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Sasebo
History
Assorted Data on a Historical City in Southern Japan
佐世保市―捕虜収容所・進駐軍・引き揚げ
Assorted Data on a Historical City in Southern Japan
佐世保市―捕虜収容所・進駐軍・引き揚げ
| Background | WWII
related |
Occupation Cruise Books |
| Sasebo #18 Camp | Repatriation |
Main Index |
NOTE: Please credit this
website for any data you use
Background
The word "Sasebo" is probably from the name of a Japanese ruler in the area, one Isamu Sasebo, one of the families in the Matsuura clan. He also said to have built the castle there in the early 1500's. The town just above Sasebo, Ainoura, was considered to be of more importance and therefore developed earlier. However, the famous Naval admiral, Heihachiro Togo, thought the Sasebo harbor ideal for a naval installation when he visited there in August 1883. After consideration of two other options in Imari and Hirado, Sasebo was chosen in May 1886 and construction work began in January 1887, with completion in July 1889. Thereafter, the port was vital during several wars, e.g. the First Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese War, World War I, and World War II.
Sasebo Naval Arsenal 1930
Here is a very interesting table of all Imperial Japanese Navy ships, in Japanese only. Click on 建造所 button to sort on shipyard -- Sasebo will be listed as 佐世保海軍工廠. Note that the I-401 super-submarine was built in Sasebo. This submarine was capable of carrying three aircraft and was intended for use against US cities and the Panama Canal. Of paramount concern was that these aircraft might contain bio-weapons. Fortunately, more level-headed Japanese strategists scrapped that idea!
Part 2 of this document has a lot of good info with photos and diagrams of the Sasebo Naval Base Air Defense Center, similar to our NORAD in the US:
More can be found about this center, open to the public since March 2017, here at The Japanese Home Front III: Sasebo Air Defense Command Center. David Krigbaum has many other interesting articles in this series at his website.
Aerial photos (USS Boxer, 1956)
Some interesting old maps of the Sasebo area, known long ago as Hizen:
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Drawn by Dutch scholar Arnoldus Montanus (van den Berg? van Bergen?) and published in 1669. All of Kyushu was called Bungo. Hizen 1 - Shows Hakata (Facata) to the north, Hirado (Firando) Island, Ainoura (Agnora), and Ushinokubi (Ousinocubi; "cow neck"). Hizen 2 - Shows southern area to Nagasaki (Nangasacqui) and Kagoshima (Cangoxuma). |
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Produced
by Kaempfer in 1690. Shows all of Hizen (Fidsen), from Nagoya Castle
(Nagaja) to Nomozaki. Sasebo area shows only Hinoura (Finoura) and
Oshinokubi (Takashima Island west of Sasebo Bay, lighthouse is called Ushigakubi). |
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Japanese map c. 1690. Shows Chikuzen Hirado Castle in upper left. Sasebo
area points are Emukae, Saza, Ainoura, and Hiu. Note Kujukushima shown
as numerous dotted islands. The sea route in red is marked with
reference to "Ushinokubi," used as a navigational point. |
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Map
produced in 1707 (by Pieter van der Aa?). Hirado (Firando) is shown in
relatively correct location and Hizen (Figen) to the east, but other
locations obviously incorrect. Nagasaki is noted as Langasacke. |
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Thomson
map of Japan (1815) showing Hizen (Fidsen) area, notably Hirado
(Firanda), Hinoura (Finura), and Ushinokubi (Osinokubi). Two
unknown towns are Awo and Kissima. |
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Colton
map of Japan (1855)
showing Hizen (Fizen). Hirado is spelled Firato. Mt. Tara is the
highest point in Hizen, noted probably for navigational purposes. |
| Additional old maps of Sasebo area, 1685 to 1897 - the name Sasebo first appears on an 1874 map (page 15). |
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World War II related
Mostly dealing with Sasebo target data and air raids (佐世保空襲). See PDF's below (with corresponding dates) for full data on images. |
Fukuoka area map 1944-11 |
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Sasebo area map 1945-03 |
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Sasebo area map 1945-03a |
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Sasebo area map 1945-03b |
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Sasebo target area 1945-04 |
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Sasebo targets 2539 754 1945-04-21a |
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Sasebo targets 2539 754 1945-04-21b |
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Sasebo carriers 1945-04-21 |
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Sasebo ko (harbor) 1945-04-30a |
