Statement Concerning Enatsu

Enatsu, Tokuji

Statement of I n a t m (23 Sept - 31 Oot 1947) 39, RA, transferred to WAH and Western, Kempei. Tai Headquarters in Fukuoka City 25 December 1944 to end of war, made major 1 Aug. 1945, demoblized 1 Dec. 1945 as Lt. Col., then worked as a liaison officer between Western Demobilization Office and the Occupation Forces.

Enatsu was assigned to the Staff Section's guard unit at WAH, was to serve as liaison officer between WAH and the Western KT Headquarters in enforcing martial law if an invasion. Lt. Col. Yakumaru was Enatsu's superior, the guard unit staff officer, his duties including civilian air defense, plane crash survivors, PWs, and national defense mobilization. Under Yakumaru Maj. Minoru Nakatani was in charge of the guard unit.

Yakumaru had complete authority over the PCS', Enatsu believes; he had to be consulted before a PCS could be taken from Headquarters. In about June 1945 Sato took over these duties from Yakumaru. Nakatani compiled master security reports based on reports submitted by sub-units, sent to Tokyo Headquarters; Enatsu assisted in compiling the master security reports.

Col. Takada was the CO of the Western KT. The KT's duties were enforcing military criminal law and sabotage regulations. Maj. Yanase was ex officer. Enatsu merely worked as Liaisop, was not a member of the KT Headquarters Staff. Also on the staff were Maj. Ono, Capt. Mlyabe, Capt. Uno, an unknowns 1st Lt. The Foreign National Records Section handled PCS'. Capt. Yoshio Yamaguchi was the officer in charge. If a KT detachment apprehended an enemy PCS, it sent him to the nearest a n y headquarters, in this case to WAH. The PCS did not first pass through the Western KT on way to WAH. Enatsu believes that on one occasion Yanase and Yamaguchi questioned PCS.

Enatsu was present when a total of 6 American flyers were questioned by Sato and Yamanaka. Enatsu believes the KT conducted one investigation involving 8 flyers - 3-4 KT men investigated at request of LS having status of criminal investigating agents, ordered by the CO of the KT, but Ito, through Enatsu, made the request. Enatsu then states that the KT conducted 2 investigations involving a total of about 11-12 PCS.

On a PCS being captured, Sato would be immediately notified, and the PCS would be sent to WAH, the adjutant section would arrange for imprisonment, and the PCS would be then interrogated for intelligence. The LS would then conduct an investigation to determine if the Prisoner violated international law. Cftpt. Aihara would compile a report showing the location of the crash and the number of survivors, names. A report as to names and number of PCS would go to the WD, circulate through Yakumaru, Sato, Fukushimg, Inada, possibly the CG (Yokoyama) the Staff Section and the Civilian Air Defense and Guard Section.. This report also included information of PCS received plus number already imprisoned.

On Aihara's report, he would list, most of the time, the names of the captured flyers that were sent away. He would prepare a report eaeh time captured flyers were received or sent away from headquarters. As far as Enatsu knows, only one flyer left - was sent to Tokyo in late April or early May. Everyone - at least 15 - would place his han on the report on reading it. Enatsu verbally reported this information to the KT.

Maj. Nakatani, who was in charge of the administration of the civilian guards at WAH, and Enatsu compiled a monthly report on captured flyers, showing the location of each crash during the month, the number and type of planes, number of orewmenbers killed and captured, and the amount of damage caused by each plane; no names were mentioned. This information was obtained from the army area headquarters at Takarabe and Ilzuka, which they got from smaller detachments of WA area.

The PCS went through these smaller headquarters until May 1945. This report went to Yakumaru, Fukushima, Inada, possibly the CG (Yokoyama), Maj. Matsuura, 1st Lt. Kochi, Maj. Nakatani, Capt. Aihara. Only Nakatani, Yakumaru, Fukushima and Inada were required to read and place their hands on them. These reports were written at the beginning of each month for the preceding one. Enatsu helped compile the March, April, May, June, and July 1945 reports.

