Sakurajima
Osaka 4-D Formerly Osaka-08 B
Hitachi Zozen -Men later sent to Akenobe

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Osaka 8-B SAKURAJIMA
OSAKA-shi, KONCHANA-ku, TAKAMI-machi
(HITACHI ZOSEN)
Timeline:
20 Jan 1943: Established as SAKURAJIMA Branch Camp; 200 mixed British and Americans arrive 23 Jan
18 Feb 1943: Renamed Osaka 8-B
25 Jul 1944: McGee and Wharton escape camp
26 Jul 1944: POWs recaptured and Executed
1 Oct 1943: Renamed 4-D
10 Oct 1943: 98 additional Americans and 42 British (ex Hong Kong) arrive.
17 May 1945: Camp destroyed in air raid; POWs transferred to 21-B AKENOBE (Osaka 6-B)
Descriptions courtesy of Wes Injerd


All POWS Sent to:
Osaka 6-B AKENOBE [Copper Mine]
(MITSUBISHI KOGYO)
HYOGO-ken, YOFU-gun, MINAMI TANI-mura
15 May 1945: Established as 21-B
Aug 1945: Renamed Osaka 6-B
5 Sep 1945: Rescue effected

Morita Report:
Eighth Camp- Sakurajima Camp
Location: Osaka City
History: Camp was established 20 Jan 1943. On 23 January 1943, the first POW’s arrived, 200 Americans (?) From Hong Kong. On 5 October 1943, 100 Americans arrived from the Philippines. The camp was destroyed in a bombing raid. On 17 May 1945, all prisoners were transferred to the Akenobe Camp and on 18 May 1945, the camp was officially closed.

Camp Commanders:
(a) 20 Jan 1943 - 11 Oct 1943: 2nd Lt Masatochi Yamada
(b) 11 Oct 1943 - April 1944 (exact date unknown): Staff Sgt Shuntaro Habe
(c) April 1944 - 10 Jun 1944: 1st Lt Akeo Fujimori
(d) 10 Jun 1944 - February 1945: 1st Lt Sai Yamashita
(e) Feb 1945 - 18 May 1945: 2nd Lt Yoshi Nakamishi

Jap Staff: NARA RG 331- additional names of staff. Not all clearly identified.

 

 Labor:
Shipfitters and laborers, Osaka Iron Works.
Morita Report: [Old Japanese names]
At Hidachi Zosen Sakurajima Zonsenjo (Sakurajima Shipyard and Hida Shipping Company). Address 17 Minamino-cho, Sakurajima, Konohara ku, Osaka City
The POWs helped build ships and manufacture machines. The work supervision was set up the same as at all the other camps.
Morita Report: Post war summary of camp
SCAP Report: Details the conditions post Sakurajima

Hell Ships:
Canadians & British arrived from Hong Kong on the Tatsuta Maru, arrived at Moji 22 Jan 1943. Australians came up on Kyokku Maru. At least 100 [actual 200] Americans arrived on Coral Maru also known as Tagu Maru -departed Manila 20 Sep 1943, a 70 day voyage with 15 deaths en route. Some British were already there upon arrival of Americans. Status unknown at this time.
Men of Coral Maru known to have been delivered to Hirohata, Niigata and Sukurajima.
Deceased POWS
Recreated roster of DECEASED based upon names supplied by Jeff Russell, The POW Research Network and cross checked the National Archives and with Tony Banham's Hong Kong web site

Executed for attempted escape:
Mc Gee, Thomas Lowell,PFC,290276,MAR,4th H, Executed for escaping 44.07.26
Wharton Herbert Russell,CPL,264072,MAR,4th I, Executed for escaping 44.07.26

Rosters:
No complete roster known to have survived. Recreated roster courtesy of Jeff Russell, nephew of POW Conrad Russell. Roster completion pending
All survivors transferred to Akenobe.
Known to have been in this camp:
Russell, Conrad, PFC, USMC 4th H
Wofford, Ira L. "Luke", S1c,USN, Canopus
Lewis, Claude R., PFC, USMC 4th