POW Supply Missions to
Osaka Division Camps
1 ~ 10 September 1945
Ichioka Detached Camp
POW REPORT NO. 109
Camp: OSAKA NO. 1 3439N - 13526E
Mission No.: 73 POW M13
Date Flown: 8 September 1945
Photos do not identify any installation as a PW camp. Drop made on athletic
field. 52 bundles out of 240 dropped are shown on ground in middle of race
track.
Maizuru
POW REPORT NO. 118
Camp: MAIZURU (Probably) 3532N - 13510E
Mission No.: 315 POW M3
Date Flown: 1 September 1945
Possible POW camp or hospital with large cross on one of approximately 14
two-story barracks-type buildings.
Across the street are several fenced in area (possible POW camp) which contain,
in all, five buildings. No other evidence of a camp site are visible. Few
persons are visible.
No chutes nor boxes can be seen falling from A/C.
POW REPORT NO. 119
Camp: MAIZURU (Probably) 3526N - 13517E
Mission No.: 315 POW M3
Date Flown: 1 September 1945
Possible POW camp consisting of one long barracks with a wing at both ends,
enclosed within a high fence. Approximately 75 persons are visible in and
without the compound. Approximately 32 chutes and 11 boxes are falling near
the enclosure.
No markings are visible.
POW REPORT NO. 76
Camp: MAISURI [Maizuru] 352845N - 1352230E
Mission No.: 313 POW M4
Date Flown: 5 September 1945
PW camp identified by a cross outlined in white painted on roof of building.
It is located across a highway from a long rectangular camp consisting of
3 rows of barracks-type buildings. Roadways in this camp are cut across the
width, with the longitudinal roads on the outside edge of the camp. PW compound
has a high fence bordering the highway. Roof damage is observed in one of
the buildings. Four hundred and twenty-eight packages were dropped. Five
are observed in the air and seven on the ground in a clearing. Two are seen
within the compound of the camp about to strike the ground.
No photo reference.
Osaka #1
POW REPORT NO. 110
Camp: OSAKA 3438N - 13527E
Mission No.: 316 POW M3
Date Flown: 1 September 1945
POW camp apparently located in vicinity of lumber yard, however, no specific
area is identified to be the camp itself. Three signs are visible: "PW",
"PW", AND "ALL O KAY".
Approximately 60 bundles are lying on the ground in the lumberyard and
approximately 23 chutes are dropping at the time photos were taken.
POW REPORT NO. 90
Camp: MINATO-KU 343900N - 1352730E
Mission No.: 313 POW M3
Date Flown: 4 September 1945
Long two-story warehouse type buildings with PW marked on roof. Adjacent
to the building is a field with large PW indicated on ground. There are 35
chutes in the yard and 12 visible in the air. Few persons can be seen in
the area. No fence encloses the camp.
72 packages were actually dropped on the target.
Osaka #3 Oeyama
POW REPORT NO. 70
Camp: Unknown. 3534N - 13513E
Mission No.: POW M3 315 Wing
Date Flown: 1 September 1945
Camp is located ½ mile south of Iwataki City and adjacent to Asono Lake.
The camp consists of a rectangular area, completely fenced in with two main
gates at opposite ends of the camp. Approximately 25 barracks-type buildings
are within the inclosure, and two of these buildings have POW signs on their
roofs.
Numerous personnel are standing both on the road outside camp, and within
the POW compound.
13 chutes with boxes are falling in vicinity of POW camp. Five other chutes
are dropping into Asono Lake, approximately 1 mile ENE of the camp.
Osaka #4 Ikuno
POW REPORT NO. ??
Camp: Osaka No. 4 3510N - 13436E
Mission No.: 313 POW M4
Date Flown: 6 September 1945
Photos do not indicate that PW camp is the one assigned. The PW camp, consisting
of 13 buildings, is surrounded by a fence separating it from a nearby camp.
Three buildings are marked "PW" and one "E" type building is marked POW on
roof of the center building. 40 bundles were dropped - nothing visible in
photo as to point of impact or chutes in air.
Osaka #5 Tsuruga
POW REPORT NO. 103
Camp: Osaka No. 5 3538N - 13603E
Mission No.: 313 POW M4
Date Flown: 6 September 1945
40 packages dropped on Japanese army barracks at 3538N - 13603E. Photos do
not indicate accuracy of drop nor location of camp. No chutes visible.
POW REPORT NO. 21
Camp: Osaka No. 5 3538N - 13603E
Mission No.: 314 POW M2
Date Flown: 30 August 1945
Camp is rectangular in shape. Probable former small industrial plant. High
picket fence visible at entrance to camp. Gate visible opening into building.
No guardhouse or tower visible. Large building and gate marked "PW". Estimated
70 or more persons visible on highway and in field near parachutes. At least
40 persons visible on road in front of camp and 2 visible on roof of largest
building. At least 8 parachutes identified in open field estimated ¼
mile from camp.
Assigned target.
No photo reference.
Osaka #7 Takefu?
POW REPORT NO. 126
Camp: Osaka No. 3 3553N - 13661E
Mission No.: 313 POW M4
Date Flown: 8 September 1945
The camp appears to consist of two large buildings surrounded by a fence.
A PW sign is marked on one roof. The camp is in the corner of an apparent
factory area.
Approximately 50 persons are in small group, scattered throughout the plant
area. 40 persons are in the field marked as dropping area. 160-200 persons
are on roadways adjacent to plant.
Five bundles are visible falling in the camp area. 19 more are falling in
vicinity of field indicated as drop area. 12 bundles are lying in the drop
area.
