M43

Crime tried

Accused

Trial location
Morotai
NAA Series
A471
NAA Control
80918
Trial start date
Trial end date
Trial sentence date

JAG report

Notes

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.

KATAYAMA/HIDEO

Warrant of execution signed by Sturdee on 6/4/46.

Katayama insisted that the PWs had been tried and sentenced in court martial. JAG believes that Lt Comdr Baron Takasaki gave instructions to Katayama at HQ that the men were to be executed without trial - in obedience to these orders Katayama proceeded with the execution. - he may be held responsible for it though the fact that he was ordered by a much superior staff officer may be considered in mitigation of the sentence of death.

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