| Fukuoka
#25 Omuta Kohama-cho, Shinkai-machi |
| Fuk-25B-Shinkai (DENKI KAGAKU KOGYO OMUTA KOJO) FUKUOKA-ken, OMUTA-shi, SHINKAI-machi General Map - located on bay east of Nagasaki Satellite - precise location, now site of Denki Kagaku Dormitory Timeline: (Source: Wilkie Diary) 31 Sep 1944: Established with 289 men; 11 of the Wilkes party were left at Moji Hospital 06 Jun 1945: Two Medical Officers (1-Yank; 1 Brit) arrive; also one American enlisted man 30 Jun 1944: 100 men arrive from Fukuoka-06D-Tanoura includes 2 officers 01 Nov 1944: Six men arrive ex Moji Hospital; camp now has 291 men. 16 Jan 1945: Five more men arrive from Moji Hosp; camp total now 296 03 Mar 1945: Four men badly burned in furnace "blowout" at factory: Johnson, A.; Laity, T; Lawrence, A.S.; Fenn, G. 27 Jul 1945: Major fire bombing raid- camp saved by POWs 17 Aug 1945: Informed war is over 21 Aug 1945: Announcement war has ended. 28 Aug 1945: first food drops 04 Sep 1945: British & American Flags raised 16 Sep 1945: POWs depart by train for Omuta Note: All of the original 289 men at camp opening were survivors of the Kachidoki and Rakuyo hellship sinkings. The secound large group (approx) 100 were from Fukuoka #5 Tanoura. Photos: FUK-25_Omuta_aerial_1947-11-01_camp_location Original blueprints: IMG_2006_FUK-25_camp_plans IMG_2007_FUK-25_camp_plans IMG_2032_FUK-25_camp_plans_side_views Strategic Bombing Survey data: Targets_Omuta_Page23 Targets_Omuta_Page24 Targets_Omuta_Page70 Targets_Omuta_Page74 Targets_Omuta_Page100 Guards - Fukuda, Shioyazono, Shieiri, Kawai, Saruwatari: FUK-25_Guards (PDF) |
Labor: Slave laborers at a carbide mfg plant. Roster: British (Original roster) Americans: One officer (Dr) Capt William R. Brenner and one enlisted man, Gilbert Cotner. (Original roster) Deaths: (4) All British 9 Oct 44: Lae, Ronald Percy, Gnr, 1115278, 88th Field Regt; died of injuries received at sea, exposure and malnutrition. Diaries: Diary of British Captain Wilkie is now transcribed and on the British Imperial War Museum web site. A MUST read to understand this camp. Memoir of Cpl Alastair K Uruquart, Gordon Highlanders. Excellent description of battles in Malay, survival from sinking of Kachidoki Maru and camp life. Newspaper coverage of his visit to San Francisco to see the USS Pampanito, the sub that sank the hellship. |
