ANNEX D - Strike Photographs and Assessment Reports
of Supply Missions
This section contains all available assessment reports and strike photographs
of POW supply missions. These reports were prepared by Central Interpretation
Unit, Twentieth Air Force. The reports are numbered in the order issued.
[For ease of organization, separate sections have been made for each camp
group (division).]
POW Supply Missions to
Hakodate and Sendai Division Camps
1 ~ 13 September 1945
Hakodate Division Camps
Hakodate #1
POW REPORT NO. 67
Camp: Hakodate No. 1 4326N - 14206E
Mission No: 73 POW M18
Date Flown: 12 September 45.
Approximately 10 barracks type buildings, inter-connected. One roof black
with painted PW. Fence surrounds camp.
Approximately 125 POW's noted. All supplies landed within 2,000 ft. of camp.
Not an assigned target for this mission.
Hakodate #2 Akahira?
POW REPORT NO. 68
Camp: Hakodate No. 2 4324N - 14206E
Mission No: 73 POW M19
Date Flown: 13 September 1945
Only partial coverage of the camp was obtained. Camp situated near probable
ceramics plant. Portion of camp shown is rectangular and surrounded by high
wooden fence. One gate and guard station visible. Supplies noted inside compound.
Approximately 100 persons noted in and around compound. Supplies landed in
open field approximately 200 yards from camp. One bundle seen broken loose
from chute. Assigned target.
Hakodate Division Camps
Location Unknown
POW REPORT NO. 66
Camp: Unknown 4331N - 14208E
Mission No: 73 POW M18
Date Flown: 12 September 45.
Situated in a square area beside a road. Clear area surrounds the camp on
all sides. Three long barracks buildings and six smaller buildings are in
a partially fenced compound. POW signs on each side of central barracks building
roof and on two smaller buildings.
Approximately 100 POW's noted. Supplies landed in open area close to camp.
Not an assigned target for this mission.
No photo reference.
Sendai Division Camps
Sendai #??
POW REPORT NO. 111
Camp: Iwaki No coordinates
Mission No: 315 POW M3
Date Flown: 1 September 1945
Photos indicate a hospital in vicinity of Iwaki City. Three red crosses appear
on buildings' roofs. No other information.
Sendai #1 Yumoto
POW REPORT NO. 114
Camp: Unknown 3916N - 14143E
Mission No: 315 POW M3
Date Flown: 1 September 1945
Camp consists of an irregular area enclosed by a fence. Approximately 15
barracks type buildings are within the compound. A sign on one of the building's
roof indicates there are 563 men confined in the POW camp. An estimated 10
persons are visible.
Nine chutes are dropping toward the camp area.
Sendai #2 Yoshima
POW REPORT NO. 6
Camp: Iwaki Coal Mine 3702N - 14054E
Mission No: 73 POW M5
Date Flown: 2 September 1945
Rectangular area with gate extended at one corner. Two large rectangular
barracks, one L-shaped chapel barracks, and several smaller buildings in
area. No guard house observed. Large PW on roof of center barracks. Circle
in center of clearing within compound from which arrow extends pointing toward
gate. Word "HITS" written across arrow. Signs on barracks farthest from gate
read "LEX, SWELL, FOOD, RATION, TYPE D". Next to PW sign is "CIGS PLEASE".
On L-shaped building is sign "GOOD OLD CHESTY", with anchor and USN at opposite
end. Mine adjacent to camp.
About four persons are visible within compound. No bundles seen striking
in compound area. Not an assigned target for this mission.
POW REPORT NO. 121
Camp: Iwaki No coordinates
Mission No: 315 POW M3
Date Flown: 2 September 1945
Photos of poor quality show a PW sign on the roof of a barracks type building.
No details are visible.
Twelve chutes are dropping in the vicinity of the target.
No photo reference.
