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Statement Dated (19 Apr 48 by McKnight 46, Col. of 2nd Army Staff Section, Chief of 1st Div. (Adm. and Air Operations) from 15 Apr 45 to 31 Oct 45; from 1 Jan 46, War History of 1st Demob., in Feb 46, Legal Section of Tokyo Demob. Lt. General Takazu WAKAMATSTJ was Chief of 2nd Army until about 17 Jul 45, then Vice Minister of War, the Vice Chief of Staff was Joichiro SANADA until mid Sept 45. Maj. (Jen. OTAWARA was Chief of Legal Section of the 2nd Army from late Jul 45 (also concurrently had same job with Osaka Chubu Army). The General Defense Army gave authority for fliers to be tried both by them and such Armies as Western and Chubu when specially directed by the General Defense Army. Defendant doesn't recall such orders have been given. Defendant believes the authority of the General Defense Army was passed on to 1st Army and 2nd Army. In late Aug or early S pt 45, SATO came three times to have it reported 9 fliers killed without trial would be said to have been killed in the atomic bombing. The first and second times Defendant told SATO he didn't think Field Marshal HATA, Commanding General of 2nd Army, would permit it and refused him. The third time SATO said he came at request of YOKOYAMA, and Defendant took the request to HATA, with the Chief of Staff and Asst. Chief of Staff present. HATA refused; Defendant told him that SATO was going to the Commanding General of Chukoku Area. Someone from Chukoku, Defendant thinks Maj. KIKKAWA, then came to see Defendant, said Chukoku Area agreed to the SATO request, which Defendant passed to his Commanding General and Chief of Staff. Chukoku area then reported the matter of the 9 fliers to the Australian Commanding General at Hiroshima and reported this fact to the Commanding General, but HATA took no action. Defendant thinks Chukoku area corrected this report in the spring of 46. |