C O N F I D E N T I A L

MISSING AIR CREW REPORT
678th Bombardment Squadron
APO #247 c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, California Original - Supplemental
(Unit) (Cross out word not applicable)

1. ORGANIZATION: Location, by Name Tinian, Marianas; Command or Air Force XXI B.C.;
Group 444th Bomb Gp; Squadron 678th Bomb Sq

2. SPECIFY: Place of departure West Field, Tinian. Course 116o Target to lands End.
Target or Intended Destination: Kobe, Japan Type of Mission Combat

3. WEATHER CONDITIONS AND VISIBILITY AT TIME OF CRASH OR WHEN LAST REPORTED: Clear visibility, weather - good.

4. GIVE: (a) Day 5 Month June Year 1945 Time 2342Z and Location 34o 19'N 136o 32' E of last seen whereabouts of missing aircraft.

5. AIRPLANE WAS LOST, OR IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN LOST, AS RESULT OF: (Check only one): Enemy Aircraft ( ); Enemy Anti-Aircraft (x); Other circumstances as follows: None

6. AIRPLANE: Type, Model and Series B-29-16-BA ; AAF Serial Number 42-63451

7. NICKNAME OF AIRCRAFT, If any Black Jack, too

10. THE PERSONS LISTED BELOW ARE RECORDED AS: (a) Battle Casualty Battle Casualty

11. NUMBER OF PERSONS ABOARD AIRCRAFT: Crew 11; Passengers None

Name in Full Home
Crew Position (last name First) Rank Town Status

1. Airplane Com. Palmer, Woodrow B. 1st Lt. Buda, Tx. KIA while POW
2. Pilot Walls, Owen P. 2nd Lt Renton, Wa. KIA while POW
3. Navigator Dailey, Robert F. 2nd Lt. Eastchester, N.Y. KIA while POW
4. Bombardier Coulter, Don A. 1st Lt. Arkansas City, Ks. KIA while POW
5. Flt/Engineer Farish, Henry T. M/Sgt. Al. KIA while POW
6. Radar Opr. Prouty, Eugene J. Sgt. Barahoe, Wi. KIA while POW
7. Radio Opr. Chapman, Willard M. S/Sgt. Clovis, N.M. KIA while POW
8. Snr Gnr Niles, Cleveland T. Jr. S/Sgt. East Saint Louis, Il. KIA while POW
9. Rt Gnr Sabo, Peter (NMI) Sgt. St. Clarisville, Oh. KIA while POW
10. Lt Gnr Romanelli, Joseph W. Sgt. Darby, Pa. KIA
11. Tail Gnr Heisler, Charles A. Sgt. Arnold, Md. KIA while POW

12. IDENTIFY BELOW THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE LAST KNOWELDGE OF AIRCRAFT, AND CHECK APPROPRIATE COLUMN TO INDICATE BASIS FOR SAME:

Check only One Column

Saw
Name in Full Serial Contacted Last Saw Forced
(Last Name First) Rank Number by Radio Sighted Crash Landing

Shelden, Harold J. Major X

DATE OF REPORT 7 June 1945

ELLIOTT S. TREMAINE,
Captain, Air Corps,
Operations Officer.

17. REMARKS OR EYEWITNESS STATEMENTS:

WEATHER OVER AREA WHERE PLANE WAS SEEN TO CRASH:

Thin overcast - 20000'
.3 Cumulus - Tops 4000'
Visibility - 20 Miles
Surface winds - Southwesterly.

STATEMENT MADE BY MAJOR HAROLD J. SHELDEN, JR., AC

ON AIRCRAFT NUMBER 42-63451

Upon breaking away from the target on a heading of 114o for "land's end", my gunner reported that Aircraft 42-63451, piloted by Lt. Palmer, flying on the low element, had feathered Number three (3) engine. Very shortly thereafter that engine was seen to start running and was immediately feathered for the second time. Aircraft 451 then started losing altitude and dropped out of his position in the low element. I then pulled out of formation, No. 2 in lead element, and proceeded down to act as escort.

