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Statement of Akita (420, 22 May 47) Age 44, RA since 1922, was in Germany, made colonel, all over Pacific transferred to Western Army, also known as 16th District Army, as senior staff officer,- supervising other staff officers. Placed on reserve in December 1945 (Came to Western Army April 1945) Staff Section: Major Yasunobu Haba — charge of Tactical strategy Section. Major Yoshio Ohashi — assistant in charge of Tactical Strategy section. Lt. Col. Mitsuo Suginoo — charge of intelligence section, replacing Lt. Col. Inenaga in June 1945. Lt. Col. Kiyoshi Ota — charge of Transposition. Major Koyama — assistant to Ota. Lt. Col. Imamura — charge of supplies, assisted by Majors Higuma and Negoro. Col. Ishii — charge of preparing combat structures. Major Harasaki — charge of mobilization. Akita also had limited supervision over: Col. Yoshinao Sato — charge of Air Defense and Air Intelligence Section. Lt. Col. Yakumaru — charge of Civilian Air Defense System - also concerned with Western Army PW Camps. No supervision over Col. Shinozuka, charge of ordnance. Akita believes all correspondence from Sato and Yakumaru went through him to chief ,of staff, sure of 10; Sato sometimes came to Akita for advice. Staff Officers all worked in same room. Akita made one week inspection trip first part of May, one week in latter part of May, none in April, 10 days in middle of June, from 12th to 21st. One week in middle July, one week in latter part, no trips in August. 25 June, 16 Army Headquarters was separated from Western Army Headquarters in Fukuoka, and Akita went with 16th in Yamaie. Only time Akita then went to Fukuoka was in early August to meet Hata. Three staff officers and 2 assistant chiefs of staff remained at Fukuoka. In January 1946, heard from Sato that Komori had experimented on PWs. In latter part of May, Sato stated that, according to wire, General Staff Headquarters no longer interested in B-29 flyers; Sato then wanted Prisoners tried by Military Commission, based on Shanghai trial. Sato stated each army responsible. Sato asked Akita to obtain Yokoyama's approval to try Prisoners by tribunal, stating that most guilty of indiscriminate bombings and so likely to get death. Akita went to Yokoyama's office, told him the story, and Yokoyama said it would be all right to try the Prisoners by Military Commission. This about 10 days after Inada arrived in Western Army Headquarters. (Inada arrived IQ May 1945) Heard something of KIU incidents in 1945, either from Inada, Fukushima or Sato. Message from Tokyo did not say flyers were to be executed. Akita left Western Army Headquarters on 11-12 June, returned to Fukuoka 21 June, stayed there 3 days. Tomomori in early August at Yamaie, told 3rd parties, Akita overheard, of execution after air raid. Akita told Tomomori that he was a Chief of Staff and should not have permitted it, gave him slight warning. (Tomomori a superior officer to Akita) This conversation before surrender, believes Aburayama mentioned. In late August or early September heard of June 20 execution. Sato went to see Yokoyama at Yamaie Headquarters, then saw Akita. Now states his account of Yokoyama's permission a lie, changes story: What Sato told Akita was that most flyers would be given death if tried, and he wanted to execute them without trial, wanted Yokoyama's opinion. Akita went directly to Yokoyama because Inada was away on a trip. Akita told Yokoyama, according to Sato, some of Prisoners had participated in indiscriminate bombings several times, as based on Shanghai trial, most would be given death, Sato wanted to execute without trial, and Akita asked Yokoyama his wishes — if he would approve Sato's desire (as general policy) Yokoyama said "That will be all right." Akita understood that his "all right" meant that no trial necessary if "we" thought Prisoners had participated in indiscriminate bombing. Akita never saw any reports of investigation of Prisoners. Doesn't think he talked to Inada about this, because 2-3 days later he went on trip. In about November Sato brought list of number of Prisoners sent to various locations. Akita saw that 5-7 Prisoners sent to Hiroshima, Sato said they were killed by atomic bomb, also said Komori deeply involved in disposition of Prisoners at KIU, but believes latter conversation took place in latter part of November. In latter August or early September at Yamaie Headquarters Sato dropped in Akita's office after conference with Yokoyama, said he was having difficulty hiding evidence of (20 June) execution. Sato said one execution took place immediately after air raid, another immediately after termination of war. Just before end of war Tomomori came to Yamaie Headquarters, and Akita overheard him say some of Prisoners excuted at Aburayama and some immediately after air raid. In December heard from Inada at War Demobilization Bureau, or Chikushi Girls High School or at Akita*s quarters (In Futpukaichi) that one execution occurred at Western Army Headquarters compound on 20 June, and 2 at Aburayama, one on 10-11 August, other on 15 August, 31 flyers executed by Western Army, a general officer was involved, and that Akita should request higher military court of Demobilization Ministry to investigate and try case. Akita believes Fukushima behind effort to hide atrocities, one who did direct work was Sato. Idea that 31 flyers sent by air to Tokyo Fukushima*s idea, heard him say that. Sato took frequent trips to Tokyo and Hiroshima, and one one occasion he said he was going to Tokyo to discuss plan of 31 flyers being sent to Tokyo. |
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AKITA CCD intercept from Akita (Sugamo) 420, 26 April 1947. Comments Yokohama trials severer^ than ever, even shocks and fears Akita, who has no connexion with war crimes. |