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Source: RG 331 Box 943-
Rabaul documents & cannibalism- Mansell NARA #7; IMG_0008
Subject: Men moved from 6th
Kempei Tai to Tunnel Hill 2 Mar 1944 and other details; Correct
names of executed men [in red]
have been determined by the Center For Research, Roger Mansell,
Director
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ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY
In reply please quote No. 5180
Heindorff House
Queen Street
BRISBANE
18th September, 1945.
From: Supervising Intelligence Officer, North Eastern Area.
To: Deputy Controller, Allied Intelligence Bureau
Subject: Information concerning U.S. Army personnel captured
at Rabaul.
1. Information has been received, from Lieut. Commander H.A.
Mackenzie, R.A.N.[Royal Australian Navy] , who is at present
at Rabaul, that the following U.S. Airmen were captured by the
Japanese and taken to Rabaul and interned in Military Camp there
until A.M. 8th October, 1942.
Pilot MAISEY (or Massey) of Chicago [and] Bdr. KING, home not
known:
Survivors from B-17 which crashed at Wide Bay, south coast of
New Britain 24 May 1942.
Massie, Harold L., 1st Lt, O&421276,
22nd Bomb Group (H) 408th Bomb Squadron; Pilot, Silver Star
King, Arthur C., 1st Lt, O&432982, 22nd Bomb Group (H) 408th
Bomb Squadron; Bombadier, Silver Star
Capt. PEACE of New England and Photographer CHIKOWSKY of Chicago:
Baled out of a B-17 near KABAKUAL, near Rabaul. Aircraft crashed
near KOKOPO, Rabaul.
Pease,
Harl Jr., Captain, O&395206, 19th Bomb Group (H) 93rd Bomb
Squadron, Medal
of Honor 7 Aug 1942, DFC with Oak Leaf
[picture]
Czechowski, Chester M., Sgt., 6915712,19th Bomb Group (H) 93rd
Bomb Squadron, DFC
2. MAISEY (or MASSEY), KING, PEACE, AND CHIKOWSKY, together with
two Australian P.O.W. [unknown at present] were removed from
the Military Prison on the morning of the 8th October 1942 ostensibly
to work on the new air strip (location of strip not stated.)
Some of their clothing was returned to the prison that night.
As these six men were never seen again by the remainder of the
prisoners they considered that the six had been executed P.M.
8th October 1942.
3. Of the remainder of the crew of the B-17 which crashed
at Wide Bay on 24th May 1942, four are believed to have escaped
to New Guinea and two to have been killed in the aircraft.
The remainder of the crew of Captain PEACE's aircraft were killed
when the aircraft crashed. These men were buried behind the copra
drying kiln at MAKURAPAU plantation (near Rabaul) by Father OBEREITER,
a missionary at Kakakaul.
4. The above report is graded B2
/S/ J.C. McManus
Commander, R.A.N.
Supervising Intelligence Officer
NORTH EASTERN AREA
Certified a true copy:
/S/ C.A. McVITTIE,
Lt Colonel, CE
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Note:
President Franklin D. Roosevelt awarded Pease the Medal Of Honor
in December, 1942. No one knew he had been captured and executed
by the Japanese.
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