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Sasebo ko 1945-04-30b |
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Sasebo ko 1945-04-30c |
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Sasebo inner harbor 1945-04-30 |
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Sasebo naval dockyards 1945-04-30 |
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Sasebo oil storage 1945-04-30 |
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Sasebo shipping report 4 1945-04-30 |
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Sasebo area 1945-05-21a |
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Sasebo area 1945-05-21b |
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Sasebo naval arsenal 1945-05-23 |
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Sasebo and vicinity |
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Sasebo vicinity 1944-06 |
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Sasebo vicinity incendiary zone 1944-06 |
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Sasebo vicinity mosaic d2 1944-06 |
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Sasebo vicinity mosaic da 1944-06 |
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Sasebo vicinity mosaic e 1944-06 |
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Sasebo 1945-06-20 |
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Sasebo shipping report 32 1945-06-20 |
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Sasebo mission table map and 1945-06-28 |
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Sasebo damage assessment 1945-06-29a |
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Sasebo damage assessment 1945-06-29b |
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Sasebo shipping targets 1945-07-02 |
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Sasebo shipping report 34 1945-07-02 |
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Sasebo shipping report 48 1945-07-29 |
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Sasebo 1946 (cropped) |
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Sasebo airfield 1 -
21st Naval Air Arsenal, Omura |
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Sasebo airfield 2 - 21st Naval Air Arsenal, Omura |
| CTG54 images |
Document source: Comm Amphib 4 CTG 54-1 Occup Sasebo Fukuoka 1945-11-11 |
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Sasebo ammo storage Haiki Straits CTG54-1 |
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Sasebo bomb damage business section1 CTG54-1 |
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Sasebo bomb damage business section2 CTG54-1 |
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Sasebo harbor 1945-09-26
CTG54-1 FULL IMAGE - shows landing designations A through V |
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Sasebo harbor entrance CTG54-1 |
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Sasebo Harbor Masters Bldg CTG54-1 |
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Sasebo Japanese LSMs APD CTG54-1 |
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Sasebo Japanese Naval Bldg CTG54-1 |
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Sasebo J-Frigates KAIBOKAN Ebisu Bay CTG54-1 |
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Sasebo Japanese Submarine 200-class Ebisu Bay CTG54-1 |
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Sasebo KASAGI carrier Ebisu Bay CTG54-1 |
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Sasebo LST at Supply Basin CTG54-1 |
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Sasebo LSTs unload onto seaplane ramps CTG54-1 |
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Sasebo Naval Aircraft Factory LSM LSTs CTG54-1 |
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Sasebo Naval Base dry dock CTG54-1 |
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Sasebo ships Ebisu Bay CTG54-1 |
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Sasebo ships unload at dock CTG54-1 |
Repatriation of Japanese,
Koreans and Chinese
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Repatriation of Japanese nationals to
Japan, and Korean and Chinese nationals back to their respective
countries During this initial six-week period alone, a total of 706,183 Japanese were repatriated, over 479,000 of whom were civilians. Repatriation efforts would take years, but it is estimated a total of some 3,110,000 military and 3,180,000 civilian Japanese were repatriated (1976 figures). Sasebo was one of the 18 repat ports in Japan where they disembarked, accounting for around 1.4 million Japanese. Final Repatriation Report, Nov. 1945 - excerpts from Fifth Marine Division, Occupation of Japan, 1945-09-22 to 1945-11-30 Part 2 (NOTE: The full document, Parts 1 and 2, contains detailed data on names of repat ships and ports of entry in the Kyushu area. Images to the left are from Part 1.) 40th Infantry Division, History of Evacuation and Repatriation through the Port of Pusan, Korea, 28 Sept 45 - 15 Nov 45 - contains many graphs, diagrams, sketches and photos |
