POW Supply Missions to
Fukuoka Division Camps
1 ~ 20 September 1945
Fukuoka #1 Hakozaki
POW REPORT NO. 69
Camp: FUKUOKA No. 1 3337N - 13026E
Mission No.: 73 POW M20
Date Flown: 14 September 1945
Camp located about 1,000 yards from west bank of river in wooded area. Camp
surrounded by fence. PW spelled out on ground with rocks.
Scale of photos prevents count of POW's. All supplies landed within 600 ft.
of camp. Assigned target.
Data on POW relief supply loading lists for Fukuoka #1, Sept. 14, 1945
Fukuoka #2 Koyagi-shima
POW REPORT NO. ??
Camp: FUKUOKA No. 2 3239N - 12945E
Mission No.: 73 POW M6
Date Flown: 4 September 1945
Camp is rectangular in shape, consisting of one large building in a figure
8 shape, three smaller buildings, and four lesser buildings. The area has
three gates. The largest building and one smaller building are plainly marked
with PW on roof. One of the lesser buildings appears to be a power plant.
Guard houses are located at each gate and at each corner. The camp is located
on the beach near a small built-up area of barracks type buildings and is
on a small island near shore.
Approx 50 POW's visible in camp area. No supplies visible in camp or surrounding
area. Assigned target for this mission.
POW REPORT NO. 57
Camp: NAGASAKI 3243N - 12950E
Mission No.: 315 POW M4
Date Flown: 2 September 1945
Camp consists of apparently two separate areas in vicinity of Nagasaki.
A rectangular fenced in area containing one double quadrangular type building,
and one barracks. Two "PW" signs are painted on the building roofs.
Twelve boxes of supplies are falling in vicinity of the POW camp. One of
these is without a chute.
Second area contains approx 36 barracks type buildings. "PW" and "Thanks"
indicated on ground near camp.
Nine boxes of supplies are falling in vicinity of POW camp. One supply rack
is falling freely.
Photos are of very poor quality; haze.
POW REPORT NO. 96
Camp: FUKUOKA No. 2 3241N - 12949E
Mission No.: 313 POW M6
Date Flown: 8 September 1945
Buildings unidentifiable as PW camp. Small camp is situated near a cove and
adjacent to a pond. 10 chutes are observed in air and 5 chutes on the ground
in clearing near the pond. A total of 118 packages were dropped.
No further details noted.
POW REPORT NO. 98
Camp: FUKUOKA No. 14 3244N - 12950E
Mission No.: 313 POW M6
Date Flown: 8 September 1945
Two PW camps in photos, identities of which are undetermined. One of these
is the same as that identified as Fukuoka No. 2. The small camp, consisting
of E type building connected on all sides, is along the water front. A fence
surrounds the area. The camp is marked PW on roofs. the larger camp is marked
PW and is situated in a valley. No fence surrounds the area. 38 bundles were
dropped on the large camp with 14 in flight. Accuracy of drop unknown.
Fukuoka #3 Kokura?
POW REPORT NO. 100
[Matches description of Mizumaki #6?}
Camp: FUKUOKA No. 17 3351N - 13031E
Mission No.: 313 POW M4
Date Flown: 6 September 1945
The camp (possibly Fukuoka No. 17) is situated on the east bank of the river
that flows to the south. A large open area approx 200 yds. by 100 yds. is
bordered on the east by low hills; on the south by a long low building, two
stories in the center; on the west by three large buildings; on the north
by two large buildings, a power house and a compound of smaller barracks.
The three buildings on the west and the two on the north may be prison barracks
since each is composed of 3 parallel one story barracks joined on one side
by an enclosed passage and on the other by a two story wing. this arrangement
results in courts within the building similar to prison yards. No other enclosure
or fence can be seen in the area and all buildings have access to the surrounding
area. In the center of the yard a flower like design is visible; possibly
made of white parachutes arranged in a circle with a dark one in the center.
No other markings can be seen although some buildings have dazzle camouflage
painting on the roof.
About 40 persons can be seen within the camp and most seem to be using the
buildings as protection against the falling supplies. The earliest photos
show only a few men near the camp, but subsequent pictures show men coming
from the fields along the river bank and from a small town south of the camp.
One photo shows at least one hundred men in a group on the road along the
southwest boundary of the camp.
No packages can be seen hitting roofs but damage is visible on four buildings.
It is believed that the camp was the assigned target.
