Statement Concerning Ohno

Statement of Ohno (23 Dec. 1947)

28, finished law in 1942, went in army, 3 months later discharged, became a probationary civilian lawyer in 1943, was inducted in 24th Infantry of the 4th Inf. Div. in June 1944, became a probation legal officer 15 July 1944 and trans­ferred to the Eastern Army, entered Legal Training Department of Tokyo Army College in Sept. 1944, assigned to LS of WAH as a 2nd Lt. 4 Jan. 1945, was dis­charged 15 Sept. 1945.

AT WA Ohno was a courts martial prosecutor in cases involving Japanese soldiers; also took Wako's and Murata's cases to the CG for approval. About 10 June 1945 Murata, Onishi and Saito interrogated 3-4 captured enemy airmen preparatory to trial. Wako told Ohno that a telegram had been sent to the Legal Bureau asking whether the flyers were to be tried locally and whether a death sentence could be given. Since no answer was given, a 2nd was sent. Ohno believes an order was received about Feb. 1945 stating the power to try flyers was passed on to various armies; Ohno heard this from Murata in Sugamo, who said that the War Department was contacted since trial of flyers of international importance.

About 1300 on 20 June Wako told those assembled that an execution would be conducted, told Ohno that he would assist in the beheading. Ohno said he had no experience, asked if they had been court martialed. Wako replied that he had received the order of the CD (Yokoyama) to conduct the execution. Ohno then explained he was too busy, then asked 1st Lt. Shimazaki as to the court martial of the captured flyers, who answered that it consisted of a consulta­tion of the higher staff officers and the CG (Yokoyama), and that the decision to execute the flyers after this discussion was ordered by the CG (Yokoyama ).

8-9 flyers were executed 20 June, Ohno heard, but did not attend, but most of WAH LS were there. He names Gen. Ito, Capt. Wako, 1st Lt. Murata, 1st Lt. Shimazaka, PO's Onishi,Saito, and Shimomitsu as present. Wako told Ohno he executed 2 flyers. Murata was in front of the prisoner when Ohno announced the executions, as well as Shimazaki. PO Onishi told Ohno on 21-22 June that Shimazaki executed one flyer, later told him that Sgt. Maj. Ikeda of the Staff Section executed one. Ohno also heard that Toji executed some flyers.

About 0900 on 12 Aug. Capt. Wako, 1st Lt. Yoshida, 1st Lt. Shimazaki and Ohno from LS and Maj. Takami and an unknown col. of the 5th Air Force LS escorted a 5th Air Force NCO to Aburayama to be executed for burning his airplane to avoid a suicide mission to Okinawa. He was shot about 1000 and soon after a truck arrived with 8 captured enemy flyers.

Maj. Itezono told Ohno that they were going to execute the flyers; Wako told him "-- since you didn't take part in the last series of executions, you perform an execution today." 2nd Lt. Nakamura directed 5 soldiers to dig a pit where the Japanese was shot, on Wako's suggestion of location. During this time Tomomori and Enatsu arrived in a sedan. Itezono assembled the Japanese and Tomomori was saluted, and Itezono told him the executions should start at once, asked whether they should be held up until some persons walking from headquarters arrived, but Tomomori looked at his watch and said there was no time. Nakamura then dispersed soldiers to keep civilians away.

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Itezono then said "Someone perform an execution", none came out, so he again said "Someone of you do it," and 2 1st Lts. of Staff Section, then Ohno and 1st Lt. Yoshida stepped out. Itezonos or Enatsu then wrote down the names of the participants to make a report; Wako then explained how such and execution was performed and Ohno believes Enatsu then said "Wet the sword and cut the throat," believes Wako and Itezono told them the same thing.

The flyers were given the customary drink of water, someone talked to them in English, might have been an NCO or PO. Ohno believes Wako ordered the water to be given to the Prisoners.

A sgt. maj. brought the 1st Prisoner to a kneeling position before the pit, and a 1st Lt. from staff section cut only half way through the throat and then pierced his heart as he lay in the pit as instructed earlier. The second 1st Lt. from staff section decapitated the 2nd flyer.

1st Lt. Yoshida then out through the throat of the 3rd flyer only half way and had to pierce the heart after the body fell into the pit. Ohno then brought his sword toward the right side of the 4th flyer's neck for aim, then cut half way through the neck, then pierced the heart of the flyer in the pit on Wako's instructions.

A group of soldiers then arrived who had walked from Headquarters, including Noda and Narazaki and 5-6 others, mostly 1st Lts., and POs from the guerrilla unit. The group reported to Itezono.

Either the 5th or 6th flyer was executed by kesagiri. PO Narazaki performed the stroke, cutting straight down through the shoulder; he then had to pierce the heart of the flyer after Wako examined the body. Another person perhaps an army doctor, examined the body. Ohno believes that Itezono also said that Narazaki should pierce the heart.

If the 5th was executed by kesagiri, the 6th was decapitated in the orthodox manner. The 7th flyer was made to kneel blindfolded facing away from the pit. About 10-15 meters away Otsuki, who either sitting or on his stomach, adjusted his crossbow, took 3 shots, one glancing off the eye brow. Then Ohno be­lieves that Itezono took his place, stating he would show him how it is done, and missed two shots. It was then decided, Ohno thinks by Tomomori, that the flyer should be beheaded, and someone did a good Job of decapitation.

The 8th flyer was then led to a spot 4-5 meters from the pit, made to stand while 1st Lt. Yamamoto held one of his hands, the other held by another. Ohno doesn't recall who was first, believes it was PO Noda who ran from about 2-3 meters in front of him and struck him in the abdomen with his fist with the karate stroke. The flyer fell with a groan. The flyer was made to stand and Yamamoto tried the same stroke, then kneed him in the scrotum, the flyer then appearing about dead. Tomomori then said someone near the pit should behead the flyer, who was half carried to the pit, and 2-3 of the 1st Lts. said that since he would die anyway why not just throw him in the pit, but Tomomori said "It will not do to bury him because he nay regain consciousness; execute him; behead him and finish him off."

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Ohno then cut halfway through the flyer's neck, killing him. The flyers were then covered with dirt. Tomomori then got a bottle of whiskey from his pocket, gave a drink to those who participated. Itezono then assembled all present in 2 rows, saluted Tomomori and reported mission accomplished, and Tomomori then stated that the execution had not been conducted on PWs according to International Law, that these were enemy fighter aircraft crew members, and those not contrary International Law, that the execution was a valuable experience in the light of the casing decisive battle. Itezono then ordered a 2nd salute and they left.

On being questioned, Ohno recalls that the 1st executioner was either 1st Lt. Kuroki, 1st Lt. Eguchi or 1st Lt. Otosu, that he believes that Eguchi killed the 2nd, that Otosu executed the 7th, that Satano killed the 5th, that he walked from Headquarters with Narazaki.

Before the executions started, Itezono stated that the Prisoners were B-29 crew members. Ohno thought the flyers were being executed as on 20 June, by order of Yokoyama, that the procedure was correct, did not know they had never been tried or investigated. Ohno thought the flyers had been interrogated by Enatsu since he was a Kempei Tai Officer, and by Sato, since he was interested in air intelligence.

In all incidents Tomomori either gave orders directly or through Itezono, who ordered the 1st 4 through Tomomori's authrotity. When Ohno executed the 8th, both said "Execute the flyer."

Ohno was in Hirao at the time of the 15 Aug. executions.