Statements Concerning Nakao

NAKAO, JUKIRO

Statement of Nakao (10 Sept 1947)

24, in California through 6th grade, came to Japan in 1934 (12 years), drafted in 1943, transferred to WAH 16 March 1945 as a Second Lieutenant, assigned to Intelligence Section under Major Inenaga, with duties to audit English broad­casts and to interpret in interrogation of flyers.

Plane survivors were brought to WAH by the Kempei Tai, turned over to the Adjutant Section under Lt. Col. Jin , and Captain Goiyama of the Adjutant Sec­tion usually received the prisoners and placed them in prison, would then notify Intelligence Section, and Inenaga would then schedule the survivors for questioning, which was usually done by Col. Sato, Maj. Inenaga, Second Lt. Yamanaka, with Nakao as interpreter. Nakao usually secured the names, age, rank, unit, and base, preliminary to the intelligence interrogation. Informa­tion regarding name, age, rank, unit, and home address was always turned over to Captain Kajuro Aihara of the Staff Section. In April 1945 Lt. Col. Mitsuo Sugino became Commanding Officer of the Intelligence Section, and Maj. Inenaga was transferred to another unit as staff officer.

Nakao recalls talking to Sgt. Billy J. Brown (crashed 29 April) to Cpl. Leon E. Czarnecki, believes he was a tail gunner, to 1st Lt. Marvin S. Watkins, believes he was Commanding Officer, on 5 May, was rather tall, sent to Tokyo 8 May. He further recalls talking to 2d Lt. William B. Fredericks (navigator on Watkins plane) 2d Lt. Dale E. Plambeck (radar operator), Cpl, Robert Williams, Cpl. John C. Colehower (gunner). Nakao .believes he talked to Czarnecki, Watkins, Fredericks, Plambeck, Williams and Colehower about 7 May, that their plane crashed near Oguni-machi, Kumamoto ken.

All these prisoners were in good health except that one had a gunshot wound in his shoulder, another had an injured leg, Nagao believes, because he could not stand up. None were critically ill.

Nakao recalls talking to Sgt. Jack V. Dengler, Pvt. Berlin R. Calvin (who stated that he had been born in Canada, demoted from corporal) Cpl. Irving A. Corliss, Master Sergeant Robert J. Aspinall, T/Sgt. Edgar L. McElfresh, Sgt. Otto W. Baumgartern (sp?), Sgt. Ralph S. Homines, recalls the name of Jack Shelloy, reportedly an air corps sergeant picked up in Moji 9 July, crashing in the Kanmon channel, talked to him, after he was sent up from the 56th.

Nakao further recalls talking to a T. Roracka, does not remember talking to a S/Sgt. Teddy Ponczka. He further recalls talking to a Samuel Shepard Smith, a lieutenant who crashed in Tangeashima (south tip of Kyushu), held for two days at the 57th Army, heard he was sent to Tokyo. Nakao recalls talking to a Stodd, a navy fly er from the carrier "Franklin" (captured in Akune 16 March. After 18 March orders were directed to turn over a ll captured navy flyers to the 5th Navy Airforce Headquarters at Kayoya, Kagoshima-ken.

Nakao heard after the war that a ll prisoners held at WAH at the time the war ended were killed . Nakao went to Yamaie Headquarters 85 June. Between 16 March and 25 June Nakao questioned about 30 prisoners of war. After his transfer to Yamaie he frequently returned to Fukuoka to question American prisoners of war. Between 25 June and 15 August Nakao talked to about 8 prisoners of war

Nakao- Cont'd

but he didn't speak to all of them - just the pilots and co-pilots. Between 28 July and 8 August he questioned no prisoners of war, being on a special mission to Tokyo.

Nakao would estimate that about 60 American flyers were brought to Fukuoka from 16 March to 15 August; about 18 were sent to Tokyo. On 20 June Aihara told Nakao that a ll the American prisoner* of war held at that time had been beheaded that afternoon on WAH grounds. Two days after the war Nakao heard that all remaining prisoners of war were beheaded at Aburayama.

The Fukuoka air raid started about 2130 on 19 June. Capt Zikuya of the Intel­ligence Section had been drinking with Nakao. Incendiary bombs were dropped. About 2300 some of the headquarters barracks caught fire , one near the prisoner barracks. They could not put the fire out; Nakao feared the fire would burn the prisoners, felt "bushido" for them would be better, talked to Zikuya about this, and they went into Air Defense Building about 2300, saw Fukushima and told him his feeling, and he asked who was going to k ill the prisoners and how. Nakao stated that they (Nakao and Zikuya) would k ill them with swords. Fukushima turned to Inada, said something to him, and Inada then told Nakao he could not do such a foolish thing, but to put out the fire . Nakao, feeling ashamed, left, and the fire was checked, the prison unburned. Nakao didn’t suggest that the prisoners be released because he was excited and did not think rationally.

Nakao recalls that Sato on one occasion pushed a prisoner of war in the chest.

