|
Statement of Iwata (3 Dec 47). 34, procures materials for paper company, assisted in a search and capture of American flyers who parachuted near Miyaji Machi, about 5 May 1945. 2 American flyers wore alive, 2 Were dead. At the time, Iwata was a Warrant Officer, in the Kumamoto KT, received the flyers from those who captured them. Iwata was told one flyer had been killed when his parachute'was cut and he fell to the ground, that the other was shot with a hunting gun. Both corpses wore air corps flying suits, Iwata brought the bodies and personal belongings to Miyaji, turned them over to-Warrant Officer Imoto in Kumamoto KT Hq, which were later sent to WAH. Their records were burned after the War. The one live flyer was brought to the Miyaji Police Station, and Iwata took him to Kumamoto, the other was taken to Kumamoto while he was searching. Imoto also took the personal property of these 2 flyers to WAH. The one Iwata escorted was a 2nd Lt, One had a slight scratch on his fore head, the other had nothing wrong. On being shown photos, Iwata believes the picture of Robert J. Johnson is of the large flyer Iwata found dead, Iwata believes the picture of Dale E. Plambeck is a photo of the flyer he escorted to Kumamoto. Iwata is uncertain , but believes, from the photo, that John C. Colehower was the other Prisoner brought in a live.
|