1914/18, the japanese pioneer aviator and WWI-pilot in France, Baron SHIGENO Kiyotake (1882-1924) correspondence: 200+ ppc/cards/field post (F.M.) addressed to the pilot: franked from Japan (ca. 80, some with stamps removed), franked in France (12 inc. two said to be from japanese artist Fujita ), free military mail in France (F.M./franchise militaire, ca. 70, including a. o. one from Avord aviation training camp by adjutant ISHIBASHI K., 1893-1923, another japanese in french airforce 1915/18), from foreign (4), unstamped from letters (ca. 36). With many ppc of pioneer aviation in Japan (inc. pre-WWI foreigners like Art Smith, Katherine Stinson etc.) / early WW-I aviation pics in France, interesting senders from France or Japan etc. An unique find.
Shigeno K. was the 3rd son of Baron SHIGENO Kiyoharu (d. 1896), a Lt-General in the Imperial Japanese Army. After the death of his wife, in July 1910 he left Japan for France to study music. In Paris he acquired international pilot licence No. 744 on 26 January, 1912. The same year he designed a single-seat tractor biplane and named this aeroplane Wakadori-go (Young Bird, after his late wife, Wakako. The same name was given to his fighter plane Spad-VII in 1917). First flight on 26 April, 1912. Summoned by his family to return to Japan and left France in May 1912 with his dismantled aeroplane. Reassembled, it set a new civil aeroplane record in Japan on 20 April, 1913, reaching 300m (984ft) with a flight of 45min
After becoming a professor at Japan's military aviation school, Shigeno returned to France in April 1914 to buy a new aircraft. When WWI broke out in August, under orders from his superiors, on 20 December 1914 he joined the foreign legion, where he was admitted with the rank of captain. Obtained military pilot patent No. 834, April 19, 1915 in Avord and was assigned, on May 20 to the bombing squadron V 24. On August 23, 1915, on an observation mission north of Reims over the German lines he was copiously fired by enemy DCA, admired by French soldiers who counted 562 Shells fired against him. This lead to an honorary report in the french armies daily "La Croix" Sept. 30 and having him appointed "Knight of the Legion of Honor Oct. 30". Absent due to health problems Sept./Dec., returned to his squadron Dec. 21 1915 to May 22, 1916. By June 1 transferred to the N.12 fighter squadron, despite aged 34, one of the oldest fighter pilots. Then finally assigned Sept. 19, 1916 to N.26 squadron under command of Georges Guynemer (1891-1917), later known as “the storks”. His personal symbol, a so-called "Japanese stork", was adopted by the squadron to become the collective emblem. Shigeno had two confirmed victories, one in co-work with Guynemer March 17, 1917 and six unconfirmed.
His last combat flight was on August 9, 1917. His health problems forced him to a new hospitalization on August 13, 1917 which spread over the armistice. In the hospital he met a 22-year-old war widow, Ms Jeanne Aimard. He and Jeanne married Oct. 18, 1919. Returned to his squadron, SPA 26, on February 23rd, 1919 and was demobilized March 11, 1919.
In January 1920, Shigeno and wife returned to Japan with their daughter. He had started a career in civil aviation but died in Osaka in October 1924. His widow could not make a living in Japan and returned to France, with the two surviving sons.
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