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FUKUSHIMA Statement of Torisu (29 Aug - 5 Sept 47) After 4th operation - In October 1945 Ishiyama asked Torisu to call on Sato, ask him the situation as to the PWs operated on at KIU, since the AF were now in Japan. Sato told Torisu there would be no trouble, which Torisu reported. 2 days after Hirao reported to Ishiyama of the article in the Nishi Nihon Newspaper regarding the operations performed on PWs at KIU, Fukushima, whom: Torisu had not know, called on Torisu, said that the responsibility rests on the army, asked him to keep the matter secret. After WAH moved to Yamae, Maj. Gen. Fukushima remained at Fukuoka as Assistant Chief of Staff, and Maj. Gen. Ito as chief of Legal Section. Fukushima was assistant chief of staff for the 16th Army Group but remained at Fukuoka to handle the staff affairs. |
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Statement of Sato (ATIS translation) In May or June Yokoyama told Sato it would be alright to execute the Prisoners, again on 20 June at 0100-0200 in the air defense operations room. It is said that Fukushima was also talking about the execution on the same day. On the 16th or 17th Aug., Deputy Chief of Staff Fukushima gathered the men who executed the Prisoners on the 15th, told them he would take the entire responsibility for the executions. Fukushima now says that he told Sato not to do it, trying to evade responsibility. At the end of the war Fukushima carried two vials of cyanide with which he had decided to commit suicide in the event this incident was discovered. He told Sato about this. |
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Statement of Kusumoto Kusumoto heard definitely about the end of the war on 14 August, and on that afternoon was called into Hirao WAH by Fukushima, and he and Tomomori said that the occupation army would probably soon be landing at Hakata, and that it would be necessary for the adjutant section to prepare to move the remainder of the headquarters at Hirao to Yamae. Sato went upstairs to Fukushima's room. Fukushima was in it as Kusumoto went by to the staff room, which was used as an assembly to hear the Emperor. Kusumoto then listened to the radio announcement, a speech,by Isa, then met Sato, who said to tell Yukino to make coffins for the flyers and give them to Yukino, which Kusumoto passed on, then went to Hirao headquarters. About 20 SeptemberWAH moved from Kaminohashi to the Keigo National Primary School. About 23 September Fukushima told Kusumoto he would have to assume y responsibility for transporting the captured flyers at Kaminohashi to Mushiroda Airport, where it was to be stated that they had been placed on suicide planes. He then asked him detailed questions as to how many lunches he had given the flyers, what they consisted of, where the truck had left from, etc. Kusumoto said this would be too difficult for him, asked him to pass the responsibility to someone else, but Fukushima said that this was an order. In November 1945, at headquarters, Fukushima ordered everyone with a part in the concealment plan to turn in a statement telling exacly what they would say they had done after the 2 heavy bombers had come from the Chief of Staff office / in Tokyo to get the captured flyers. Fukushima turned back Kusumoto's, said it was not good enough, that he should rewrite it. Kusumoto tried 3 times, told Fukushima it was too difficult, requested that he report the truth, but he said Statement of Kusumoto (Cont'd. ..... the plan had been decided upon by higher officers. Kusumoto asked him what would happen to Yukino, who had charge of the flyers, and Fukushima said that if he didn't agree, the plan would not be successful, that Kusumoto should go to his house and ask him about it. 2-3 days later, Kusumoto went to the house of Yukino at Kumamoto, discussed the idea of telling the truth and they decided that, after discussing the matter with higher officers, they would ask them to tell the truth about the executions and University operations. Kusumoto then went to Fukushima, told him this, and he became angered, that Kusumoto must abide by the plan ordered by higher officers, that even if the plan were discovered it would mean no trouble to Kusumoto. Fukushima then went to see Yukino, told Kusumoto he was sick, that Yukino at first refused to comply, but that he said that if so acted all the efforts of higher officers would be wasted and requested him to state that on 17 August he had, by order of Sato, turned over all the flyers to Kusumoto. |
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Statement of Isa (30 Sept - 2 October 1947) Fukushima's duties, as vice Chief of Staff, were not too definite. Acting on orders of Inada and Yokoyama, he would conduct the duties pertaining to the air defense directions, mostly as to defense of the civilian population. He worked in close liaison with Sato on this. Lt. Col. Yakumaru, under Fukushima, would carry out the duties pertaining to civilian defense. He was also responsible to see that army regulations were followed in the WA area, to see that guards were placed in proper places to protect the interests of the army. Isa used both Fukushima and Yakumaru to conduct these duties. |