The Recon Aero Nikkor 50cm F5.6 and Sentimental History

Midnight Sun in the Summer Sweden

The sound of aircraft engines flying over accross the universe.
10,000m high.

I received the photograph from the friend in Sweden one day.
His name is Mr. Kiril Arsov.
He took photographs of his owned Historical Nikkor lens.
His photograph was very charming.
The rim of the lens is engraved with "R-Aero-Nikkor 50cm F5.6".

I did not know this lens.
Where was she born? What was she developed?
Is she happy?

R-Aero-Nikkor 50cm F5.6

I examined the lens by the Nikon History 75 Years.
I detected the following descriptions.

The following Aero-Nikkor was made by Nippon Kogaku.

• Showa 7 (1932) Aero-Nikkor 50cm F4.8
• Showa 7 (1932) Aero-Nikkor 70cm F5
• Showa 8 (1933) Aero-Nikkor 18cm F4.5
• Showa 12 (1937) Aero-Nikkor 7.5cm F3.5
• Showa 14 (1939) Aero-Nikkor 10cm F5.6 (Wideangle)

I read the book in detail. And, finally, I found the following descriptions.
I got excited.

"Nippon Kogaku manufactured a large-scale aero camera of the name of 'Army Aero Camera Mark 1' in Showa 19 (1944).
This camera is a reconnaissance camera manufactured by the instruction of the Japanese Imperial Army.
Increasing production was necessary, and Nippon Kogaku manufactured one model only by 50cm F5.6 lens. This lens was designed for using by 10,000m high sky.
The large-scale recon camera was an electric controlled. The exposure adjustment and the film wind up were able to be done electrically.
These 600 cameras were produced by Showa 20 (1945) when the war had ended."

Notes:
Showa is the name of the time span or the Imperial Title of the Emperor Hirohito(1901-1989) of Japan. Years spanned from 1925 to 1989.
Years in Japan are linked to the current Emperor, Hesei in this case.
Currently, 2003 is Heisei 15.

Hyaku-shiki Shitei Recon Plane

I came to want to know what kind of aircraft this lens had been mounted.
I asked for a lot of experts about information on the recon aircraft of WWII.
I received important information from Mr. Takashi Doi and Mr. Saiun.
Mr. Takashi Doi is a director of the museum, and he taught me the reconnaissance camera.
Mr. Saiun and his friends gave me valuable information about recon plane.
And, I got to know Mr. nag who is drawing the super illustration of aircraft.
I permitted from nag-san, and published his picture. nag's Gallery

It has been understood that there is a possibility to be mounted in "Hyaku-shiki Shitei Recon Plane, Mitsubishi Ki-46" according to information.
Hyaku-shiki Shitei is a beautiful and elegant aircraft which was called 'Dinah' by allied codename in 1940's WWII.

Hyakushiki Shitei Recon Plane Mitsubishi Ki-46 Given allied codename 'Dinah'. One of the most elegant aircraft of World War Two. Photo:Copyright(c) 2003, Kattin World, Japan, All Rights Reserved.

Army Aero Camera Mark 1 Type 2

Mr. Takashi Doi is a collector about the Japanese Military Radio in WWII, and he is famous worldwide. Because, he privately founded the museum.
Also he has been collecting many Military Aero cameras.
His private musium is here. ---> Yokohama WW2 Japanese Military Radio Museum

According to the research of Mr. Doi, this camera mounted by the recon plane.
Of course, this camera is his private collection!

Army Aero Camera Mark 1 Type 2 This big reconnaissance camera was an electric controlled. The exposure adjustment and the film wind up were able to be done electrically. This camera was mounted in Japanese Imperial Army Reconnaissance Airplane. Lens: 50cm F5.0 Film: 23cm width roll film Photo:Copyright(c) 2003, Takashi Doi, Japan, All Rights Reserved.

War was Over

Mr. Kattin permitted me to publish his photograph. It was in his grandfather's album.
The photograph was taken in the Chiba-Tohgane Air Base in 1945 when the war ended.
Look at a little girl whom the young soldier is holding.

The aircraft was destroyed.
The camera was destroyed.
The Lens was destroyed.
War was Over.

Midnight Sun

A Recon Aero Nikkor 50cm F5.6 does not die like the phoenix. She lives in Northern Europe now. She enjoying midnight sun in the summer sweden.

From Kiril-san

R-Aero-Nikkor, landing on the earth.
In Uppsala, the city of science, university centrum since 1477.
A holy place, a church build by the sons of Vikings in 1260. Destroyed by the fire in 1702, and again rebuild, to welcome our R-Aero-Nikkor from the sky.

R-Aero-Nikkor, a piece from the sky on the green field in the middle of the night.
What a strange place, white dreams, the night is bright, all are gone to sleep.
A place for R-Aero-Nikkor from the sky.
Kiril Arsov / Uppsala, Sweden

Special Thanks

Kiril Arsov-san: Sweden
Saiun-san and his friends: The Zerofighter World
nag-san: nag's Gallery
Kattin-san: Kattin World
Takashi Doi-san: Yokohama WW2 Japanese Military Radio Museum