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Airship (Balloon) Units
Inscribed 'Army Airship Unit Commemorative.'
Inscribed 'Airship Unit, Discharge Commemorative.'
The Airship Unit cups are among the rarest of the military cups. There are two
main reasons for this:
First, the history of the use of balloons in the IJA was brief, about 4 years. The first
unit was created in early Taisho (around 1912) and then in December, Taisho 4
[1916] these units were converted to Air Corps units. However, airships were
used throughout WW2, but not in any great numbers.
Second, the number of soldiers involved in these units was probably low.
According to the Japanese site linked to below, here is some information:
1877: Used in Satsuma Rebellion (Taharazaka Battle)
1904: Temporary Airship Unit formed, used to help secure Port Arthur in
Japan/Russia War
1913: Airship Unit moved to Tokorozawa
1923: Airship Battalion reorganized under Air Corps Division
1927: Airship battalion moved to Chiba
1936: Re-named Airship Regiment
1937: Independent Airship Unit 1st, 2nd 3rd Battalions, participated in invasion of
Nanking
1942: Independent Airship Unit 1st Battalion, participated in invasion of Thailand,
French Indochina, and Singapore.
Note that the above information is undocumented. It needs to be verified.
The main design is of course a hot air balloon of some sort. The kanji (see above)
read kikyuutai.
Since I have been dealing in cups, I have only seen very few cups or other
commemorative items labeled 'Airship Unit.'
I've posted some military Airship postcards from Japan for reference.
Click here for an online article about Japanese airships. This is in English.
Here is another webpage, but it is in Japanese. Some nice pictures, though.
main reasons for this:
First, the history of the use of balloons in the IJA was brief, about 4 years. The first
unit was created in early Taisho (around 1912) and then in December, Taisho 4
[1916] these units were converted to Air Corps units. However, airships were
used throughout WW2, but not in any great numbers.
Second, the number of soldiers involved in these units was probably low.
According to the Japanese site linked to below, here is some information:
1877: Used in Satsuma Rebellion (Taharazaka Battle)
1904: Temporary Airship Unit formed, used to help secure Port Arthur in
Japan/Russia War
1913: Airship Unit moved to Tokorozawa
1923: Airship Battalion reorganized under Air Corps Division
1927: Airship battalion moved to Chiba
1936: Re-named Airship Regiment
1937: Independent Airship Unit 1st, 2nd 3rd Battalions, participated in invasion of
Nanking
1942: Independent Airship Unit 1st Battalion, participated in invasion of Thailand,
French Indochina, and Singapore.
Note that the above information is undocumented. It needs to be verified.
The main design is of course a hot air balloon of some sort. The kanji (see above)
read kikyuutai.
Since I have been dealing in cups, I have only seen very few cups or other
commemorative items labeled 'Airship Unit.'
I've posted some military Airship postcards from Japan for reference.
Click here for an online article about Japanese airships. This is in English.
Here is another webpage, but it is in Japanese. Some nice pictures, though.
ki-kyuu-tai
(read from right)
(read from right)
An ashtray with crossed flags and Army star.
Inscribed 'Airship' under each balloon. Kutani kiln.
This may be a post-WW2 item, though I am not sure.
Inscribed 'Airship' under each balloon. Kutani kiln.
This may be a post-WW2 item, though I am not sure.
| Inscribed 'Airship Unit, Discharge Commemorative, Iwama'. |
| Inscribed 'Airship Unit, Commemorative, Kubota'. A hangar of some sort is in the background. |
Inscribed 'Airship Unit [kikyuu-tai]'.
The writing in the bowl appears to be a poem, but I cannot read it.
The writing in the bowl appears to be a poem, but I cannot read it.