About 5 PCS were captured in April in Oita-ken, about 8 between late May and early June. Enatsu recalls 3 in late June, although there may have been 7-8. Around 10 June 1945 Enatsu changed offices and was separated from Aihara, so he no longer overheard this information on flyers. Enatsu believes about 8 flyers were captured in July, doesn't know about August since ha was working on the invasion. He does recall 28-29 PCS from March to July.

On shown many pictures, Enatsu believes he saw at WAH, Robert B. Williams and Capt. Louis W. Nelson. Enatsu believes he saw Williams In late April or early May at his interrogation.

Enatsu recalls a B-29 crash about April 1945 in Oita-ken, where 4-5 were brought to WAH, another B-29 crash in the Sasebo Area about May, the PCS captured by the navy, saw 3-4 PCS at the Kakura KT Headquarters in August about to be sent to WAH.

Enatsu then recalls the names Nelson and Watkins, but has not seen them, believes Watkins was an officer who was sent to Tokyo, and the crew members of this ship were sent to KIU.

Enatsu then states that he did not compile the reports for June and July, but that they were done by Nakatani (june) and 2nd Lt. Kawano or Kawaguchi (July).

Enatsu attended 4 Interrogations of 7 flyers. The 1st was about 8 May; he was invited b y Sato. Also present were Sato, Yamanaka, Nakao, 2-3 NCOs. Yamanaka acted as ehlsf interrogator. The first Prisoner was a Lt., about 5'7", light build, round face, light brown half, no inury or illness. The 2nd Prisoner was a sgt., ruddy, a gunner, had, Enatsu believes, only a cold. The 3rd, who may have been questioned the following day, Enatsu believes to be Williams, about 5'6", medium build, ruddy.

On the following afternoon, about 9 May, Enatsu attended a similar investigation. The first flyer was leaving when Enatsu got there, was no injured or ill. The 2nd was perhaps a Sgt., 5'9”, heavy set, light brown hair, his left arm in a sling, believes he crashed at Takeda-machi, Oita-ken.

The next afternoon, about 10 May, Enatsu was told that Lt. Gen. Yoshinaka, Chief of Staff and several KT men wanted to question some of the flyers. Yanase, Yamaguchi, Yamanaka and Nakao were there; Yoshinaka had left when Enatsu arrived. The first flyer interrogated was being requestioned.

Sometime in June Yamanaka and Nakao were interrogating a private in good health. Enatsu then states he is certain that he heard the name Nelson. Lt. Col. Inenaga, a staff Officer in charge of intelligence, was present at the one interrogation. (He was replaced in Jan. 1945 by Maj. Kameyana.)

Enatsu believes that the Rules of Land Warfare state that captives are to be treated as PWs, but if suspected of violating Rules of Land Warfare, they are to be tried by court martial after an investigation, and if sentenced to death executed by a firing squad under a legal and medical officer. Torture is prohibited.

Enatsu studied a 1942 War Department regulation issued by Vice Minister of War, Klmura, stating that an investigation should be made of a PCS to determine whether violation of international law, trial if suspected, treatment as PW if acquitted. A 2nd regulation on handling of B-29 PCS issued by the War Department stated that they were to be regarded as under suspicion of violating Internation Law and segregated from PWs until cleared by investigation.

The prosecutor or CG was responsible for determining whether or no a trial. The Chief of WAH LS seemed responsible for conducting the investigation. In the one case of 7-8, the Chief of WAH LS (Ito) ordered the KT to conduct the investigation.

About mid May Ito told Enatsu that Sato had recommended to him that PCS be executed without trial, that such was impossible, that they should be tried by a military commission, that he was going to order the KT to conduct an investigation. (Which he could only do through the CG - Yokoyama) Enatsu conveyed this order to Takada, who ordered Maj. Seijuro Ono to conduct it, who reported to Ito, conducted it with a W/O Kotegawa and an unknown sgt. maj.

Either the PM that Ono reported to Ito or the next, Ito called Enatsu in. Present were Murata, Wako and either Kotegawa or Ono. Ito stated that it was decided at the staff officers conference that all of the PCS would be tried by a military commission, that it would be necessary to compile accurate evideneo for the trial, asked Enatsu the best way to compile it, saying that he thought that the flyers should be charged with indiscriminate bombing.

