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FUKUSHIMA Statement of Inada (18-22 August 1947) In September or October 1945, Sato or Fukushima told Inada that on the afternoon of 20 June 1945, from 6-8 plane crash survivors were beheaded within the WAH compound. Inada believes that at that time Sato told him that Yokoyama had approved of this execution. Sato and Fukushima were then conducting an investigation and it was during this conversation that Inada first learned of the investigation. Inada then ordered Sato and Fukushima to conduct an intensive investigation. Sato and Fukushima had been investigating on their own. Sato or Fukushima stated that on the afternoon of 20 June, 6-8 PCS’ were beheaded, that most of the participants in the execution were members of the Legal Section, that the Chief of Legal Section (Ito) was at the scene of the execution, Further, the bodies of the fliers had been buried near the scene of the execution. Either Sato or Fukushima at this later date told Inada that he did not receive a report of this execution because he was away from headquarters. Fukushima or Sato in late September or early October told Inada about the 2nd execution at the same time he was told about the first. This was that approximately 8 PCS’s were executed at Aburayama on 12 August, that Itezono was directed by Sato to carry out this execution, that Tomomori must have approved of it. Inada then ordered Sato and Fukushima to conduct an investigation of this execution. In late September or early October, in Futsukaiichi, either Sato or Fukushima told Inada that on the afternoon of 15 August, 8-9 PCS1 were executed at Aburayama, that Yokoyama did not approve this execution. Inada believes that he heard something about Fukushima approving this execution. Either Fukushima or Sato stated that the execution was carried out by the young officers attached to either the staff or adjutant section. 2-3 days later, Sato told Inada that he had discussed the execution with Fukushima and that Fukushima had given him permission. Fukushima told Inada in a conversation earlier that day that he had not given Sato permission. Inada then told Sato this, who replied that he would not have carried the execution out if Fukushima had not approved. In December 195 Kusumoto told Inada that because the war had just ended, he went to Sato to ask him what should be done with the PCS’, who then entered a room where Kusumoto thought Fukushima was. Kusumoto said that upon leaving the room Sato told him that the PCS' would be executed and to make arrangements for the execution. Then in late December Fukushima told Inada that Sato had come to him and discussed the execution, but that he did not give him his approval. Inada was in Futsukaiichi from about 17 September until 8-9 October working on demobilization problems. It was during this period that either Sato or Fukushima came to him and told him of the 20 June exection of 6-8 PCS' and the 2nd and 3rd executions. Yokoyama denied (to Inada) any knowledge, approved Inada’s request to have Sato and Fukushima conduct the investigation. |