Osaka #9 Notogawa
POW REPORT NO. 52
Camp: Osaka No. 9 3306N - 13602E
Mission No.: 73 POW M10
Date Flown: 6 September 1945
Camp composed of approximately 3 or 5 barracks-type buildings. P and W painted
on panels layed on top of buildings. Camp surrounded by a high fence.
Approximately 50 POW's seen. All supplies landed within 100 yards of camp.
Not an assigned target for this mission.
POW REPORT NO. 50
Camp: Osaka No. 9 3306N - 13602E
Mission No.: 73 POW M5
Date Flown: 2 September 1945
Camp is rectangular in shape and surrounded by fence. Letters PW painted
on roof. Approximately 7 buildings.
Approximately 150 POW's noted. Supplies landed outside camp. Probably the
assigned target.
No photo reference.
POW REPORT NO. 85
Camp: Notogawa 3510N - 13609E
Mission No.: 313 POW M9
Date Flown: 10 September 1945
Supplies (74 packages) were dropped 2 miles west of briefed locality. Photos
reveal nothing.
No photo reference.
Osaka #10 Maibara
POW REPORT NO. 82
Camp: No. 304 3516N - 13617E
Mission No.: 313 POW M6
Date Flown: 8 September 1945
Camp is located in vicinity of marshalling yard and roundhouse, and it consists
of 2 large rectangular buildings surrounded by a wooden fence. Ten persons
visible in compound.
18 chutes of 40 dropped are visible dropping near the POW camp.
POW REPORT NO. 49
Camp: Osaka No. 10 3518N - 13618E
Mission No.: 73 POW M5
Date Flown: 2 September 1945
Approximately 7 buildings including one large building surrounded by a wire
fence comprise the camp. PW painted on two roofs and on the highway west
of the camp.
Approximately 150 POW's noted. No bundles or barrels struck through roofs.
Assigned target.
No photo reference.
Osaka #11 Rokuroshi?
POW REPORT NO. 61
Camp: Osaka No. 11 Exact location unknown
Mission No.: 73 POW M5
Date Flown: 2 September 1945
Description based on partial coverage. Camp surrounded by a high fence. Two
gates are noted. One large building and two small buildings visible within
fenced area. PW marked on large one. At one end of fenced area is a rectangular
area with barracks-type buildings situated around an open courtyard. PW is
marked on ground. General location of camp is open countryside.
Seventy persons noted, most of whom are outside fence. One supply chute landed
in prison area. Other supplies landed outside area.
POW REPORT NO. 97
Camp: Osaka No. 11 3559N - 13642E
Mission No.: 313 POW M5
Date Flown: 7 September 1945
Camp is located adjacent to radio transformer station. Entire area is enclosed
by a fence. Words "U.S.N. RADIO 2, ?W OP" and an arrow are laid out in the
clearing. Camp consists of miscellaneous type buildings with no definite
pattern. 80 bundles were dropped - 34 being visible in the air near the camp.
Accuracy of drop unknown. One A/C scheduled to drop at Yokkaichi observed
sign saying "ALL LEFT THIS CAMP", so dropped on Osaka No. 11.
Camp was assigned target.
Osaka #7-D Harima
POW REPORT NO. 2
Camp: Osaka No. 1 4700N - 13440E
Mission No.: 73 POW M5
Date Flown: 2 September 1945
Situated adjacent to highway. Camp surrounded by high wooden fence with wire
around top. One gate facing highway. Camp is confined in small rectangular
area with guard houses at two corners opposite highway. Buildings very compact
in camp area. Three large buildings and ten smaller ones with PW plainly
marked on three large buildings. Courtyard at one end of area. Small village
tangent to corner of camp area. Guard tower located on roof of center building.
Thirty-five persons noted inside camp area. Supplies landed outside prison
area in surrounding fields. Assigned target for this mission.
POW REPORT NO. 33
Camp: Unknown 3449N - 13434E
Mission No.: 73 POW M12
Date Flown: 7 September 1945
Camp contains 3 large barracks type buildings and approximately 8 smaller
buildings. The camp is surrounded by a board and wire fence. PW is painted
on the roofs of two large buildings.
Approximately 100-150 PW's seen. All supplies landed within 1000' of camp.
Not assigned target for this mission.
POW REPORT NO. 4
Camp: Himeji 3449N - 13934E
Mission No.: 73 POW M5
Date Flown: 2 September 1945
Photo covering very small percentage of camp show rectangular barracks with
PW on roof. Highway passing adjacent to camp. No persons observed in the
compound. No bundles seen hitting in compound. Assigned target for this mission.
POW REPORT NO. 41
Camp: HIMEJI 3447N - 13939E
Mission No.: 73 POW M12
Date Flown: 7 September 1945
The camp is located adjacent to a highway in a rectangular fenced-in area.
Buildings consist of three large one-story barracks type and ten smaller
one-story buildings. High wooden fence surrounds the compound. A gate is
located on the highway side - PW is lettered on the three largest buildings.
Guard post located at gate and two opposite corners. Guard tower is visible
on roof of center building.
Forty to fifty POW's noted. Supplies landed approximately 1000 yds. from
camp in open fields. Assigned target.
POW REPORT NO. 125
Camp: HIMEJI 3447N - 13447E
Mission No.: 313 POW M6
Date Flown: 8 September 1945
No camp located at 3447N - 13447E, the briefed position. A camp was located
nine miles W of briefed position, five miles SW of Himeji on W side of river.
Crew reports that four buildings form a square and enclose a courtyard. No
markings were visible to positively identify this to be a POW camp.
Crew reports that approximately 75 persons were visible in the camp's compound.
No photo reference.
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