Wako then said that it was difficult to prove indiscriminate bombing as based on his previous experience in Shanghai, that substantial evidence was necessary. Ito then said it should not be difficult since the PCS would state the date and location where they bobbed and if civilians were killed and houses burned at the place and at the date, that would be substantial evidence. Wako then said that regardless of how difficult, that if the PCS were only going to be tried for indiscriminate bombing, it would be better not to try them, that if they must execute them, it should be under tactical orders, Wako being the first to mention executing the flyers. According to what Ito said before the meeting, Sato wanted to execute the flyers without trial while Ito wanted to bring then to trial.

In early May 1945 Yakumaru had told Enatsu that the PCS would be killed; at that time he was the staff officer in charge of PCS. The flyers could not be executed without the permission of the CG (Yokoyama). Enatsu thinks he was only voicing his personal opinion.

After Wako made the statement as to executing the flyers Ito said that during the staff nesting, Sato recommended that PCS be executed without trial, but that he, Ito, stated they should be tried and that it couldn't be helped if some were found innocent. Ito then requested the KT investigators contact the Civil Air Defense Section and consult the records of all places bombed to build up evidence. Just before this meeting ended Enatsu told the KT investigators that the records regarding civilian damage were on file in the civil air defense section.

Enatsu then changes his story about 2nd regulation of which he heard (handling of PCS), states it was issued by General Defense Headquarters of the Imperial Staff Headquarters, not the WD, that the PCS would be tried by military commission if suspected of violation of International Law and sentenced to death or life, that such a commission would be convened like a court martial, doesn't believe it said that PCS would be treated as captured eneny personnel.

Enatsu then recalls a 3rd regulation, an old one, Issued by Yokoyama that PCS were to be confined in the LS detention barracks and guarded and fed by the Adjutant Section, (Jin), that the capturing unit was to make a brief outline of information regarding name, rank, age, unit, base of operations, sueh records to be forwarded to WAH with the PCS, that they were not to be treated as PWs until cleared. This regulation was slightly revised by Aihara in March or April and Yakumaru then revised it and approved it, submitting it to Yokoyama, and then issued, the greatest changes being that the capturing unit was prohibited from interrogating the PCS and were to send them to WAH immediately, that when they couldn't be sent to Tokyo because of transportation difficulties, WAH was to investigate as to whether guilty of violating International Law.

About a week after the mid May meeting Kotegawa told Enatsu it was very difficult to prove indiscriminate bombing since the PCS did not know what they bombed (night boablngs.), that he intended to close the investigation by showing that indiscriminate bombings had been made on the dates the PCS raided those areas. He said that of all the persons, only 1-2 said they might have bombed non-military installations and the rest stated that they bombed only military targets.

2-3 days later Kotegawa gave Enatsu statements from 4-5 PCS, stating that he would submit them to the LS (Ito), addressed to the Head of the Military Commission. They revealed that civilian houses might have been destroyed and civilians might have been killed during their bombing attacks In area d o e e to military targets they bombed, that if so, not intended and unavoidable.

Enatsu never heard of a trial of the 7-8; would have as liaison officer with KT, although perhaps held secretly, but if so, facts would probably be common knowledge. In April or early May the general atmosphere indicated the PCS might be tried without trial.

In May 1945 PO Komori came to Enatsu (probably after the 13 meeting), said that one of the PCS was seriously shot in the chest by a shotgun near the heart, that he wanted to remove the shot, that the flyer might die, but probably would die anyway, asked if he could be permitted to operate. Enatsu told Komori he could not help, that he should see Sato and he left. He returned 20 minutes later, said he obtained Sato's permission to operate on the one flyer. He also told Enatsu he wanted to experiment on that flyer witha̶rterial injections. Enatsu made no comment.

