81st Naval Guard Unit (81st Naval Garrison Unit)
Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN)

Background
During January 1942, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), 8th Base Force (Eighth Base Force), 81st Naval Guard Unit was based at Rabaul. The 81st Naval Guard Unit (81st Naval Garrison Unit) was part of the Keibitai (Naval Special Police) and were based at the Keibitai Headquarters (Rabaul Navy POW Compound).

Wartime History
In early 1942 Allied Prisoners Of War (POW) were detained at this location where they were beaten and interrogated harshly. They were given very little food and no medical treatment. None of their prisoners survived, only the few who were transfered to the Japanese Army Kempeitai (military police) or were transported to Japan when they were liberated at the end of the Pacific War.

On October 8, 1942 six POWs including Captain Harl Pease and Sgt Chester M. Czechowski, Massey, and King plus two Australian coastwatchers: Mason and Woodroffe and two natives were taken from captivity, presumably to work as laborers at one of the airfields. Later that afternoon, some of their clothing was returned to the prison and it was inferred the six were executed because they were never seen again. In fact, the six were taken near Tavurvur, blindfolded and led to the edge of a long pit dug by native laborers. Several Japanese Navy officers were present including 81st Naval Guard Unit commander Captain Mizusaki, Lt. Shiro Nakayama and Lt. Yoshimura plus an Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) medical officer who arrived by motorcycle with a sidecar. Several Japanese Navy personnel were instructed to bayonet them to death. At first, only one POW and two natives were killed, the other five POWs were wounded and fell to the ground in pain. Meanwhile, the medical officer wearing surgical gloves cut the jugular vein and removed an organ from his abdomen of two of the dying prisoners. After all the POWs were placed in the hole, Yoshimura stabbed each of them with bayonet in the throat. The medical doctor departed on the motorcycle holding a tray with the harvested organs. Postwar, this burial pit was never located and the six remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

On November 25, 1943 a group of twelve prisoners were taken from the camp and executed in the vicinity of Rabaul.

On December 9, 1943 Sgt Robert A. Curry was taken from the camp and executed in the vicinity of Rabaul.

On January 14, 1944 a group of seventeen prisoners were taken from the camp an executed and buried in a mass grave on Matupi Island in a killing that became known as the "Matupi Island Massacre".

Known Prisoners Of War detained by the Keibitai
2nd Lt. Jack K. Wisener, O-662327 (POW, survived) Ponta, TX bombardier B-17F "Georgia Peach 41-24454 crashed June 13, 1943. Detained by the 81st Naval Guard unit, transfered by ship to Japan and survived captivity.

2nd Lt. John A. Bailey, O-797952 (POW / MIA / KIA) NJ co-pilot B-25C Mitchell 42-32255 crashed November 23, 1943.

1st Lt. Ernest A. Naumann, O-427762 and SSgt Paul J. Cascio, Jr., 13072715 crew members from B-17E "Flagship Texas No. VI / Strip-Straffer" 41-9207 crashed June 1, 1943 arrives June 21, 1943. Both were tortured for information and denied food or medical care. Around November 12, 1943 Cascio was transported to Japan with a group of prisoners and survived captivity. On November 25, 1943 Naumann and eleven other Allied prisoners were taken from the POW camp to the outskirts of Rabaul and executed.

1st Lt. David S. Hunter, O-420600 (POW, executed August 31, 1942, MIA / BNR) Proctor, VT pilot P-400 Airacobra crashed July 22, 1943 transfered to Rabaul early August 1942, executed August 31, 1942 at Matupi Island.

2nd Lt John S. Rippy, O-730964 (POW, executed November 25, 1943) co-pilot B-17E "Honi Kuu Okole" 41-9244 crashed May 21, 1943 and captured by the Japanese Navy and detained at Japanese Navy POW Camp. On November 25, 1943 he was executed at Rabaul with four crew from B-17E 41-9011.

Sgt Robert A. Curry (POW, executed December 9, 1943) waist gunner B-17E "Honi Kuu Okole" 41-9244 crashed May 21, 1943 was detained in late May 1943. On December 9, 1943 he was executed at Rabaul.

Neuman, Burnside, Mulligan and George crew B-17E 41-9011 crashed May 21, 1943 and captured by the Japanese Navy and were executed on November 25, 1943 at Rabaul with crew from B-17E "Honi Kuu Okole" 41-9244.

1st Lt. Edward Albert Croker, O-14785 (POW executed Feb 21, 1944 / MIA) WI pilot TBF Avenger 06452 crashed September 16, 1943

These two detailed at Tunnel Hill (?), executed April 12, 1944
2nd Lt Thomas O. Thompson. Jr., O-352317 (POW, executed April 12, 1944, MIA) TX pilot B-25C 42-32319
2nd Lt Carl C. Clemons, O-742137 (POW, executed April 12, 1944, MIA) WA co-pilot B-25C 42-32319

Detained at Tobera Airfield, died July 1945
1st Lt. Moszek Zanger pilot (POW, died July 1945, BR) pilot FG-1A Corsair 14417

References
The Siege of Rabaul (1996) by Henry Sakaida
Target Rabaul (2013) 81st Naval Garrison Unit) pages 52, 61, 64, 74, 241, 253, 255-256, 265, 295, 320, 363 (Appendix A - The Prisoners of Rabaul).
Australian Army, 7th Division "Investigating Officers Report - Events and circumstances leading to the execution of three U.S. Airmen at Samarina February 1945, and other information on the case." [Jacobs, Molinari and Hagerty from B-24J 44-41078]
Thanks to Henry Sakaida and Edward Rogers for additional research and analysis

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