Special Photo CollectionsCol. John T. Rooney (1917-2013) - Sailed into Sasebo circa Sep./Oct. 1945 and became the USMC Supply Officer with the 8th Service Regiment, a unit of the 5th Amphibious Corps, VAC. Photos include shots of Sasebo Navy Yard, city and rural area, Nagasaki (A-bomb damage) and other cities in Japan. (Courtesy of Greg Rooney) |
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| Camp Sasebo APO 27 - special booklet commemorating visit by Maj. Gen. Pierson and Brig. Gen. Peploe on Aug. 11, 1954 (note this scan is incomplete). Photo of camp headquarters and chapel (high resolution) | |
USSBS Air Objective Folder 90-36 Sasebo 90-39 Tsushima 1944-07-18
Photos 1945 - Sasebo Report No 3-a37 USSBS Index Section 7
Sasebo Harbor Ship Count 1945-04
Sasebo Photo Intel Report 563 USSBS-3-a-37 1945-04-23
Fukuoka Sasebo Nagasaki photo recon 3rd PRS 1945-05 (report date 1945-07-05)
Omura Aircraft Factory 1945-05-04
Sasebo Photo Intel Report 620 USSBS-3-a-37 1945-05-05
Sasebo - Aircraft Action Report 1945-05-13
Sasebo Kyushu No 2 Radar Anti-Aircraft Report No 1-f-18 USSBS Sec7 1945-06
Kawatana Arsenal 1945-06-12
Sasebo Bay Target Info USSBS-3-a-37 1945-06-27
Tactical Mission Reports 234-237 Okayama Sasebo Moji Nobeoka 1945-06-28,29 No 2-b-56 USSBS Section 7
Sasebo Naval Dockyards Report 1945-06-30
Sasebo Harbor Shipping Report 32 1945-07-02
Sasebo Harbor Shipping Report 34 1945-07-05
Sasebo Photo Intel Report 744 USSBS-3-a-37 1945-07-05
Sasebo Mission Summary USSBS-3-a-37 1945-07-06
Sasebo Naval Arsenal and Engineering Dept Report 1945-07-17
Special Study of Sasebo Naval Base Report 188-45 No 3-i-15 USSBS Sec 6 1945-07-20
Sasebo Harbor Shipping Report 48 1945-08-05
Sasebo Target Report 1945-08-07
Sasebo Oil Storage Report USSBS-3-a-37 1945-08-10
Sasebo Munitions Storage 1945-08-10
Ainoura Naval Recruit Training Station, G-2 Report 1945-10-13
Nagasaki Targets Report No 3-a(37) USSBS 1945-10-26
Comm Amphib 4 CTG 54-1 Occup Sasebo Fukuoka 1945-11-11
GHQ Directives re Sasebo 1947-10-25
Evacuation of Japanese to Sasebo (in Japanese)
Occupation History
American B-29's destroyed nearly half of Sasebo during WWII, but the
city survived. Here is the story of how Americans helped to repair the
city they had nearly destroyed, and to help heal the thousands of lives
there.Just before midnight on June 28, 1945, 145 B-29's took off from Saipan Air Base on a mission to bomb Japanese cities, one of which was Sasebo, a city having one of the largest Imperial Navy installations in Japan. The incendiary bombing raid commenced just after 0130 the next day and lasted less than 90 minutes, during which time over 1,200 Japanese were killed and 42% of the city destroyed. Due to inclement weather, nearly all of the aircraft used radar targeting. Sasebo received a number of other air raids in 1945 -- April 8, April 16, April 30, July 2, July 7/8, July 31, and August 10 -- but the June bombing was the only one to inflict major damage on the city. (See above PDFs for targeting recon data starting in April 1945.)
What were the results of all these bombing raids on the Japanese military? Unknown to the Allies, the Japanese were digging in, literally turning into human gophers, putting not only their military headquarters but manufacturing, living quarters, and even schools underground (Sasebo had a huge underground complex). But the end of the war was in sight, and the atomic bombings finally taught a stubborn military leadership that surrender was the only viable option for the survival of the Japanese people. Much credit can be given to the Emperor of Japan for saving his people by his supreme decision to accept the terms of the Potsdam Declaration.
When the war came to an end, the Occupation Forces were faced with a daunting task -- how to fix a broken Japan, and deal with a broken people, a people that could potentially be full of revenge. Sasebo was in a shambles and needed basic repairs quickly. The harbor was full of damaged ships and scattered mines that presented a problem to the incoming Occupation ships. The damaged infrastructure of the city alone was appalling, and the citizens were desperate for help.
The United States 5th Marine Division Amphibious Corps (VAC), which was the first into Sasebo. It was also the same division that had first fought the Japanese so fiercely on Iwo Jima. The following are excerpts from the VAC Occupation of Japan Action Report covering the period from Sept. 22 to Nov. 30, 1945 (see bottom of page for PDF).
CHRONOLOGY:
Sept. 16 -- 5th Marine Division
departs Saipan for Japan.