The only wounded flyer Enatsu saw was the one with his arm in a sling; it did not appear serious. In early May Aihara told Enatsu that 2 of the 7-8 flyers crashing near Takeda-machi had been injured - one had been shot in the chest with a shot-gun; the other had a broken plane. One of the crewmembers of this ship was Williams. At the one interrogation of 3-4 of this crew, the 1 officer or SCO was quite jovial and cooperative, and Yamanaka said he was thinking of using him to audit American broadcasts, that he took shorthand, and 2-3 days later said it was approved. Enatsu is quite positive this man was taken to KIU (this was Plambeck).

Enatsu believes that Komori came to see Aihara, but thought Enatsu ms a KT officer had authority over the flyers, although he did not. Enatsu later heard Komori say he was performing experimental operations on the flyers. 1st Lt. Michio Ikeda of the Medical Section was responsible for giving medical treatment to PCS. WAH regulations stated that the Medical Section was responsible for medical treatment of PCS (Hariuchi). Ikeda was the only doctor in the medical section that gave medical treatment to EM with WAH; the others were administrative medical officers. Officer personnel at WAH went to Kaikosha Hospital.

2-3 days later, on Tues. or Wed. PM, Komori came to the office, told Aihara that he was going to take the wounded Prisoner to KIU Medical College, seemed to be in a hurry. 2-3 days later, around noon, Komori returned and in a loud, boastful voice stated that he had been able to perform a very valuable medical experiment while operating on the American flyer, that he obtained very valuable medical information, that many KIU doctors wanted to conduct medical experiments on the PCS and therefore he was going to take -1-2 flyers to the KIUMC. At this time Aihara, Maj. Matsuura and 1st Lt. Koehi were present; everyone heard this.

Immediately thereafter or the next PM Aihara showed Komori, in Enatsu's presence, a lift of names and ranks of the PCS with date brought in. Enatsu examined the list; there were 7-8 names, Williams was on this list. There were 2 red pencilled check marks; Aihara explained that they denoted the flyers who were injured. There was also a small cheek mark or circle beside one name.

Sato then cane in, said in a fairly loud voice that he was going to KIU to see the research on the Prisoners, asked Aihara if he should take a soldier as an interpreter, suggested Nakao, to which Aihara said yes, and Nakao was brought in and was told they were going to take some PCS to KIU. Nakao had a strange expression on his face, but agreed, was told to contact Komori by Sato.

Aihara then pointed out 2 on the same list to be taken, pointed out the one name with the red (2) checks, the other with a small check mark or circle, which was that of Williams. Enatsu read the names to Nakao.

1-2 days later Aihara came in the office around 1600-1700, told everyone he had just attended with Sato an operation on the American flyer, or flyers, at the University, that it was a ghastly thing, believes he said it was conducted by Komori. He further stated that it seemed that Ishiyama conducted the previous research. Present were Enatsu, 1st Lt. Kochi and Maj. Matsuura.

Then in early June about noon, Yakumaru came in, told Matsuura and Kochi (Yakumaru's subordinates) that he was going to KIU for a while, returned about 1700, said he had gone. 2-3 days later, about 9-10 June, Aihara again showed Enatsu the list, pointed out 7-8 flyers sent to KIU. Enatsu believes that Plambeck was on tha list, was the one that Yamanaka wanted to work in the intelligence section. Enatsu heard from someone that all the Prisoners sent to KIU died.

Komori came to the office twice, and Sato and Yakumaru once and mentioned the flyers going to the University. After that Komori always called Aihara out of the office. On one occasion Komori told Enatsu to keep the matter secret. Mostly everyone was aware of what was going on, including Matsuura, Nakatani, Kochi and Enatsu.

The CG might have approved Injured flyers being sent to KIU for treatment, but Enatsu doubts that he approved sending them there for experimental purposes (Yokoyama). Sueh was an illegal act as to International Law and the Japanese Army . Enatsu believes that the Chief of Staff (Inada) and the assistant Chief of Staff knew of it; did not report it. The staff officers would have known about it through discussion conferences, were in a common office.

Enatsu heard the 5-6-7 flyers were executed 20 June 1945 within the WAH compound; it was common knowledge that Lt. Toji killed some in revenge for the death of his mother on 19 June in the airraid. Enatsu heard they were beheaded, although the official and legal method of executing by the Japanese a n y is by firing squad, although decapitation is part of the Japanese warrior spirit.