>From 75 to 100 chutes are visible in the yard and about 75 more in the
air in the vicinity of the camp. 376 chutes were dropped.
POW REPORT NO. 101
[Matches description of Mizumaki #6?}
Camp: FUKUOKA No. 3 3351N - 13055E
Mission No.: 313 POW M4
Date Flown: 6 September 1945
Drop was not made on assigned camp due to thick weather. Fukuoka No. 17 (3351N
- 13031E) received packages. Camp was identified by stars in clearing outside
of camp - "1100 MEN" and an arrow pointing toward each. Compound itself was
surrounded by a fence - 1 roof each marked "U.S.N." "HOLLAND". Camp consists
of two rows of barracks, one containing 16, the other 8. 80 packages were
dropped on another nearby installation unmarked and unidentified. Approx
70 chutes are counted on the ground in a clearing alongside the unidentified
installation.
Fukuoka #4 Moji
POW REPORT NO. 93
Camp: FUKUOKA No. 4 3357N - 13050E
Mission No.: 313 POW M6
Date Flown: 1 September 1945
A clearing has the letters PW marked on ground. Surrounding area pretty well
burnt out. Photos do not show any buildings identifiable as a PW camp. Approx
17 bundles are seen in and around the clearing.
POW REPORT NO. 74
Camp: FUKUOKA No. 4 3357N - 13058E
Mission No.: 313 POW M6
Date Flown: 8 September 1945
Camp is reported to be in the center of town of Moji. A "PW" sign and word
"food" were spelled out to indicate camp area which is on the water front.
A fence is visible around the buildings comprising PW camp. Eighty bundles
were dropped with 20 visible in the air. Accuracy of drop cannot be determined
from photos.
One loading platform and two chutes are visible in clearing marked by word
"food".
Fukuoka #5 Soeda
POW REPORT NO. 88
Camp: FUKUOKA No. 22 3337N - 13045E
Mission No.: 313 POW M5
Date Flown: 6 September 1945
Located 5 miles NW of Fukuoka No. 11. Camp consists of irregular fenced in
area with 6 barracks type buildings and 8 smaller buildings. Signs on roof
are as follows: "USA POW" "PW" "700PW 700" "700 PW" "PW". 75 packages were
dropped but none can be seen from photos.
Fukuoka #6 Mizumaki
POW REPORT NO. 81
Camp: Unknown
Mission No.: 313 POW M5
Date Flown: 7 September 1945
Camp is located 2 miles W of briefed target, PW No. 9 (Fukuoka). Camp consists
of approx 25 barracks type buildings enclosed by a fence. Markings on their
roofs are: "USN", "HOLLAND", "1100 MEN".
Forty bundles were dropped, but none of these are visible on photos.
POW REPORT NO. 62
Camp: Fukuoka Branch 12 3351N - 13041E
Mission No.: 73 POW M13
Date Flown: 8 September 1945
Camp located near town of Orio between two hills and adjacent to RR and a
river. Approx 30 barracks type buildings. Signs on roofs read: "USN, HOLLAND,
PW 1100 MEN".
No POW count possible. Not known where supplies dropped. Assigned target.
Fukuoka #8 Inatsuki?
POW REPORT NO. 106
Camp: FUKUOKA No. 21 3347N - 13045E
Mission No.: 313 POW M15
Date Flown: 20 September 1945
A/C 0069 could not locate assigned camp. Dropped on an unidentified camp
at 3337N - 13045E.
This camp is located alongside of a military camp and is separated therefrom
by a high fence enclosing the PW compound. "POW 8" indicated on the ground.
Barracks are one story type buildings situated in one block containing: seven
buildings, the remainder are in no definite pattern. Guard tower visible
under a white canopy.
Approx 35 persons are visible in the compound.
No bundles are visible on the ground. 15 chutes of 36 dropped are visible
in air over the camp and nearby football field.
POW REPORT NO. 127
Camp: FUKUOKA BR. 11 3336N - 13034E
Mission No.: 313 POW M5
Date Flown: 7 September 1945
Camp consists of approx 30 buildings some of which are enclosed by a fence.
Adjacent to the camp is a dropping area, marked by a "POW" sign and a circle
with an arrow.
190 bundles were dropped on the area.
No photo reference.
