| Osaka #4-D Sakurajima (Formerly OSAKA #8B) Hitachi Zosen |
| Osaka
8-B SAKURAJIMA OSAKA-shi, KONOHANA-ku, TAKAMI-machi (HITACHI ZOSEN) Timeline: 20 Jan 1943: Established as SAKURAJIMA Branch Camp 18 Feb 1943: Renamed Osaka 8-B 25 Jul 1944: McGee and Wharton escape camp 26 Jul 1944: POWs recaptured and executed 1 Oct 1943: Renamed 4-D 17 May 1945: Camp destroyed in air raid; POWs transferred to 21-B AKENOBE (Osaka 6-B) Satellite View Area Map Aerial (Sept. 1948; courtesy of Japan Map Archives) All POWS Sent to: Osaka 6-B AKENOBE [Copper Mine] (MITSUBISHI KOGYO) HYOGO-ken, YOFU-gun, MINAMI TANI-mura 15 May 1945: Established as 21-B Aug 1945: Renamed Osaka 6-B 5 Sep 1945: Rescue effected Morita Report: Location: Osaka City History: Camp was established 20 Jan 1943. On 23 January 1943, the first POW’s arrived, 200 Americans (?) From Hong Kong. On 5 October 1943, 100 Americans arrived from the Philippines. The camp was destroyed in a bombing raid. On 17 May 1945, all prisoners were transferred to the Akenobe Camp and on 18 May 1945, the camp was officially closed. Camp Commanders: (a) 20 Jan 1943 - 11 Oct 1943: 2nd Lt Masatochi Yamada (b) 11 Oct 1943 - April 1944 (exact date unknown): Staff Sgt Shuntaro Habe (c) April 1944 - 10 Jun 1944: 1st Lt Akeo Fujimori (d) 10 Jun 1944 - February 1945: 1st Lt Sai Yamashita (e) Feb 1945 - 18 May 1945: 2nd Lt Yoshi Nakamishi Japanese Staff: Additional names of staff (RG 331). Not all clearly identified. (Original document scan) |
Labor: Shipfitters and laborers, Osaka Iron Works. Per Morita Report, POWs worked at Hidachi Zosen Sakurajima Zonsenjo (Sakurajima Shipyard and Hida Shipping Company, Sakurajima, 17 Minamino-cho, Konohana-ku, Osaka City) POWs helped build ships and manufacture machinery. The work supervision was set up the same as at all the other camps. Universal Studios Japan is now located at this site. SCAP Report: Details the conditions post Sakurajima Hell Ships: Canadians & British arrived from Hong Kong on the Tatsuta Maru, arrived at Moji 22 Jan 1943. Australians came up on Kyokku Maru. At least 100 [actual 200] Americans arrived on Coral Maru also known as Tagu Maru -departed Manila 20 Sep 1943, a 70 day voyage with 15 deaths en route. Some British were already there upon arrival of Americans. Status unknown at this time. Men of Coral Maru known to have been delivered to Hirohata, Niigata and Sukurajima. Deceased POWS Recreated roster of DECEASED based upon names supplied by Jeff Russell, The POW Research Network and cross checked the National Archives and with Tony Banham's Hong Kong web site Executed for attempted escape (1944-07-26): Wharton Herbert Russell,CPL,264072,MAR,4th I, McGee, Thomas Lowell,PFC,290276,MAR,4th H Rosters: No complete roster known to have survived. Recreated roster courtesy of Jeff Russell, nephew of POW Conrad Russell. All survivors transferred to Akenobe. Known to have been in this camp: Russell, Conrad, PFC, USMC 4th H Wofford, Ira L. "Luke", S1c,USN, Canopus Lewis, Claude R., PFC, USMC 4th Affidavits: Willard Affidavit: Aussie relates experience from capture in Hong Kong (Shuishampo) to Sakurajima to Akenobe. No descriptions of life in Akenobe. Cyril E. Barnaby Affidavit: Describes the War Crimes of guards and staff at Sakurajima |
