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| Location Lat 27° 4' 0N Long 142° 12' 30E Chi Chi Jima is located in the in the Father Island Group in the Bonin Islands (Ogasawara Islands) in Ogasawara Subprefecture off Japan. Also spelled "Chichi Jima". Also known as "Father Island, "Peel Island" or "Ogasawara". This island is roughly five miles long by three miles wide and roughly 600 miles off Japan and 150 miles to the south-southwest is Iwo Jima. Borders Futami Bay (Futami Ko, Chi Chi Jima Harbor, Chichi Jima Harbor) to the west. To the northeast is Higashi-shima and the to the north is Ani Shima and beyond Ototo Jima. Wartime History During the 1930's the Japanese began to fortify Chi Chi Jima as a military base and radio relay link. By the middle of 1944, the island was defended by approximately 25,000 Japanese personnel from both the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and Imperial Japanese Army (IJA). Starting in the middle of August 1944 U.S. aircraft began bombing the island to neutralize the garrison and communicaiton link and continued until early June 1945. Shortly after the bombing began, all but a small handful of the civilian population was evacuated to the mainland of Japan. American missions against Chi Chi Jima (Chichi Jima) August 12, 1944–June 4, 1945 In total, twenty-two American aviators were lost, bailed out or ditched near Chichi Jima. Eight Americans became Prisoners Of War (POW) of the Japanese Navy and Japanese Army on the island. All eight prisoners were executed and the body parts of some were eaten high ranking Japanese officers as part of their Bushido warrior indoctrination. ARM2c Lloyd Richard Woellhof gunner SB2C 01169 POW 7-4-44, executed 8-7-44 Unknown, radioman POW 7-4-44, executed 8-7-44 AOM3c Grady Alvan York gunner TBM Avenger 22904 POW 2-18-45, executed 2-23-45 ARM3c James Wesley Dye, Jr. radio TBM Avenger 22904 POW 2-18-45, executed 2-25-45 AOM2c Glenn J. Frazier, Jr. gunner TBM 23637 POW 2-18-45, executed 2-18-45 ARM3c Marvelle "Marvie" William Mershon radio TBM 23637 POW 2-18-45, executed 2-22-45 Ensign Floyd Ewing Hall pilot TBM 23637 POW 2-18-45, executed 3-9-45 2nd Lt Warren Earl Vaugn pilot F4U 82356 POW 2-23-45, executed 3-15-45 Postwar During December 1945 U.S. Marines occupied the Bonin Islands including Chi Chi Jima and destroyed and burned all equipment and buildings of military value to demilitarize the island. During 1946, a US Navy facility was established on the island and operated until the 1960s. During 1947 a war crimes trial on Guam prosecuted by USMC Colonel Presley M. Rixey tried those responsible for these crimes, but received little press in the United States. The Japanese found guilty were hanged and buried in unmarked graves on Guam. Executed were Japanese Army General Yoshio Tachibana and Major Sueo Matoba who ordered the executions. Lt. Col. Kikuji Ito and Captain Noburu Nakajima who executed prisoners were executed. Others were given prison sentences including Lt. Morishita who beheaded a prisoner. Today Susaki
Airfield (Chi
Chi Jima Airfield) P-51D Mustang Serial Number 44-63458 Mount
Yoake and Mount Asahi Radio Stations Matsu References Contribute
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 Map 1970 |
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