While approximately 200 feet above and still descending it was noted that Aircraft 451 was trailing smoke out of Number 3 engine. This condition existed for approximately five minutes at which time a heavy flame broke out trailing from Number 3 engine back to the horizontal stabilizer. Lt. Palmer was at this time holding a steady heading for "land's end" and was gradually descending. At approximately two to three miles before reaching coast, and after having traveled approximately fifteen miles with fire burning furiously, the right wing was seen to buckle at Number 3 engine and break off. The airplane rolled over on its back and started into a vertical nose down spin.

Four parachutes were then seen to open almost simultaneously at an altitude of approximately 11,000 feet; then three more, then two and one. All parachutes were open relatively soon but in the groups as indicated.

The wing was seen to hit on the side of a mountain further inland and sooner than did the remainder of the aircraft which crashed approximately three hundred (300) yards inland from shore and at southeast edge of small settlement along water front.

Two enemy fighters made attacks at an interval of approximately two minutes shortly after Aircraft 451 started blazing fire out of Number 3 engine. The first fighter was destroyed and the second damaged.

One circle was made by escorting aircraft of all chutes at which time a third fighter was seen approximately two miles to the south. The escorting aircraft proceeded on 180o heading out to sea, was followed by fighter for nearly ten minutes and then broke away without being able to make an attack.

I certify this to be a true and accurate account to the best of my knowledge.

HAROLD H. SHELDEN,
Major, Air Corps.
(Airplane Commander)

MACR provided by Sparky Corradina, 40th BG Historian

 

 

 

L to R: Pete Sabo, Henry T. Farrish, & Joseph W Pomanelli. "Somewhere in West Africa"

 

 

Pete Sabo - MIA Notification from local newspaper

 

 

Investigative File #741:

Date: 20 November 1946

Report of Investigation Division, Legal Section GHQ, SCAP, Osaka Branch

Inv. Div. No.                    C7D No.               Report by: Lt. Nicholas L. Sullivan

      # 741

Title: B29 crash and murder of airmen at Yoshisu, 5 June 1945

Synopsis of facts: Unknown writer alleges in a letter written to the 83^rd Military Government, Tsu Detachment that policeman Sugihara Kawai and Yamamoto killed the survivors of a B-29 plane that crashed near Yoshizu Village on 5 June 1945. Investigation above that the survivors were beheaded near Nagoya City by members of the Tokai Army Unit.

REFERENCES:

Report by Lt. E.H. Maulsby, dated 10 April 1946 (file 3266).

Report By Capt. W.R. Gill, dated 27 August 1946.

Execution of B-29 crewmen in the Nagoya area. Inv. Div. File#73.

DETAILS:

At Tokyo: The basis for the investigation of this crew is an unsigned letter sent to the 83^rd Military Government, TSU Detachment. The letter stated in part the following:

“The Massacre to the American prisoners on 5 June 1945 last year at Yoshizu local . Then the policemen (whose names are Sugihara, Kawai, Yamamoto and other village men and women and othermen cut with axes and swords each other and killed two of the prisoners.”

A check made of the Investigation Division Files in Tokyo showed that this B-29 crash was investigated by Lt. W. Maulsby as Case #266, report dated 10 April 1946.

At Osaka: Investigation shows that the only crash in the Yoshizu area occurred on 5 June 1945 between 1000 and 1100 hours, when a crippled B-29 plane returning from a raid over Kobe was attacked by two fighter planes. The B-29 went out of control and crashed into a fisherman’s house located on the sea shore near Shimazu Village, (5 miles away from Yoshizu Village) Wa tarai-gun, Mie ken.

                                                                        Distribution:                                                                     Do not write in this space

 

1 – Prosecution Div.

1 – CDR

3 – Inv. Div. (file #741)

1 – Inv. Div. (file #266)

1 – Withheld Osaka File 

The Fisherman Mr. Iwasaki and all four members of his family were instantly killed. Ten men parachuted from the plane and were all captured.