Sendai #3 Hosokura
POW REPORT NO. 58
Camp: Sendai No. 3 3840N - 14051E
Mission No: 73 POW M18
Date Flown: 12 September 1945
Irregularly shaped area surrounded by fence with gate and guard house to
NW and gate to SW. Camp is composed of seven large barracks, one of which
is L-shaped. Three barracks run N-S, four E-W. Two large PW signs are visible
on roofs of buildings, one on the ground in open area S of the compound.
A river flows SW of the camp.
No POW's observed in camp. Bundles probably landed in open area S of camp.
One chute observed just inside NW gate, another in open area of compound.
Two bundles can be seen falling, broken from chute. Assigned target.
Sendai #4 Ohashi
POW REPORT NO. 71
Camp: Ohashi 3928N - 14143E
Mission No: 315 POW M3
Date Flown: 1 September 1945
Camp is located in a valley. It consists of an estimated 25 barracks type
buildings, two of which have "POW" painted on the roof. Further detailed
interpretation not possible due to hazy photography.
29 boxes falling free, 14 chutes unopened are leaving A/C, 16 chutes are
dropping in vicinity of POW camp. One chute located on hillside 400 feet
from target area.
No photo reference.
POW REPORT NO. 38
Camp: SENDAI 3916N - 14142E
Mission No: 73 POW M14
Date Flown: 9 September 1945
Rectangular area along river with road on opposite side. Located in valley.
Approximately 15 barracks type buildings with POW and PW on roofs.
No supplies observed. Scale and quality of photos make estimate of POW's
impossible. Assigned target.
No photo reference.
Sendai #6 Hanawa
POW REPORT NO. 60
Camp: Sendai No. 6 4009N - 14045E
Mission No: 73 POW M18
Date Flown: 12 September 1945
No POW camp visible on photography. Two chutes noted dropping in field on
the edge of town. Assigned target.
POW REPORT NO. 48
Camp: Sendai No. 9 3855N - 13950E
Mission No: 73 POW M17
Date Flown: 11 September 1945
Camp contains several barracks type buildings. POW painted on roof of one
building in large letters. PW painted in smaller letters on two other roofs.
Photo quality prevents POW count. All supplies apparently landed within 1,000
ft. of camp. Assigned target.
No photo reference.
Sendai #10 Waki Sennin
POW REPORT NO. 59
Camp: Sendai No. 10 3916N - 14140E
Mission No: 73 POW M18
Date Flown: 12 September 1945
Camp is in a rectangular area located between two roads. The W road crosses
the E road by means of an overpass immediately N of camp. Camp is surrounded
by a fence with gate to E. Two large and several smaller barracks. Center
barracks marked with large PW on roof. Sign on roof of small building reads:
DANGEROUS NO MORE.
No POW's observed. No bundles observed in compound. Assigned target.
Sendai Division Camps
Location Unknown
POW REPORT NO. 55
Camp: AKITA AREA (No. 281) 4044N - 14056E
Mission No: 315 POW M4
Date Flown: 3 September 1945
Camp consists of an irregular, fenced in area containing 4 buildings. Two
"PW" signs are painted on the roofs of the two largest buildings. There is
one main gate. Approximately 22 persons are visible in the area.
Two supply boxes are seen to be falling in vicinity of POW camp; one is attached
to a parachute.
There appears to be a hole in a building roof, possibly caused by free falling
equipment.
POW REPORT NO. 24
Camp: POW CAMP No. 281 4042N - 14050E
Mission No: 315 POW M5
Date Flown: 2 September 1945
This POW camp is composed of large, two story barrack-type of houses. The
center barracks has in large letters P.W. painted on roof. The letters P.W.
are also painted on the ground, immediately outside the enclosed area. It
seems as though each barracks has own fence inclosing it.
There is a large group of prisoners outside, watching the fall of chutes.
In the near-by open field, there are three chutes on the ground.
Assigned target.
POW REPORT NO. 117
Camp: FUKUSHIMA 3746N - 14038E
Mission No: 315 POW M3
Date Flown: 1 September 1945
One chute and 9 boxes are observed to be falling in vicinity of un-named
POW camp. No other markings nor details are visible to identify the POW camp.
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