Sept. 18 -- Col. Wensinger arrives in Sasebo aboard the USS Ralph Talbot (DD 390) to meet with Japanese officers and civilian leaders.
Sept. 20 -- VAC advance party from Saipan under Col. Reaves arrives in Sasebo, along with G-2 officers and officers from the 2nd and 5th Marine Divisions and Amphibious Group 4, and meets with Col. Wensinger to complete preliminary arrangements for the occupation.
Sept. 21 -- Vice Admiral Hill with Gen. Kreuger aboard the USS Auburn, Commander 5th Amphibious Corps flagship, arrive in Sasebo and receives Col. Wensinger's report.
Sept. 18 -- Col. Wensinger arrives in Sasebo aboard the USS Ralph Talbot (DD 390) to meet with Japanese officers and civilian leaders.
Sept. 20 -- VAC advance party from Saipan under Col. Reaves arrives in Sasebo, along with G-2 officers and officers from the 2nd and 5th Marine Divisions and Amphibious Group 4, and meets with Col. Wensinger to complete preliminary arrangements for the occupation.
Sept. 21 -- Vice Admiral Hill with Gen. Kreuger aboard the USS Auburn, Commander 5th Amphibious Corps flagship, arrive in Sasebo and receives Col. Wensinger's report.
INITIAL OBJECTIVES:
1. Billeting for troops -- rid
buildings of vermin and lice; repair or install plumbing, repair
electrical equipment
2. Sanitation -- decontaminate and purify water supply (night soil use a problem)
3. Communications -- establish rapid, adequate radio and wire communications
4. Supply -- repair railway lines and depots (road conditions very inadequate)
5. Disposal of all Japanese war supplies and materiel
6. Verify Japanese forces have completely demobilized
7. Supervise repatriation of Japanese troops and also outgoing Chinese, Korean and Formosan displaced personnel
2. Sanitation -- decontaminate and purify water supply (night soil use a problem)
3. Communications -- establish rapid, adequate radio and wire communications
4. Supply -- repair railway lines and depots (road conditions very inadequate)
5. Disposal of all Japanese war supplies and materiel
6. Verify Japanese forces have completely demobilized
7. Supervise repatriation of Japanese troops and also outgoing Chinese, Korean and Formosan displaced personnel
Though Sasebo was primarily a naval repair base, it became a very busy commercial port in the beginning of the Occupation, and by November 30, some 432 vessels of all types were anchored in Sasebo Bay.
The Corps was paid in Japanese yen, the rate being ¥15/$.
Supplying food and shelter to Sasebo citizens was of utmost importance. The Black Market was a problem that was continually being addressed, but, the entire city having been under the employment and guidance of the military, the lack of initiative and organization on the part of the Japanese was a great barrier to their own rehabiliation.
Upon arrival in Sasebo, the Corps had 126 military government officers who immediately set up the military government office which included a legal, administrative, agriculture, transportation, salvage, fishery and agriculture sections.
The Provost Marshall crime reports for the first full month of October 1945 show the total number of arrests and violations at 2,160 cases, the majority being for AWOL and improper uniform; there was only one murder-rape case during the entire month (the next month shows only one murder and one rape, incidentally, with the majority of cases being for AWOL and desertion).
US Navy Cruise Books - Sasebo and Nagasaki
These excerpts from US Naval Cruise Books contain a fascinating history of the occupation of Sasebo and Nagasaki as seen from the eyes of American sailors. Full of photos!