According to the Missing Air Crew Reports the plane has been identified as a B-29 bomber #42-63451, nickname “Black Jack Too”, from the 21^st Bomber Command, 444^th Bomb Group, 678^th Sqdn, stationed on Tinian. Following is the crew list:

Pilot (AC)            PALMER, Woodrow B.            1^st Lt.             0675110

Pilot                WALLS, Owen P.                2^nd Lt.             0771849

Navigator            DAILEY, Robert F.              2^nd Lt.             01060187

Bombardier            COULTER, Don A.             1^st Lt.             0738622

Engineer            FARISH, Henry T. Jr.       M/Sgt.                        34108214

Radar Op.            PROUTY, Eugene J.         Sgt.                 16056708

Radio Op.            CHAPMAN, Willard M.        S/Sgt.             35660665

Gunner            NILES, Cleveland T.         S/Sgt.             36483161

Gunner            SABO, Peter                                    Sgt.                 15337085

Gunner            ROMANELLI, Joseph W.  Sgt.                 33597469

Gunner            MEISLER, Charles A.            Sgt.                 33899272

Identities of the plane and crew were established by one Japanese witness remembering the name of one of the fliers captured as Willard CHAPMAN and the identification of the remains of Sgt. Joseph ROMANELLI, found buried near the site of the crash, by members from the 108 Q.M. Grave Registration Platoon.

Seven of the ten fliers that parachuted from the plane were captured the day of the crash by civilians and members of the civilian defense corps. One of this group of fliers captured that day suffered a severe head wound. Mr. Toshio NODA, the man that captured the injured flier stated the following:

“On the morning 5 June 1945 I was working in my rice paddy near the village of Shimazu, Mie Ken. I noticed a B-29 flying from the direction of Kobe. The plane was leaving a trail of smoke and exploded when it was directly above my rice paddy. I was scared and took cover. Later I went out and although the plane had already crashed I saw three parachutes sailing earthward. I went to search for the fliers and about two hours later I came across the flier lying on the ground on the mountain side. The parachute was caught in a tree and the flier was holding both hands to the back of his head and was groaning. I believe the flier receive the wound from the branch of a tree when he landed by parachute on the mountain side. The wound appeared to be a severe gash on the back of his neck. I torn a bandage from the parachute placed it on his wound to help stop the blood flow. The flier was unable to walk, so I got three other men and we carried the flier on an improvised stretcher and took him to the road below the mountain side. Here the flier was put on a cat and taken to the village office. I then returned home and this was the last I saw of this flier.”

The captured fliers were brought to the Shemazu village Hall where members of the Isobe Unit, Gokyo (153) Division loaded them on a truck and took them to the Division Hdq. In Ujiyamada City, Mie Ken. The six uninjured fliers were then transferred to Ujiyamada Kempei-Tai Hdq. Here they were kept over night and the next morning Warrant Officer Naoyuki YOSHIDA took the fliers by train and turned them over to a Major at the Tokai Army Hdq. In Nagoya City.

The injured flier was taken to the Gokyo Division Dispensary where he was treated by Medical Captain Masaki KAMBARA. The flier died around 0200 hours on 6 June 1945. Captain MAMBARA was interviewed and he states in part the following:

“Around 2300 hours on the 5^th of June of last year I was called from my quarters to treat an injured American flier that was brought to Gokyo (153) Division Hdq. In Yamada City, Mie Ken. When I arrived at the Hdq., I found the flier lying on an improvised stretcher directly in front of the Hdq. Bldg. I ordered some men to carry the flier to the Dispensary. At the Dispensary I placed the flier on an examination table and proceed to examine the flier.

I found that the flier was unconscious, his pulse very weak and that he suffered a severe cut and bruise across the occipital bone at the base of the cranium. I immediately injected 1 cc of Vita Camphor to stimulate the heart, bandaged the flier’s wound and then gave the flier a 1 cc injection of Thombogene and then 20 cc of glucose. I then continued giving the flier 1 cc of Vita Camphor injection every thirty minutes. The flier never regained consciousness and passed away at 0200 hours the following day. I wrote a death certificate stating that an unknown American flier died from brain hemorrhage, further agitated by the excess loss of blood. The next morning some soldiers carried the body to the Division Hdq. Office. The wound appeared to have been caused by a blunt edge. I believe the flier must have suffered the wound by hitting his head against a branch or a tree or a rock when he landed by parachute. This is the last time I saw the flier. I believe he was buried that day somewhere in Yamada City, Mie Ken.”

