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Statement of Manako (27 August 1946) 50, retired, formerly head of Asahi Motion Picture Co. On 28 July 1945, while ill in bed in Manako Village, he was directed by the Kuroki Chief of Police to go immediately to Kitagawachi to act as an interpreter. Manako had known that an American Plane had crashed in Yokoyama-mura on 27 July 1945 just after midnight. Manako proceeded, arrived at the policeman's residence about 1030, where there was an American soldier sitting down, his right ankle injured and bandaged. The Kuroki Chief of Police and 2-3 policemen were there. The Chief of Police handed Manako a printed questionnaire to fill out. The Prisoner said his name was Stearns, that he was a corporal, that his father was a professor on the East Coast, believes he was a gunner. Stearnes (cried) asked if he could go home, if he could have his wound treated; the KT corporal said that he would be treated after being taken to Kurume, and Manako later learned that he was taken there. In early August Manako was again called to Kitagawachi by Gunji Haraguchi of the Keibi Tai who had been so directed by a Sgt. Akashi. Manako there met a Staff Sgt. Thornton at the primary school, who stated that he was an engineer aboard the plane, was 21, single, his plane was based on Guam, that they had been on a mission to bomb Omuta when they were struck and forced to crash, asked to send his parachute rip cord handle to his mother, stating it had saved his life. Manako turned the cord over to Sgt. Akashi, heard later that the KT took him to Kurume. About 9 August Manako was again called to the Kitagawachi Primary School, another B-29 flyer having been captured, in charge of Sgt. Akashi. The Prisoner stated his name was Appley, age 22, married, one child (he had never seen). He wrote down the 11 names of the crew and the captain passenger observer. Manako believes he was later taken to Kurume. |