USS Saga Shannon
Cruise Book
(Sept. 9 to Oct. 17, 1945) - first Allied ship into Sasebo after end of
war; includes initial minesweeping activities and a section on Nagasaki
USS Wichita Cruise Book (Sept. 11 to Nov. 5, 1945) - flagship of task group assigned to evacuate Allied POWs; contains long section on Nagasaki, including evacuation of Allied POWs (9,041 persons, including 1,512 Americans, 3,662 Dutch and Javanese, 2,667 British and 1,060 Australians)
USS Santa Fe Cruise Book (Sept. 21 to Oct. 8, 1945) - includes photos of Tokyo
USS Karnes Cruise Book (Sept. 22, 1945)
USS Mount McKinley Cruise Book (Sept. to Nov. 1945) - includes surrender conference; many Japanese warships identified in harbor area, including carriers Kasagi and Junyo
USS Tazewell Cruise Book (from Oct. 23, 1945)
USS Thomas Jefferson Cruise Book (July to Nov. 1945)
USS Pondera Cruise Book (Nov. 28 to Dec. 5, 1945)
USS Springfield Cruise Book (1945)
USS Mobile Cruise Book (1945) - includes photos of "Magic Carpet" Operation, A-bomb damage in Nagasaki, and Allied POWs (for more on Magic Carpet, see The Magic Carpet That Brought Everybody Home)
USS Boxer Cruise Book (1950)
USS Leyte Cruise Book (Oct. 30 to Nov. 4, 1950; Dec. 26 to Jan. 7, 1951)
USS Saint Paul Cruise Book (1950-1951)
USS Manchester Cruise Book (Oct. 4, 1950 to Feb. 13, 1951)
USS Princeton Cruise Book (1950-1952)
USS Toledo Japan photos (1958) - good collection of photos from Kyushu to Hokkaido, many in color
USS Wichita Cruise Book (Sept. 11 to Nov. 5, 1945) - flagship of task group assigned to evacuate Allied POWs; contains long section on Nagasaki, including evacuation of Allied POWs (9,041 persons, including 1,512 Americans, 3,662 Dutch and Javanese, 2,667 British and 1,060 Australians)
USS Santa Fe Cruise Book (Sept. 21 to Oct. 8, 1945) - includes photos of Tokyo
USS Karnes Cruise Book (Sept. 22, 1945)
USS Mount McKinley Cruise Book (Sept. to Nov. 1945) - includes surrender conference; many Japanese warships identified in harbor area, including carriers Kasagi and Junyo
USS Tazewell Cruise Book (from Oct. 23, 1945)
USS Thomas Jefferson Cruise Book (July to Nov. 1945)
USS Pondera Cruise Book (Nov. 28 to Dec. 5, 1945)
USS Springfield Cruise Book (1945)
USS Mobile Cruise Book (1945) - includes photos of "Magic Carpet" Operation, A-bomb damage in Nagasaki, and Allied POWs (for more on Magic Carpet, see The Magic Carpet That Brought Everybody Home)
USS Boxer Cruise Book (1950)
USS Leyte Cruise Book (Oct. 30 to Nov. 4, 1950; Dec. 26 to Jan. 7, 1951)
USS Saint Paul Cruise Book (1950-1951)
USS Manchester Cruise Book (Oct. 4, 1950 to Feb. 13, 1951)
USS Princeton Cruise Book (1950-1952)
USS Toledo Japan photos (1958) - good collection of photos from Kyushu to Hokkaido, many in color
Notes:
From 5th Amphibious Corps Occupation of Japan NOV1945 Part 1:P. 282 quotes re how everything
went smoothly
Images of 409~411 - Naval District units, personnel, strengths
Images of 420~421 - Fortress & NAS weapons, etc. found
"Civilian population has been acquiescent and docile with little expression of emotion or show of interest. There has been no evidence of unrest and no political trends have been noted." -- G-2 Periodic Report No. 1, Sept. 22, 1945
p420 - Sept. 23, 1945 - "Military authorities have complied in every respect with all prescribed requirements and have cooperated to the fullest extent without making any attempt at evasion or violation of Allied terms. There have been no known acts of violence or destruction of arms and equipment."
Images of 422~423 - Sasebo conditions (from G-2 Periodic Report No. 1, Sept. 22, 1945)
p. 428 - Map of "Coastal Defense and Anti-Aircraft Positions"
424, 425 - Military leaders and units, asst. info; Girls School used as combined HQ; Pre-Occup org of Sasebo Navy
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"Pre-Occupation Organization of Japanese Naval Units in the SASEBO Naval District. According to Japanese representatives, the defense of the SASEBO area was an entirely naval affair. All forces in the area were under command of Vice Admiral ABE. The principal units were as follows:
p433 - Destruction of documents by Japanese prior to our landings:
429 - Inventories of asst. arms, etc. found
431 - Military Police org
435 - Secret & civic orgs
436 - POW camp in Emukae
439~ - Ainoura Naval barracks and local strengths
440 - Heavy Artillery unit history
p436 - "Vice President of the SHINWA BANK (SASEBO), MAKI, Kenichi, states that in his opinion the occupation has been running very smoothly, that the Japanese people have noticed this fact, and that they are more than willing to cooperate with the occupation forces.