On the ninth of June 1945 three additional fliers who had been hiding in the mountains came down in search of food and were captured by the villagers and by members of a small naval detachment that were stationed in Shimazu Village at that time. The captured fliers were taken to the city hall and than members of the Kemper-Tai took them by train to the Gokyo (153) Division Hdq. in Ujiyamada City. Here they were questioned by a Major SHIMADA. The fliers stated that they were enlisted men stationed on Tinian and that their plane collided with a Japanese plane on their return trip from bombing Kobe City. They also stated that one of their crew members was seriously wounded over Kobe and was with the plane when it crashed. These fliers were kept over night at the Ujiyamada Kempei-Tai Hdq. and the next day (10 June 1945) Sgt. Major Taizio CHOKU took them to the Tokai Hdq. in Nagoya City.

On the 10^th of June 1945 the Ujiyamada Kempei-Tai found the body of the eleventh flier about 1000 meters from the site of the crash. Witnesses stated that the body of the flier was still garbed in an unopened parachute and was badly crushed. Dr. Kanichi URAWA of Shimazu Village who examined the body of the flier stated that he found a bullet wound in the fliers left thigh and above this wound he found the remains of a bandage probably used as a tourniquet. The flier, later identified as Sgt. ROMANILLI, was buried near the site of the crash.

No evidence of any atrocity or maltreatment was found to have been committed against the fliers up to the time of their transfer to the Tokai Army Headquarters in Nagoya City. Two of the men Mr. SUGIHARA and Mr. YAMAMOTO, alleged in the letter to have killed the fliers were not even in the vicinity of Shimazu at the time of the crash. Both of the men were living in Matsudaku City. Mr. SUGIHARA was at his home on sick leave and Mr. YAMAOTO was connected with the Matsudaka Police Force. Mr. Haruo KAWAI the third policeman accused of killing the fliers was in Shimazu Village at the time of the crash but denies that the fliers were mistreated in any way.

The survivors of this plane crash were executed on 28 June 1945 near Nagoya City by orders from the Tokai Army Hdq.

Full details of this execution are covered on Inv. Div. Case #73 – Execution of B-29 crewmen in the Nagoya area. The investigation of this crash was previously reported on 10 April 1946 by Lt. MAULSBY in case #266. Since Case #741 is a duplication of case #266, it is closed and a copy of this report is being indicated for file with Case #266.

UNDEVELOPED LEADS: None

STATUS OF THE CASE:  CLOSED

 

 

DETACHMENT A

108^TH QM GRAVES REGISTRATION PLATOON

APO 666

                                                                                          22 June 1946

CASE HISTORY No. 186

SUBJECT:  Graves Registration

TO: Appendix to WD QMC Form 1042. 

1. On 9 June 1946, the body identified as Sgt. Joseph W. Romanelli, ASN 33597469, was recovered from Kowaura, (Central Japan 1: 250,000. Sheet 39 CO-OR 1146.7-1243.4). According to the Japanese report, he had been killed in the action over Kobe and was dead before the plane crash. The plane established as that piloted by 1^st Lt. Woodrow B. Palmer, 0-675110, plane No. 42-63451 when questioning of a Japanese interpreter revealed the name of one of the survivors who had been questioned as S/Sgt. Willard M. Chapman, ASN 35660665 – Radio operator.

2. The body was buried on 10 June 1945 on the day of discovery in the city cemetery of Kowaura. All the clothes except the shorts and undershirt had been confiscated by the Kempei-Tai of Owashi. The laundry mark “R-7469” found in the waist band of the shorts the deceased was found to correspond with that of Joseph W. Romanelli, 33597469.

3. A report of both this body, covered in Case History No. 186 and the body covered In Case History 187, is repeated in Case History No. 318.

