Ambon - Murder of 4 RAAF airmen - Scott, King, Wallace, Wright

In March 1944 4 RAAF airmen (S/Leader Scott, F/Sgts King, Wallace and Wright ) from crashed bomber were captured and brought to PW compound Ambon from an outlying island. Katayama and Takahashi received orders from their senior staff officer to execute the 4 airmen. Uemura, platoon commander of the Compound Guards, was ordered by Katayama to prepare for the execution. The airmen were taken by truck to the execution place on Ambon and were beheaded by Katayama, Takahashi and another.

Uemura had sent guards and the burial party to the execution site, and was present at the execution. He did not actually execute a prisoner.

Katayama on oath said he had reason to believe that the airmen had been legally tried by temporary court martial. There was evidence in fact, that there had been no court martial held. 

Katayama - father was a missionary - an earnest Christian - attended church in Ambon during the war - contributed his own money to the church. Family almost wiped out in Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima - young wife and child dependent on him.  JAG recommends that the sentence should not be confirmed.