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NAKAMURA, Minoru (2d Lt) ATIS Translation of "Matters Observed and Heard at Western District Army Headquarters in Connection with American Air Crew Personnel." Defendant saw an American air crewmember at headquarters around April 1945; he believes his leg was injured. He then saw similar sights 2 or three times. They were placed in the Judicial Department detention cells and in a building "which stood in front." In late June or July KUSUMOTO called Defendant in his office in the morning and told him that American air crew members were to be executed that day, and he was ordered to dispatch 10 security guards and station them at strategic points to prevent passersby from approaching. Defendant got 10 men, went to Aburayama. One Kempei Tai agent was on guard at the location, plus TOMOMORI, Assistant C/S, 2 Majors, about 10 Officers and 15 POs of a raiding unit present. There were about 10 American flyers. Defendant was posting guards the first half of the execution and saw only the second half. "A PO of a raiding unit either beheaded or delivered karate then beheaded the naked American air crew personnel." The bodies were buried in a hole. After the execution was over, TOMOMORI assembled all present, Defendant gathered in the guards and joined, and TOMOMORI gave a short address in which he said that it was established that American airmen who invated Japan were to be executed. On the afternoon of 15 August KUSUMOTO called Defendant in and told him that American air crew personnel were to be executed, ordered him to obtain some boxes in which to place the bodies from WO NOJI of the finance office. Defendant contacted him, then selected 1 NCO and 10 EM for the cremation, picked up the boxes one hour later, put them on a truck, got to Aburayama, about 1700 - 1800; the execution was over. Defendant learned at the crematory that the oven was out of order and there were many corpses of townspeople waiting, that they could be cremated en masse outside, so he returned to Headquarters and got this approved by KUSUMOTO. On return to Aburayama, Defendant found that bodies from the previous executions had been brought there, so he then again reported to KUSUMOTO, who ordered him to cremate those, also. (At that time Defendant learned of the 20 June execution.) Defendant went back to Aburayama, and SATO told him he would let the matter of cremation up to Defendant. Several operations room Officers and 1 Naval Officer were with him. Defendant, with 1 NCO and 5 EM began cremation of the 31-32 bodies at 2000, finished at 0400 - 0500. At 0530 MURATA of the Judicial Department came and assisted Defendant in gathering the ashes. The ashes of the 10 odd persons of the third execution were placed in a box about 25 cms, and the ashes of the others were placed in a large box. On the way back they buried the small boxes in a military cemetery. However, on their return Captain YUKINO ordered them brought back, and they were given to YUKINO. Capt. MURATA disposes of the large box. 2 - 3 days later MURATA decided to throw the ashes in the large box into the sea, requested Defendant to be present with him; hewas. About 25 August YUKINO told Defendant to accompany him to the mountain to bury some NAKAMURA, Minoru (2d Lt) cont'd. ashes. They dug a hole 30 cms in diameter, 1 meter in depth, buried them. YUKINO took the ashes from a package, wrapped in white paper. Defendant thinks they were of the American flyers previously placed in small boxes. NAKAMURA, Minoru (2d Lt) cont'd. Defendant believes it "most likely" that it was YUKINO who told him that 1st Lt. HASHIMOTO and 1st Lt. MAIDA (Maeda) were among the executioners of 15 August |