 

                                                                                Ward W. Wengert

                                                                                Sgt., Team 2

                                                                                Recovery Leader

Enclosure (1)

Haruo KAWAI was interrogated at the Osaka Branch Office on 12 September 1946 by Lt. Sullivan. 

Haruo KAWAI, after being duly sworn to speak the truth conscientiously, adding nothing and concealing nothing whatsoever, testified as follows:

Q. What is your full name, age, address and nationality?

A. Haruo KAWAI, 30 years, Asoura, Nakajima-mura, Watarai-gun, Miye Pref.

Q. Do you expect to remain at your present address for the next six months and if not how can your whereabouts in the future be ascertained?

A. Yes.

Q. What is your present occupation?

A. I’m a policeman of the Yoshizu Police Station. 

Q. What was your occupation during the war?

A. I became a member of the Police force in Yoshizu in April 1941 and I’ve been there ever since.

Q. Will you please list the name of the men that held important official offices in the village of Yoshizu from May to August 1945?

A. Village Chief, KOYAMA, Umematsu, Yoshuzu mura, Mura-yama, Watari-gun, Mie Ken. Chief of Police, Yoshuzu Village, ODA, Riichi, now located at Prefectural Police Dept. in Tsu City, Mie Ken. KATO, Jyungo, Now located at Yokkaichi Police Force Mie Ken. KUWABARA, Mitsuzo, Yoshizu-mura, Mie Ken, TSUJI, Shinji, Yoshizu-mura, Mie Ken, SAKAI, Shiro, Shimazu-mura, Watari-gun, Mie Ken, YAMAKAMI, Shigeji, Detective, now located at the Detective Bureau of Mie Prefectural Office, Tsu City.

Q. Did Mr. Sugihara and Mr. Yamamoto work as policemen in Yoshizu village during the war.

A. Mr. Sugihara was on a year sick leave and did not return to duty with the Yoshuzu Police Force until the early part of July 1945. I believe he stayed his leave at his home in Matsudaka City, Mie Ken. During the war Mr. Yamamoto was connected with the Matsudaka Police and he did not join our force until December 1945.

Q. Please describe in detail what you know about the B-29 plane that crashed near Yoshizu village last year.

A. During the morning of 5 June 1945 I was on duty at the Shimazu village Police Office which is located about five miles from Yoshizu City. There had been a huge raid over Kobe that morning and many B-29’s planes returning from raid were flying overhead. Between 1000 and 1100 hours I noticed a smoking and crippled B-29 plane being attacked by two Japanese fighter planes. The b-29 plane went out of control and crashed on the beach near Shimazu village. Before the [plane crashed I counted ten open parachutes in the shy. I then jumped on my bike and road to the scene of the crash. When I arrived I found the plane burning and scattered along the sea shore. I did not see any bodies in the wreckage at that time. The B-29 had crashed near a fisherman house, killing Mr. Iwasaki and all four members of his family. The surrounding wood were burning so I supervised and aided in putting out the fire. I then went back to the police box and around 1200 hours seven fliers were brought in by the villagers and Keibo Dan. The fliers were taken to the City Hall where they were turned over at 1300 hours to some members from the Army Defense Unit, stationed at Isobe, Shima-gun, Mie Ken. The Army men loaded them on a truck and took them to Yamada City. I believe the Army unit turned them over to there Hdq. or to the Kempei-Tai Hdqs stationed in Yamada City. Three more fliers were captured on the ninth of June. One man was captured by a village searching party near Shimazu. The other two fliers were captured by members from the small Naval Detachment stationed in Shimazu. All three fliers were brought to the City Hall during the morning of the ninth and were turned over to a Sgt. Major and sup Pvt. From Yamada Kempei-Tai. The Kempei-Tai men took the fliers by train from Yamada City.

Q. Did you see the first group of seven fliers that were captured?

A. I only saw three fliers of this group. I saw these men standing in one of the rooms at the city hall. I believe the four other fliers that were captured that same day were in another room. Although I can’t describe their appearance, they seemed to be unhurt and in good condition.