In November or December Enatsu learned, at the Western Demobilisation Office, that Wako was at the scene of the execution.

In early July 1945 someone told some 8-29 survivors were in front of the main entrance to Headquarters, that a large crowd gathered and were beating them. Enatsu went down one flight, yelled to the crowd, which was then dispersing. Enatsu saw no mistreatment. There were 7-8 PCS. Enatsu does not associate Tomomori with this incident.

About 0900, 12 Aug., Tomomori told Enatsu that it seemed as if there was going to be an execution of PCS that morning, asked Enatsu if he wanted to see it; Enatsu replied he would go. 10 Minutes later a ear drove up, Tomomori arrived, and he told the driver to take them to Aburayama. They stopped to ask directions.

They left about 0930, arrived about 1000. A yellow Adjutant Section truck was parked by the side of the road, they stopped, noticed a group of soldiers standing about 100 meters from the road in a field.

There were 4-5 Prisoners sitting on their haunches in the field just to the left of the path, blindfolded, with trousers. 1-2 were smoking. There were about 10 soldiers standing in the center of the field. There was a group of 24-25 soldiers in a large clearing to the loft. 6-7 officers were standing to the left of the large group, including Tomomori, Wako, 2 LS officers, a staff major, with the 6th Air Force, a medical Lt., Maj. Itezono. One person had a bow and arrows. After 4-5 minutes of silence, Itezono told Tomomorl he was going to start the execution.

Itezono said the first execution would be by bow and arrow; Tomomori asked if a man could be so killed; Itezono said it was quite effective and accurate, then ordered a PO to bring out a PCS, and one stripped to the waist was brought near the eenter of the field, slightly close to the pit, which Enatsu believes was dug before he arrived. Enatsu faintly recalls Tomomori and Itezono saying something about a Christian prayer and cross.

PO Ohtsuki took a cross bow, stood about 10 meters away, missed with the 1st arrow, it going to the left of the head. Itezono told him to move closer, and he got up to 4-5 meters, shot another, and Enatsu believes this one grazed the Prisoner's forehead, but he sat still and quiet. Itezono then spoke to Ohtsuki in a low voice, unintelligible, then told him to stop the shooting. An officer or PO then took the PCS to the pit, made him sit on his haunches, and another officer or PO beheaded him. Tomomori was standing in front of the group of officers so he could see what was going on. Tomomori said nothing at this time.

After the 4th Prisoner was beheaded the 6th Air Force Maj. told Enatsu that a Japanese soldier had been executed earlier that morning. Until then Enatsu thought the Legal Officer and the Medical Officer had come to witness the execution of the flyers, then realized it was for the Japanese. While Enatsu did not think that the bow and arrow system was legal he did not object since Tomomori, Itezono and Wako, a legal Officer, were there.

After the first flyer was executed, Itezono announced that the next would be executed by using karate. The officers were discussing whether it was possible to kill by this method, and Enatsu said he had seen 2 Chinese so killed (although ho just saw their bodies, was told it was by karate). The PCS was brought out to the enter, with his hands tied behind, and itezono called PO, who struck the Prisoner a Blow on the chest, then others, and on the 3rd or 4th, the PCS cried out in pain. Tomomori said "Stop it, " then he'quickly said, "How about stopping the karate?"

A 2nd Lt., Enatsu believes Yamamoto, then took the PCS to the pit edge, and he was beheaded by an unknown officer.

A 3rd flyer was then beheaded by a LS first Lt., quite tall. A young officer then attempted to behead him, but it took two strokes. Enatsu was 20-30 meters from the pit; Enatsu was nauseated by the flood at the 4th beheading, walked back 40-50 meters to smoke, and was joined by the 6th Air Force Major, who was also nauseated. There were 3-4 POs or guards there also. The major told Enatsu that he had come to witness the execution of a Japanese air corps soldier.