Fukuoka #17 Omuta
POW REPORT NO. 124
Camp: FUKUOKA NO. 17 3351N - 13031E
Mission No.: 313 POW M1
Date Flown: 1 September 1945
Camp is surrounded by a high wooden fence with barbed wire on the top. One
gate into the camp's compound is open with apparently two guards standing
by it on the outside. Barracks are two story frame buildings, same type as
those of military camp adjoining POW camp. Guard towers are situated in each
corner of the camp.
Approx 200 men appear to be in the camp area some of whom are hanging out
windows.
Several holes are noted on roofs, which are possibly caused by free-falling
equipment.
The camp was an assigned target.
POW REPORT NO. ??
Camp: OMUTA 3302N - 13025E
Mission No.: 73 POW M6
Date Flown: 4 September 1945
Camp within and a part of a large military barracks area. Rectangular shaped
camp with 12 barracks type buildings and one hospital type building with
four wings. Large PW sign on top of two buildings.
Approx 200 POW's visible. All supplies landed within camp. Assigned target
for this mission.
No photo reference.
POW REPORT NO. 113
Camp: FUKUOKA NO. 25 3303N - 13025E
Mission No.: 313 POW M5
Date Flown: 6 September 1945
The briefed site did not have any markings, so the drop was made 3 miles
to the SW, where 3 large PW signs appeared on buildings. Adjacent to the
fenced in area, a sign "PW - DROP HERE" indicated where the supplies were
to be dropped. "1737 MEN" also was indicated by a sign on the ground.
Numerous persons were seen along the fence near drop area.
Approx 70 chutes are believed to have dropped in vicinity of camp.
No photo reference.
POW REPORT NO. 46
Camp: OMUTA 330130N - 1302500E
Mission No.: 73 POW M17
Date Flown: 11 September 1945
Incomplete coverage shows rectangular shaped camp with approx 10 buildings.
There is an open courtyard in center of compound with following letters:
PW. C.E.P. Fence surrounds the camp.
Poor quality of photo prevents count of POW's. Supplies probably landed close
to compound. Not an assigned target for this mission.
No photo coverage.
POW REPORT NO. 47
Camp: OMUTA 3302N - 13025E
Mission No.: 73 POW M17
Date Flown: 11 September 1945
Diamond shaped barracks area surrounded on two sides by water. Land is probably
reclaimed. Signs on roofs read: PW, US, PW, 1734 MEN.
Quality of photography does not permit POW count. Supplies probably landed
close to compound. Assigned target.
No photo reference.
Fukuoka #21 Nakama?
POW REPORT NO. 84
Camp: FUKUOKA No. 21 3347N - 13044E
Mission No.: 313 POW M9
Date Flown: 10 September 1945
Directly east of a dam in a small river, the camp is within a high fence
and consists of 17 barracks type buildings. the letters "PW" are on the roof
of a large building in the northwest part of the compound and in several
places parachutes are spread out on the roof. In several places parachutes
employed as tents are visible. The camp is located on the north side of what
seems to be a large military base.
Approx 160 men are visible within the compound.
Eight chutes are visible on the photos, none striking ground. 120 packages
were dropped.
This was the assigned target.
Fukuoka #24 Emukae?
POW REPORT NO. ??
Mission No.: 313 POW M6
Date Flown: 8 September 1945
Camp report by crews as 3317N - 12939E and 3312N - 12943E. Camp identified
by letters POW on roofs of 4 buildings. These are 10 buildings in an area
encircled by a fence. Eighty packages were dropped. ten chutes visible in
the air.
Accuracy of drop not shown.
Fukuoka #27 Tagawa?
POW REPORT NO. 86
Camp: FUKUOKA No. 8 3337N - 13049E
Mission No.: 313 POW M9
Date Flown: 10 September 1945
Small scale photos reveal 10 chutes dropping in Fukuoka Area.
Beppu Hospital
POW REPORT NO. 18
Camp: BEPPU HOSPITAL 3316N - 13030E
Mission No.: 73 POW M6
Date Flown: 4 September 1945
Hospital has large red cross on roof of one building. Ten large barracks
type buildings in area. No POW's visible. All supplies landed within 1000
feet. Not an assigned target for this mission.
Nakatsu
POW REPORT NO. 19
Camp: NAGASU 3334N - 1312230E
Mission No.: 73 POW M6
Date Flown: 4 September 1945
Small sized town with no industrial area or POW camp visible. No POW's visible.
Not known where supplies landed. Not an assigned target for this mission.
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