| Osaka POW
Camp #6-B Akenobe |
| Osaka 6-B AKENOBE (MITSUBISHI KOGYO) [Mitsubishi Mining Co.] HYOGO-ken, YOFU-gun, MINAMI TANI-mura Satellite View Relief Map - relation to other camps Aerial (Mar. 1948; courtesy of Japan Map Archives) Timeline: 15 May 1945: Established as Osaka 21-B to receive POWS from Sakurajima (Osaka 4-D, formerly Osaka 8-B) Aug 1945: Renamed Osaka 6-B Sep 1945: Rescue effected Japanese Personnel: Scanned image Location and layout (PDF) Aerial photo - photo taken during relief supply missions, Sept. 1945 SCAP Report: Post War Camp investigation report for possble War Crimes. |
Labor: POWs used as slave laborers in the Mitsubishi Corporation copper mine. Known by the POWs as the "Three Star Diamond Mine." Hell Ships: No direct ship applicable- American POWS transferred here from Sakurajima had previously arrived on the Coral Maru, also known as the Taga Maru. Australian POWS arrived on the Kyokka Maru per Australian POW historian Neil MacPherson. British were ex Hong Kong. A few on the Lisbon Maru but most on later ship. Rosters: Total of 296 men Americans: (100+ men) British: (168 men) Australians: (28 men) OSA-06 Roster (WO 361-1963) - American, British, Australian OSA-06 Rosters (RG 407 Box 111) - American officers, NCOs and enlisted men; British NCOs and enlisted men; Australians Deceased: See Osaka #4-D Sakurajima death list Known to have died in this camp or executed in previous Sakurajima camp:
Brown, Wilbur David,PFC,Died
45.08.25 Kobe Hospital
Osaka #6 and #4-D Deaths (RG407 Box 189)Byall, Sam Julius,PFC,DIED 45.06.05, Kobe Hospital Chesselet, Alan,CPL,DIED 45.05.22, Kobe Hospital Goodard, John Edgar, Cpl,Died 45.07.09, Kobe Hospital Mc Gee, Thomas Lowell,Executed for escaping 44.07.26 Wharton Herbert Russell,Executed for escaping 44.07.26 Death of Dutch POW Piet Uni (PDF) - document list for OSA-06; Uni death certificates; Report on Escape, Capture and Disposition; cause of death "Stabbing (by Japanese sword)" Affidavits: Cyril E. Barnaby: Aussie POW describes war crimes of guards and staff at prior camp. Most of these guards came to Akenobe. Lewis affidavit: Eyewitness report of Japanese hiding records in mine at end of war. Loewe affidavit (PDF) Willard affidavit: Aussie relates experience from capture in Hong Kong (Shuishampo) to Sakurajima to Akenobe. No descriptions of life in Akenobe. Compiled PDF of affidavits: Porter, Breustedt, Zukauskas, Lewis, Day, photo of sick man |