After the 5th or 6th flyer was taken to the pit, Tomomori came over to Enatsu and asked if he wanted to go home, asked him what had happened to the high ranking officers. Enatsu said it didn't seem as if they came yet, said he did not want to see the execution any more. Enatsu noted another Prisoner taken to the pit, and he walked back to the group when the last flyer was completed, and the exeoutioner was given whiskey by Tomomori. Tomomori then told Enatsu to tell Itezono to assemble the spectators, and Tomomori was saluted, then stated that he was an observer and superior officer, that the flyers were not PWs, but B-29 survivors.

Enatsu insists he saw only one Japanese strike the chest of 1 flyer 2-4 tines, does now recall a flyer being kicked in the groin. Enatsu did comment to the group that the karate was no good because the elbow was bent, showed how the blow should be struck, and the person administering the karate watched, then struck 1-2 more blows on the Prisoner. Enatsu then recalls 2 Japanese using karate on the flyer, a total of 7-8 blows. Tomomori was in position to see all the blows. The karate was an "inhuman act.”

Kesagiri is the cutting of a person with a sword at an angle from the base of the neck to the left of the stomach. Enatsu doesn't recall its being used. In the karate incident, the one officer struck 6-7 blows, the 2nd kicked him once. After leaving Aburayama, Enatsu told Tomomori he had done a good thing, to which he agreed. Enatsu was referring to the speech.

Sato ordered Itezono to test the guerrilla tactics during the execution, Enatsu learned 1-2 days later from Itezono.

On 15 August, at 1400, the Emperor's rescript was read, and right after that Fukushima, Sato and Kusumoto were talking at the end of the room on the 2nd floor (staff office?). Enatsu heard Kusumoto tell Sato and Fukushima that he would then carry out the execution. Enatsu then asked Sato and Fukushima if there was to be another execution, and Sato replied they were going to have to execute the remaining flyers because otherwise the former executions would become known. There were present 2-3 other staff officers including, Enatsu believes, Yakumaru. (It was possible Fukushima didn't hear this discussion.), believes he heard Kusumoto say he would carry out the execution.

Someone in October at Western Demobilisation told Enatsu that all the remaining flyers had been executed. About 20 Aug. all RA officers of WAH were called to Hirao Headquarters, including Fukushima, Tomomori, Yakumaru, Enatsu, Sato, probably Col. Shinozuko. Sato said the killed PCS would be divided in 2 groups, planned to say one group was sent to Tokyo, the other killed in the Hiroshima atomic bombing. No one argued against the plan.

About 21-22 Aug., 1-2 days later, Fukushima, Enatsu believes, called a 2nd meeting, which included Fukushima, Tomomori, Kusumoto, Sato and about 4-5 others. It was breaking up when Enatsu got there, heard someone say there was a plan to make it appear that the executed flyers had died in the air raid shelter during the bombing attack. Tomomori then told Enatsu he didn't think it was practical because the Americans were scientific, might analyze the soil. Sato explained to everyone that was to be said - that the Prisoners had fled from the detention barracks, to the dug out, that it received a direct hit, all killed. Enatsu heard no opposition.

Enatsu went to Kanoya with Tomomori 23 Aug., returned to Western Demobilization in early Nov., when, he believes, Kusumoto told him that at first he was ordered to have the ashes of each flyer ready to hand over to the Occupation Forces, but that he was later told to dispose of them. Kusumoto told him that the ashes of the American flyers were thrown away. 

In late Doc. or early Jan. someone told him the detention barracks at WA were burned to destroy all evidence. Enatsu believes that at the first meeting at Hirao, Sato aiid that it would be reported that the flyers were sent to Hiroshima to cover the ones sent to KIU. Everyone seemed to know of the KIU incident; none asked any questions.

In 1946 Enatsu told Yanase about the KIU incident. Enatsu did tell Matsuura and Kochi about the execution he witnessed. Isa was only at WAH at the time of tho last execution. Enatsu believes that Fukushima approved all of the executions and of Bonding the Prisoners to the University, either before or after these incidents took place. As assistant Chief of Staff he was Sato's superior; only natural that Sato would discuss his plans with him.

Enatsu believes that he heard in July 1945 that a message was received from 2nd Central Army Headquarters that the disposition of B-29 flyers was to be handled locally, that appropriate action based on the regulations would be taken.