"It is reported that the Japanese people in SASEBO would like to talk freely but that they still fear the Japanese government since no official word as to the attitude of that government toward freedom of speech has been received in this area."
p444 - General trend in newspapers (Nishinippon, Nagasaki and Mainichi) "indicate favorable Japanese impression of behavior of American troops in the NAGASAKI-SASEBO areas. The papers also indicate appreciation of the humanitarian efforts of American doctors in the NAGASAKI area." No doubt the doctors were busily engaged in treating A-bomb victims.
p449 - Sept. 27, 1945 "Editorials in local newspapers continue to ask for public cooperation with the occupation forces, and suggest that future Japanese governmental policy be based upon constitutional law giving power to the people instead of to the army and navy. They have also emphasized that the civilian population has been particularly impressed by our mechanized power and now understand the part it played in the defeat of Japan."
Images of 409~411 - Naval District units, personnel, strengths
Images of 420~421 - Fortress & NAS weapons, etc. found
"Civilian population has been acquiescent and docile with little expression of emotion or show of interest. There has been no evidence of unrest and no political trends have been noted." -- G-2 Periodic Report No. 1, Sept. 22, 1945
p420 - Sept. 23, 1945 - "Military authorities have complied in every respect with all prescribed requirements and have cooperated to the fullest extent without making any attempt at evasion or violation of Allied terms. There have been no known acts of violence or destruction of arms and equipment."
Images of 422~423 - Sasebo conditions (from G-2 Periodic Report No. 1, Sept. 22, 1945)
p. 428 - Map of "Coastal Defense and Anti-Aircraft Positions"
424, 425 - Military leaders and units, asst. info; Girls School used as combined HQ; Pre-Occup org of Sasebo Navy
"The bulk of the enemy's forces
in the SASEBO area both before the end
of the war and at the present time are naval. None of the
pre-occupation naval forces remain in existance as organized units.
Currenlty the naval troops are organized into three temporary groups:
Security police (HOANTAI), Service and Shipping. The first group are
acting as guards on all naval installations. The second group are
provisioning the HOANTAI. The third group is being detained near
KAWATANA as potential crews for shipping removed from SASEBO Harbor to
OMURA Bay. All naval ground personnel in the SASEBO area are under the
direct command of Vice Admiral ABE, Koso.
"Within the 10-mile restricted zone are a total of 736, about half of whom are guards and the remainder service personnel. Vice Admiral SUGIYAMA, Rokuzo and VIce Admiral ABE have established a small combined headquarters in the Girl's School in SASEBO for liaison and demobilization purposes. Also within the 10-mile restricted zone are 25 guard and liaison personnel from 951st Naval Air Group, 14 similar Army personnel under command of 1st Lt. SUGIMOTO, Masajiro from the SASEBO Heavy Artillery Regiment Replacement Unit are stationed in the barracks of the original two companies moved to KOKURA on 17 September. A small MP detachment commanded by Sgt. YOSHINAGA, Seisaburo remains in SASEBO with branches at AINOURA, HARIOSHIMA, YOSHIE, and HAKATA -- all small localities in the SASEBO area. The bulk of the original SASEBO MP Unit have moved to KOKURA."
"Within the 10-mile restricted zone are a total of 736, about half of whom are guards and the remainder service personnel. Vice Admiral SUGIYAMA, Rokuzo and VIce Admiral ABE have established a small combined headquarters in the Girl's School in SASEBO for liaison and demobilization purposes. Also within the 10-mile restricted zone are 25 guard and liaison personnel from 951st Naval Air Group, 14 similar Army personnel under command of 1st Lt. SUGIMOTO, Masajiro from the SASEBO Heavy Artillery Regiment Replacement Unit are stationed in the barracks of the original two companies moved to KOKURA on 17 September. A small MP detachment commanded by Sgt. YOSHINAGA, Seisaburo remains in SASEBO with branches at AINOURA, HARIOSHIMA, YOSHIE, and HAKATA -- all small localities in the SASEBO area. The bulk of the original SASEBO MP Unit have moved to KOKURA."
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"Pre-Occupation Organization of Japanese Naval Units in the SASEBO Naval District. According to Japanese representatives, the defense of the SASEBO area was an entirely naval affair. All forces in the area were under command of Vice Admiral ABE. The principal units were as follows:
SASEBO HOBITAI (Defense Unit):
Duties were mine laying and mine
sweeping.
SASEBO Combined SMLF: An infantry force of 20,000 deployed within a 15-mile radius of SASEBO. Subordinate units were the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th SMLF's.
