S/D Biography (ATIS) for Michio Ikeda

S/D (30 Jan 1948) ATIS #37648)

39; now manages a private hospital. Defendant heard of the execution of 8 - 9 American air crew members after the 19 June airraid. Prior to 19 June Defendant attended an execution of a Japanese soldier by firing squad as a result of court martial. Around August 1945, Defendant was notified by the Judicial Department to be a witness at the execution of two Jap soldiers, since he was in charge of the detention compound.

Defendant went with Captain Wamitsu (WAKO), CO of the Judicial Department, 1st Lt. YOSHIDA, 2nd Lt. 0N0, and several SCO’s. Defendant had heard that American flyers were also to be executed. WAKO read the sentences of the two Japs, two crosses were erected, the arms of the Japs tied thereto, were then made to squat, their heads tied to the vertical part of the cross, and shot by a two man firing squad. WAKO was in charge and Defendant witnessed as the representative of the WA Medical Department; pronounced them dead. Defendant signed the death certificates; which were then forwarded to the WA LS. They were cremated.

WAKO and Defendant remained, knowing of the American execution. Immediately after the Jap execution the Americans were brought. Defendant remained out of curiosity not by order. There were 8 - 9 Americans, barefooted, wearing shorts, were set down about ten meters from the place of execution.

Captain YUKINO assembled the POs and talked to them. WAKO told all to keep the exe­cution secret. Before the execution a PO (OTSUKl) practiced archery, shooting arrows at trees 50 meters distant. The pit was about three yards long and 2 yards wide and 4-5' deep. Before the execution, at the scene, were TOMOMORI, ENATSU, WAKO, YUKINO, YOSHIDA, ONO (2nd Lt.), several Officers, about 20 - 30 POs, about 20 NCOs and several soldiers. Defendant was not ordered to examine the corpses nor be a witness although the only medical Officer present.

The Americans were led out one by one and executed. No sentences were read. TOMOMORI as the Sr. Officer present; YUKINO, of the Adj. Sec. with the duty to take charge of the American flyers, gave the actual orders of execution. The first American was ordered to squat near the edge of the pit, was beheaded by either a 1st or 2nd Lt. Defendant believes YUKINO recruited the executioners before the execution, who assembled near the pit before the execution took, place. Among the executioners were 1st Lt. YOSHIDA and 2nd Lt. ONO of the Judicial Department. TOMOMORI issued no orders whatsoever at this execution.

TOMOMORI did say to ENATSU that the first beheading was well done. Defendant believes ONO beheaded the third, delivered either a second blow or a coup de grace. There is no doubt that all flyers were beheaded, although kesagiri, bow and arrows and karate were used on the last 2 or 3 victims.

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Defendant believes that TOMOMORI said "How about trying kesagiri?", whereupon YUKINO or someone said let the master swordsman present do it, whereupon the executioner swung the sword diagonally left from the flyer’s shoulder. Defendant observed the wound from 1 meter, which wound was about 15 cm deep. TOMOMORI or someone instructed the executioner to deliver a coup degrace, and Defendant instructed him as to the position of the heart since the blow was delivered from the back. This ended the

IKEDA - 2

execution.

ENATSU prior to its use announced karate would be used in the execution, gave instruc­tions to 2 or 3 POs. One PO struck the scorbiculus cordis and the victim fell back­wards. The victim was again placed on the same spot after being picked up, fell similarly on 2 subsequent blows. One PO then kkcked him in the testicles. Two or three took part. The flyer was kkcked in the testicles two or three times. The flyer's right arm was supported by a Jap soldier.

The raiding unit of the POs was undergoing intensive karate training every day in preparation for the Kyushu invasion. The participants used their entire strength. One victim screamed once or twice. Defendant thinks the POs who kicked wore army boots.. ENATSU told TOMOMORI that these POs were no good in karate. The one victim was helped to the pit, seated and beheaded.

One American flyer was shot by an arrow by a PO before being executed (OTSUKI). Only one of several arrows grazed the head.

After all the executions, Defendant looked in the pit, thought all were dead.

When half the executions had taken place, TOMOMORI took out a small whisky bottle and gave each executioner a drink.

When anyone died who was confined to the WA detention compound, as medical Officerin charge Defendant made out the death certificate, but not on these flyers. These flyers were not treated as PWs; the execution was unjust and secret.

Two or three days after the execution, Defendant made an oral report to HORIUCHI as to being a witness to the execution of the two Japanese and makkng out their death certificates. Defendant also reported the executions to him; he said nothing.

About 20 August SATO came to Defendant's room, requested he make out a death certif­icate for a B-29 member; said that evidence of the executed flyers had been destroyed, but one flyer captured in Shikoku had been reported by the Shikoku KT as being trans­ferred to WA; wanted Defendant to say he died of an illness, but Defendant gave no definite answer, reported this to HORIUCHI, who made no comitment and Defendant refused SATO several days later.