Q. Did you see the last group of fliers captured?

A. Yes, I saw them in the same room where I saw the first three fliers. Although they appeared somewhat dirty and tied, they seemed to be in good health. I can’t remember their appearance as it has been so long since I saw them.

Q. Was any medical attention given these captured fliers in the village of Shimazu?

A. No, not that I know of.

Q. Were any of the captured fliers injured?

A. I did not see any injured fliers but later I heard that one of the fliers was injured and later died at the Oji Hospital in Yamada City.

Q. Who did the interpreting for these fliers?

A. Although I don’t know his name I believe one of the villagers in Shimazu-mura spoke a few words of English to the flier. I will try and locate him for you.

Q. Do you know the names or the ranks of any of the captured fliers?

A. I don’t know any of their names but heard that one of the last group of fliers captured was a Lt. 

Q. Did any members of the police force capture any of the fliers?

A. I believe Yamakami, Kuwabara and Tsuji from the Yoshizu police aided in the capture of some of the fliers. The Keibo Dan, Army and Navy and police aided in the search.

Q. How many fliers were killed in the crash?

A. The Yoshizu Chief of Police ODA, a Warrant Officer from the Kempei-Tai and myself examined and buried a fliers body found near the burned wreckage of the plane. The personal effects of the pilot were taken to the Yamada Kempei-Tai Hdq. by the Warrant Officer. On examining the body we found that one of the fliers leg was bandaged. We judge that the flier was hit by flak over Kobe and was not able to make the jump before the plane crashed.

Q. Were any of the fliers killed by the people living in that area?

A. No.

Q. Did you see or hear about any atrocities committed against these fliers?

A. No.

Q. Did you maltreat any of the captured fliers?

A. No.

Q. Are you sure that the flier that later died wasn’t beaten by the villagers, soldiers or police?

A. I believe that the pilot was not beaten but died from injuries received from his jump.

Q. Do you have any other information that would aid in the investigation of this case?

A. No, I have told you all I know about the case.

 

                                                                                   Signature in Japanese

                                                                                        Haruo KAWAI

 (ALLIED OCCUPATION FORCES)

                                                      : SS.

CITY OF OSAKA                          )

I, Haruo KAWAI, being duly sworn on oath, state that I had read to me and understood the translation of the foregoing transcription of my interrogation and all answers contained therein, consisting of 3 pages, are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

                                                                                        Signature in Japanese

                                                                                        Haruo KAWAI

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 13^th day of September 1946.

                                                                        NICHOLAS L. SULLIVAN

                                                                                  0-527282, 1^st Lt. FA

                                                                                  Investigating Officer

                                                                                  Legal Section, GHQ, SCAP

ALLIED OCCUPATION FORCES)

                                                      : SS.

CITY OF OSAKA                          )

 I, Teruo MASATSUGU, 30115539, Pfc., AUS, being duly sworn on oath, state that I truly translated the questions and answers given from English to Japanese and from Japanese to English respectfully, and that after being transcribed, I truly translated the foregoing deposition containing 3 pages, to the witness; that the witness thereupon in my presence affixed his signature thereto.

                                                                                SIGNED

                                                                               Teruo MASATSUGU

 Subscribed and sworn to before me this 15^th day of September 1946.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                       NICHOLAS L. SULLIVAN

                                                                                  0-527282, 1^st Lt. FA

                                                                                  Investigating Officer

                                                                                  Legal Section, GHQ, SCAP

Masaichi YAMAMOTO was interrogated at the Osaka Branch Office on 13 September 1946 by Lt. Sullivan.

Masaichi YAMAMOTO after being duly sworn to speak the truth conscientiously, adding nothing and concealing nothing whatsoever, testified as follows:

Q. What is your full name, age, address and nationality?

A. Masaichi YAMATOMO, 31 years. Murayama Yoshizu mura, Watarai gun, Mie Ken, Japanese.

Q. Do you expect to remain at your present address for the next six months, and if not how can your whereabouts in the future be ascertained?

A. Yes. 

Q. What is your present occupation?

A. I am a policeman of the Yoshizu Police Dept.

Q. What was your occupation during the war?

A. I was a policeman at the Matsuzaka Police Station of Mie Prefecture. I was transferred to the Yoshizu Police Dept. on 23 December 1945.