On 17 Aufust 1945 Nakao was called to Hirao's headquarters where Sato, Kusumoto. Aihara, Tomomori, and Yakumaru were talking. When they finished Sato told Nakao that a ll the prisoners of war had been killed , that if anyone asked Nakao what happened he should say that they had been sent to Tokyo on an Imperial Staff Headquarters plane.

In mid-May 1945 Komori asked Nakao to accompany him and two prisoners of war to the KIU Hospital where the prisoners were to be vaccinated. Nakao went along, left immediately after the two prisoners of war were given injections. It was not until after 25 June 1945 that Nakao heard that these men were killed in experimental operations. Sato told Nakao at Hirao that some of the prisoner of war, were killed at the hospital. Later somebody told him that the prisoners of war were taken to the hospital and reported as having been sent to Hiroshima and killed in the atomic bombing.

Statement of Nakao (24 Oct - 27 Oct 1947)

Nakao is sure that WAH received two flyers from the 57th Corps at Takarabe, one a B-29 flyer who crashed in the ocean off Toi-Misaki (Southeast Kyushu) in late April or early May, another a P-51 pilot near the end of the war off the Miyazaki coast. The B-29 flyers was an Enlisted man, maybe a tail gunner since a lone survivor, perhaps Sgt. Billy J . Brown. The P-51 pilot came from an Okinawan base, his mission to patrol the eastern coast of Kyushu; he was an officer, had a black eye.

Smith was about the last flyer sent to Tokyo, several months before the surrender.

Nakao recalls that a 38 or 47 crashed off the coast of Wakamatsu after 8 August, believes it was based at Ie-jima, believes he escorted bombers against the Yawata Steel works. Yamanaka would know more about location of crashes than anyone else

NAKAO - Cont’d.

up to 8-9 August when he went to Hiroshima. Thereafter, Captain Sakura suc­ceeded him. An enlisted man, Honda, worked under Yamanaka, possibly Sakura.

Nakao recalls a crash involving a Captain Nelson, who had served in the ETO, was now a bombing instructor, according to the story Yamanaka gave him, gave startling information as to the size of the American Air Force, believes he was sent to Hiroshima, since Nakao did not interrogate him on his return on 8 August. Both PFC Okumura and PFC Shigtomi of the Intelligence Section spoke good English.

Nakao recalls a flyer who crashed on Shikoku about 12 August, a dispute over who was to receive him, but received by WA, the only one escaping from a B-29 (Name of flyer is BREWER).

Statement of NAKAO (24-27 Oct 1947)

There was a dispute between WAH and Naval Air Force Headquarters at Kanoya as to receipt of captured American airmen; it was fin ally agreed that flyers from task forces would be turned over to the 5th Naval Air Base at Kanoya, and Nakao recalls 2 -3 who were so turned over. One was captured in the Kagashima-ken, was being escorted to WAH when it was ordered that he be taken to Kanoya. Another one at Ibusuki was sent to Kanoya. An American major was sent to Kanoya, believes that he was one of the two.

Nakao believes that in April or May, 3 flyers from Formosa were kept at Fukuoka overnight on the way to Tokyo, one badly injured, by the Kerapei Tai. One was a P-38 pilot.

On one occasion when WAH jail was full, 5 or 6 prisoners were kept at the adjoin­ing 46th Infantry Regiment jail for a short period before 20 June (the congestion was due to the number of Japanese and Chinese prisoners.)

Statement of Nakao (5 Nov. 1947)

When a flyer was captured Aihara received notification by telephone and the Air Defense Operations Section would receive notification of the crash and number of survivors; this information would be recieved by Sato and the Intelligence Section. The flyers were sent to WAH, were not to be questioned prior although this was done nevertheless. When the flyers arrived the Kempei Tai usually had a document stating the name, age, rank, position, base, and sometimes other data. Nakao would usually be called to the prison, would again ask names, age, rank, position, to check the document received by Aihara from the Kempei Tai. This information would be used by the Adjutant Section (Jin ), Aihara, and the Intelligence Section which could so judge who was most important in the crew. The flyers were then put in cells, if possible, separate, although sometimes enlisted men were put together where crowded.

Yamanaka would arrange for the interrogation, would notify Lt. Col. Sugino of the plans and Sato of the intention. Sugino had never attended interrogations, but sometimes Sato, Aihara and Enatsu would. Interrogations were carried out according to rank and importance of position. Yamanaka would write notes during the interrogtion, give a verbal report to Sugino and to Sato, if Sato did not attend. Infor-

NAKAO - Cont'd.

mation considered urgent was telegraphed to the armies concerned. Later, this information was written up and distributed to a ll armies in the WA Area, to meighboring services, and to the General Staff Headquarters. Prior to May 1945 the flyers were sent to Tokyo as soon as the entire interrogation was completed. The longest that the fliers remained at headquarters was about a week.

