopwith Pup.



https://fineartamerica.com/featured...ne-ww1-cockpit-black-and-white-paul-ward.html


Here is a Sopwith Pup with a Mark IV installed.


This is definitely a Mark IV written on the second line and 8 Days written above the sub dial.

 

I don't know what this proves other than many models of Sopwith used Mark IV and Mark V watches. Here is a Sopwith Camel fighter. Just to contrast with the Sopwith Pup that definitely had Mark V watches.
I think this is likely a Mark IV. The space between the first letter and the next suggests Mark IV "8 Days" rather than Mark V "AA 1234"



What I still don't know is if there were Sopwith Pup as part of the Sempill Mission or if the Sopwith Cockoo had Mark V watches. So I still have a little hole I am trying to fill even though the chances are very good that IJN had these watches in 1920. There is a chance that the Sopwith Pup was aquired before the Sempill Mission as either number I, II, or III. June 1920 Kuwabara took off from the deck of the Wakamiya (first IJN flight off a ship) is a good sign it happened at the right time in a Pup. The time line is very close since Sempill left London and arrived in Japan around June 11, 1920.

 

Hard to see, but Kuwabara flew a Sopwith Pup and Sempill was there on the Wakamiya and Yamashiro with him.

This is June 22, 1920.

https://www.navygeneralboard.com/ai...ying-off-platforms-on-wakamiya-and-yamashiro/





Larger






More related links
https://japanese-aviation.forumotion.com/t60-02-sempill-s-mission-1921-to-1923

You can decide if this is Kuwabara and a Sopwith Pup. The orientation of the verticle supports connecting the bi-plane wings definitely looks like a Pup vs the Sparrowhawk which has four sets.

 

The Sopwith Camel has a more advanced dash panel than I would have expected for 1916.

 

It appears that the Yamashiro also few the Sopwith Camel off the platform on the #2 gun turret.
The Camel appears to have been the best fighter of the period. So the watch could have been on
a Sopwith Pup or I presume a Sopwith Camel, but unknown yet if on a Gloster Sparrowhawk used
similiar clocks. It might be possible since the Mark IV and Mark V seem to have been the military
standard for the R.F.C.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_battleship_Yamashiro

 

Sitting to the left? Eyes are very similar and square face. My guess is if Kuwabara/Kuwahara is in the picture, the most similar person is to the bottom left.

The standing right and standing left are eliminated because Kuwabara is already a Captain by this time. Only the middle officers are possible. Unfortunately, this is not clear proof Kuwabara and Sempill were on Yamashiro at same time. By tradition, the most important person is always front row, center, and seated. Bottom left uniform is also highest rank shoulder boards, three stars. Sempill is the English officer in photo.





His uniform has high rank on his lapels. Rather unique combination of RFC.

 

Some wrist pictures of the issued 3582 worn by the pilots.


The below is interesting. Jennifer did research and found that W.Guth is the only authorized agent for the Army.
(I think we know now that the agents probably changed over time for the Army)

This letter also shows that Longines Archives have information on which watches they engraved.
MAJETEK VOJENSKÉ SPRÁVY

 

Assuming it’s an original inscription, then this one recently sold in the UK has a pretty interesting history.

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...0191/lot-52c9efe5-b7f8-472c-9818-b13b00c26de9

https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5139601

 

That's pretty intereting. On first glance, everything looks pretty authentic and you found who it potentially belonged to. Did you buy it?

 

I clean forgot about it until the afternoon of the sale, and by then it had sold. The auctioneer doesn’t publish sold prices so I’ve no idea whether I’d have got it anyway, but to be honest I wouldn’t have paid much as I don’t really collect pocket watches. Should I joke that forgetting to bid gave me the hump ?

 

https://chronopedia.club/WW1_Military_Watches











Mark I



Mark II



Mark III
(no example)


Mark IVA



Mark V


Mark VI
(no exmample)

Mark VIIA


This too

...

Mark XI

 

This could explain the Issue number 166 can fall into the original number of airplanes for the Sempill Mission.
The 90 aircraft was definitely only the Sparrowhawks.

About 200 airplanes were in the mission. Only a handfull of planes existed prior to the Sempill Mission.