Q. State in your own words what you know of the B-29 crash near Yoshizu mura on 5 June 1945.

A. On that day I was working at the Matsuzaka Police Station which is about 50 miles away from Yoshizu mura. About two or three days later I heard from the other policemen that a B-29 crashed near Yoshizu mura in Mie Prefecture. That is about all I know about the crash and I didn’t see or hear anything about the fliers. I didn’t inquire anything about the crash when I came to Yoshizu in December 1945, as the incident happened quite some time ago.

Q. Do you know Mr. SUGIHARA?

A. Yes.

Q. Do you know where he was on 5 June 1945 when the B-29 crashed?

A. I don’t know where he was on that day as he was attached to the Yoshizu Police Dept. When I came to Yoshizu on the 23^rd of December 1945, I learned that Mr. SUGIHARA was sick and was recuperating in Matsuzaka city. 

Q. Did you hear of any maltreatment given the fliers who survived the B-29 crash?

A. No.

Q. Do you have any further information that would aid in this investigation?

A. No, this is all I know. 

                                                                                Signature in Japanese

                                                                                 Masaichi YAMAMOTO

ALLIED OCCUPATION FORCES)

                                                      : SS

CITY OF OSAKA                          )

I, Masaichi YAMAMOTO, being duly sworn on oath, state that I had read to me and understood the translation of the foregoing transcription of my interrogation and all answers contained therein, consisting of 1 page, are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.                

                                                                                      Signature in Japanese

                                                                                    Masaichi YAMAMOTO

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 13^th day of September, 1946. 

                                                                NICHOLAS L. SULLIVAN

                                                                                  0-527282, 1^st Lt. FA

                                                                                  Investigating Officer

                                                                                  Legal Section, GHQ, SCAP

ALLIED OCCUPATION FORCES)

                                                      : SS.

CITY OF OSAKA                          )

I, Teruo MASATSUGU, 30115539, Pfc., AUS, being duly sworn on oath, state that I truly translated the questions and answers given from English to Japanese and from Japanese to English respectfully, and that after being transcribed, I truly translated the foregoing deposition containing 1 page, to the witness; that the witness thereupon in my presence affixed his signature thereto. 

                                                                                SIGNED

                                                                               Teruo MASATSUGU

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 13^th day of September 1946. 

                                                                       NICHOLAS L. SULLIVAN

                                                                                  0-527282, 1^st Lt. FA

                                                                                  Investigating Officer

                                                                                  Legal Section, GHQ, SCAP

  

                                               CERTIFICATE 

I, Nicholas L. SULLIVAN, 0-527282, 1^st Lt. F.A., Investigating Officer, Legal Section, GHQ, SCAP, certify that on the 13^th day of September, 1946, personally appeared before me Masaichi YAMAMOTO, and according to Teruo Masatsugu, 30115539, Pfc. AUS, gave the foregoing answers to the several questions set forth therein; that after his testimony had been transcribed, the said Masaichi YAMAMOTO had read to him by the said interpreter the same and affixed his signature thereto in my presence.

                                                                       NICHOLAS L. SULLIVAN

                                                                                  0-527282, 1^st Lt. FA

                                                                                  Investigating Officer

                                                                                  Legal Section, GHQ, SCAP

OSAKA, JAPAN

13 Sep 1946  

Kanichi URAWA was interrogated at the Osaka Branch Office on 27 Sep 46 by Lt. Nicholas L. Sullivan.

I, Kanichi URAWA, after being duly sworn to speak the truth conscientiously, adding nothing and concealing nothing whatsoever, testified as follows:

Q. What is your full name, age, address and nationality?

A. Kanichi URAWA, 33, Mie Ken, Watarai-gun, Shimazu-mura, Kowaura 30. I am a Japanese.

 Q. Do you expect to remain at your present address for the next six months, and if not how can your whereabouts in the future be ascertained?