After May 1st Lt. Watkins and Samuel S. Smith we re the only flyers sent to Tokyo that Nakao knows of definitely. Nakao heard that Captain Nelson and another who Nakao knew as Hayward were sent to Hiroshima.

In mid May Probationary Officer Komori came to see Nakao, led him out into the hall, said, "We are going to take the flyer who is wounded in the leg to the University hospital to perform an experimental operation and would like your help in inter­preting," then led Nakao to a neighboring room where Sato, Aihara and Enatsu were talking. Enatsu said, '’Instead of doing that, add another prison of war camp especially for captured flyers in the vicinity of Nishi jun-machi. Here you could put the flyers to work and make them raise their own food so that they would be sufficient." It was then decided—Nakao believes it was Komori's idea— that Nakao should tell the flyer that he was to have an operation performed on his injured leg at the hospital. Nakao thinks it was at this time that Komori told Nakao that the experiments were going to be performed at the University by Ishiyama, who, Nakao thinks, he said was a former teacher of his.

Nakao went with Komori to the prison, went to the cell of the flyer with the wounded leg; there were two others with him, one with a wounded shoulder, a ta ll, large man. Nakao thinks Groiyama might have been with them. The wounded flyer was on a stretcher Nakao told him he was being taken to a hospital for treatment, according to Komori's instructions. They then took the flyer to a sedan, he and Komori got in the back seat, believes the guards on duty helped the flyer in. Aihara may have been there, thinks he got in front seat.

2 or 3 days later Komori called Nakao from the Intelligence room, told him that he was going to try a newly developed sleeping power; said more flyers were to be taken to the University for experiments; that if the powder worked the flyers would be drowsy by the time they reached the University; that he was going to give the powder to Goiyama or perhaps Aihara; that he wanted Nakao to help give the powder to the flyers; that Goiyama would get Nakao later in afternoon. About 1700 Goiyama came in, said he was ready; showed Nakao the white powder in a small paper package; and they went down to the prison. Goiyama went to the kitchen behind the prison to get some sugar to mix with the powder in the water; came to the prison with a kettle of water, a bowl and some sugar, mixed it outside the prison, which Nakao then tasted, and they went into the prison and gave the solution to 2 flyers who were in the same cell. Nakao believes this was the same cell that housed the flyer with the injured shoulder.

They handed the bowl through a small window; both drank it , but it had no effect. The next afternoon the large man with the wounded shoulder and Plambeck were taken to the University hospital for experimental operations.

Nakao then recalls that Aihara and Yakumaru went along the time he went (see 24 Sep. 1947 statement), didn't come back on the truck, but with Sato, the 3 arriving later. Nakao also recalls guiding the two blindfolded prisoners in the building.

Plambeck had not been given sleeping medicine the day previous to being taken to the hospital. 3 or 4 days after Nakao went to the University Komori again

Nakao - Cont'd

approached him; said he would try the sleeping medicine again, suggesting that it might not have been strong enough the last time; said that he would give the medi­cine to Goiyama and that they should give the medicine as they did the 1st time, before mealtime. About 1700 Nakao met Goiyama, who had more powder and made a stronger solution, they again mixing it to hide the possible taste of medicine. This time they gave it to a ll the prisoners.

In one of the cells - with 3 flyers - one refused which Nakao said was only "sugar water." Nakao then drank a glass him self, so they all drank. In another cell, a flyer asked for a second cup. There was a Chinese in a cell with some of the flyer they refused him a drink.

The following morning Nakao heard from either Goiyama or Komori that some of the flyers got sleepy or went to sleep; Nakao did not get drowsy. The same day Nakao was again asked to go to the University, but did not go; asked either Pvt. Shigetomi or Superior Private Okumura to go.

Nakao told Plambeck he was going to be taken to a hospital to receive disease prevention injections when they took him for experimental operations.

Around the end of April 1945 or early May, before the arrival of Watkins crew, he thinks, he saw an order from the Intelligence Section of General Staff Headquarters sent to WAH Intelligence Section stating that it was not necessary to send any more B-29 Crew members, excepting the pilot, to Tokyo, but that fighter pilots and flyers of intelligence value were s till to be sent, that the rest should be dis­posed of as seemed proper at the local headquarters.

This general order sent to a ll the armies, he thinks, was by telegram. Probably the original was sent to the Intelligence Section and a copy to the General Affairs Section of the Staff Section which would then distribute it. The order received by the Intelligence Section would have been seen by Sugino and kept in the Intel­ligence Section after being shown to the Senior Staff Officer (Akita), the Chief of Staff Inada, and the Commanding General (Yokoyama.)

In May 1945 Nakao heard that if a captured flyer were executed at Fukuoka, Tokyo should be informed so that the pilot or whatever members of that crew who were in Tokyo should also be executed, perhaps from Second Lt. Yamanaka—at least he should have known about it.

Nakao saw Major Kikkawa of the Intelligence Section of General Staff Headquarters at Fukuoka in early April when he came regarding business related to defense plans.