SASEBO area AA Defense Unit (CHIKIN HOKUTAI): Manned all AA guns in the SASEBO area. Strength about 5,000.
SASEBO Naval Guard Force: Manned CD guns in the SASEBO area. Unit was organized into "barracks" located at SASEBO, AINOURA, HARIO and KAWATANA. Unit was commanded by Captain YAMADA.
Details of Suicide Boat Units have been reported to the 5th Amphibious Force and will not be covered in this report."
Sept. 23, 1945 - 100 suicide boats were found in the SASEBO area....
[See report: USNTMJ Ship and Related Targets, Japanese Suicide Craft 1946-01-15]
SASEBO Combined SMLF: An infantry force of 20,000 deployed within a 15-mile radius of SASEBO. Subordinate units were the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th SMLF's.
SASEBO area AA Defense Unit (CHIKIN HOKUTAI): Manned all AA guns in the SASEBO area. Strength about 5,000.
SASEBO Naval Guard Force: Manned CD guns in the SASEBO area. Unit was organized into "barracks" located at SASEBO, AINOURA, HARIO and KAWATANA. Unit was commanded by Captain YAMADA.
Details of Suicide Boat Units have been reported to the 5th Amphibious Force and will not be covered in this report."
Sept. 23, 1945 - 100 suicide boats were found in the SASEBO area....
[See report: USNTMJ Ship and Related Targets, Japanese Suicide Craft 1946-01-15]
p433 - Destruction of documents by Japanese prior to our landings:
Extensive reconnaissance by 5th
MarDiv reveals that careful and virtual
complete destruction of all documents in the SASEBO Aircraft Factory
and NAS was completed sometime prior to our landing.............
Many intelligence targets in Sasebo were placed under investigation. These included:
Naval Air Station and 21st Naval Air Depot
Sasebo Navy Yard and Naval HQ
Sasebo Aircraft factory
Naval District and Personnel Offices
Research Laboratory
Underground command posts (with operable radios)
Sasebo Fortress Artillery Battalion HQ
Naval drafting office
City hall
Railroad station
Post office
Telegraph exchange
Police station
Newspaper offices
Hoko HQ
Underground machine shops
Radar and repair installations
Assembly plants buildings (with 90 planes in production)
Many intelligence targets in Sasebo were placed under investigation. These included:
Naval Air Station and 21st Naval Air Depot
Sasebo Navy Yard and Naval HQ
Sasebo Aircraft factory
Naval District and Personnel Offices
Research Laboratory
Underground command posts (with operable radios)
Sasebo Fortress Artillery Battalion HQ
Naval drafting office
City hall
Railroad station
Post office
Telegraph exchange
Police station
Newspaper offices
Hoko HQ
Underground machine shops
Radar and repair installations
Assembly plants buildings (with 90 planes in production)
429 - Inventories of asst. arms, etc. found
431 - Military Police org
435 - Secret & civic orgs
436 - POW camp in Emukae
439~ - Ainoura Naval barracks and local strengths
440 - Heavy Artillery unit history
p436 - "Vice President of the SHINWA BANK (SASEBO), MAKI, Kenichi, states that in his opinion the occupation has been running very smoothly, that the Japanese people have noticed this fact, and that they are more than willing to cooperate with the occupation forces.
"It is reported that the Japanese people in SASEBO would like to talk freely but that they still fear the Japanese government since no official word as to the attitude of that government toward freedom of speech has been received in this area."
p444 - General trend in newspapers (Nishinippon, Nagasaki and Mainichi) "indicate favorable Japanese impression of behavior of American troops in the NAGASAKI-SASEBO areas. The papers also indicate appreciation of the humanitarian efforts of American doctors in the NAGASAKI area." No doubt the doctors were busily engaged in treating A-bomb victims.
p449 - Sept. 27, 1945 "Editorials in local newspapers continue to ask for public cooperation with the occupation forces, and suggest that future Japanese governmental policy be based upon constitutional law giving power to the people instead of to the army and navy. They have also emphasized that the civilian population has been particularly impressed by our mechanized power and now understand the part it played in the defeat of Japan."
SEE THE FOLLOWING PDF FOR EXCERPTS FROM THE REPORT:
Bookmarks for original archival documents: PART 1 -- PART 2
See also SECURING THE SURRENDER: Marines in the Occupation of Japan (Sasebo-Nagasaki Landings) by Charles R. Smith