Japanese machinations in Baja!
http://the-wanderling.com/submarines.html
This is fascinating stuff, if true. I would advise caution, however. I, for one, find it highly believable that there would have been Japanese submarines going out on reconnaissance missions all over the Pacific. I can even see some tentative steps taken "test the waters' for certain bases, etc. But those things are totally different form the reality of setting up a base, even a small one, and keeping it supplied ( and secret?). Any Japanese presence in Baja I believe would have a half life of about one month after 12/7/1941. something from there or the Galapagos would be a one shot deal, at best. As for Germany being involved - I just don't see it. Not at that date. Later on, there was a rather daring plan, however, that would make a great what-if movie or novel: The Japanese had developed a sea bomber that could be carted up and packed on the submarines. They'd sail to somewhere off the coast of Baja, uncrate the planes, have them fly off on a one way trip to bomb the Texas oil fields, crash land in the Gulf of Mexico, where the pilots would (supposedly) be picked up by u-boats. Understandably, the logistics were a nightmare, and the plan never came off.
For an interesting take on the whole secret Japanese base to bomb the Panama Canal idea - check out Bogart in Across The Pacific. One of my fave movies!
(Thanks for the link, Tony!)
This is fascinating stuff, if true. I would advise caution, however. I, for one, find it highly believable that there would have been Japanese submarines going out on reconnaissance missions all over the Pacific. I can even see some tentative steps taken "test the waters' for certain bases, etc. But those things are totally different form the reality of setting up a base, even a small one, and keeping it supplied ( and secret?). Any Japanese presence in Baja I believe would have a half life of about one month after 12/7/1941. something from there or the Galapagos would be a one shot deal, at best. As for Germany being involved - I just don't see it. Not at that date. Later on, there was a rather daring plan, however, that would make a great what-if movie or novel: The Japanese had developed a sea bomber that could be carted up and packed on the submarines. They'd sail to somewhere off the coast of Baja, uncrate the planes, have them fly off on a one way trip to bomb the Texas oil fields, crash land in the Gulf of Mexico, where the pilots would (supposedly) be picked up by u-boats. Understandably, the logistics were a nightmare, and the plan never came off.
For an interesting take on the whole secret Japanese base to bomb the Panama Canal idea - check out Bogart in Across The Pacific. One of my fave movies!
(Thanks for the link, Tony!)
posted by mendip at
2:34 PM
1 Comments:
It may be of interest to all that the US military anticipated any such daring move by the Japanese.
As recounted by George Gobel, his mission, based out of Topeka, Kansa, was to intercept anything that got through the defences in California and points east.
His war was a very frustrating war.
But he was in place and ready!
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besilarius, at 6:38 PM
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