53, was a Lt. Gen. and Chief of PWIB. Tamura thinks that the PWIB received a report from WAH after the war concerning the death of one man who died, doesn't recall a wire from WAH regarding execution of PWs during May or June. Tamura then recalls vaguely a report from WAH that some men were killed. Information regarding matters would come directly to the PWIB; other matters would go through channels to the Ministry of War. Information as to the death of a PW would come to the PWIB, including the case of execution through court martial. However, captured airmen were not PWs and the only information the PWIB received concerning them was whether or not they were dead or alive, which was then forwarded to the protecting powers. After an investigation finding such airmen not guilty of a war crime, they would be handed over as PWs, which was the duty of the Commander of the Army. Tamura would not get any report as to 8 WAH flyers killed in an airraid, since such a matter under the Ministry of War, but such a report should be forwarded. If a PW died because of a physical ailment, one copy would go to the Medical Bureau, one to the PWIB . Tamura heard of illegal executions after the war, but not in the matter of an official report. |