A. Yes.

 Q. What is your present occupation?

A. I have a clinic called URAWA Iin.

 Q. What was your occupation during the war?

A. Same as above.

Q. Did you see or treat any of the B-29 fliers that crashed near Shimazu on 5 June 1945?

A. On the 10^th of June 1945 I was ordered by the Yamada Kempei-Tai to go to Kowaura Cemetery to view the remains of a B-29 flier that was found that same day near scene of the crash. The body appeared to be badly mangled and must have been in the plane when it crashed. I examined the body closely and found a bullet wound in the flier’s leg thigh. Above the wound I found the remains of a bandage that was probably used as a sort of tourniquet. The outer clothing and all the personal articles on the body of the flier were taken by three members of the Kempei-Tai before the body was buried. I then wrote a death certificate saying the flier either died before or in the crash.

 Q. Did you treat or see any other fliers?

A. No.

 Q. Did you hear about the other flier that was badly injured?

A. No, I did not see or hear about any flier being hurt or injured.

 Q. Did you ever hear what happened to these fliers that survived the crash?

A. No.

 Q. We have evidence that one of the fliers was badly injured and later died in a hospital in Yamada City. Do you know about this incident?

A. No, I never heard about it. I know there are four or five hospitals in Yamada City and the flier could have been taken to one of them.

 Q. Did you ever hear about any beatings or atrocities committed against these fliers?

A. No.

Q. Do you have any further information that would aid in the investigation of this case?

A. No.

                                                                       Signature in Japanese

                                                                             Kanichi URAWA

 ALLIED OCCUPATION FORCES)

                                                      : SS.

CITY OF OSAKA                          )

I, Kanichi URAWA, being duly sworn on oath, state that I had read to me and understood the translation of the foregoing transcription of my interrogation and all answers contained therein, consisting of 1 page, are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

                                                                                    Signature in Japanese                                                                                              

                                                                                        Kanichi URAWA

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27^th day of September, 1946.

                                                                            NICHOLAS L. SULLIVAN

                                                                                0-527282, 1^st Lt. FA

                                                                                Investigating Officer

                                                                                Legal Section, GHQ, SCAP

ALLIED OCCUPATION FORCES)

                                                      : SS.

CITY OF OSAKA                          )

I, Louis SETO, 36932647, Pfc, USA, being duly sworn on oath, state that I truly translated the questions and answers given from English to Japanese and from Japanese to English respectfully, and that after being transcribed, I truly translated the foregoing deposition containing 1 page, to the witness; that the witness thereupon in my presence affixed his signature thereto.

                                                                                SIGNED

                                                                              Louis SETO 

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27^th day of September 1946.

                                                                   NICHOLAS L. SULLIVAN

                                                                              0-527282, 1^st Lt. FA

                                                                              Investigating Officer

                                                                              Legal Section, GHQ, SCAP 

                                               CERTIFICATE 

I, Nicholas L. SULLIVAN, 0-527282, 1^st Lt. F.A., Investigating Officer, Legal Section, GHQ, SCAP, certify that on the 27^th day of September, 1946, personally appeared before me Kanichi URAWA, and according to Louis SETO, 36932647, Pfc, USA, gave the foregoing answers to the several questions set forth therein; that after his testimony had been transcribed, the said Kanichi URAWA had read to him by the said interpreter the same and affixed his signature thereto in my presence.

                                                                       NICHOLAS L. SULLIVAN

                                                                                  0-527282, 1^st Lt. FA

                                                                                  Investigating Officer

                                                                                  Legal Section, GHQ, SCAP

OSAKA, JAPAN

27 Sep 1946

Jungo KATO was interrogated at the Osaka Branch Office on 17 Sep 1946 by Lt. Nicholas L. Sullivan.

 I, Jungo KATO, after being duly sworn to speak the truth conscientiously, adding nothing and concealing nothing whatsoever, testified as follows:

Q. What is your full name, age, address and nationality?

A. Jungo KATO, 40 years, Mitsuya-cho, Higashi Akuragawa, Yokkaichi City Mie Ken.

Q. Do you expect to remain at your present address for the next six months, and if not how can your whereabouts in the future be ascertained?

A. Yes.