Sendai #8B Kosaka POW Camp Formerly Tokyo 10B

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Kosaka- Machi POW Camp- Sendai Command, also known as Sendai #8 Branch Camp. Location: Sendai-08B Kosaka (FUJITA GUMI KOSAKA KOZAN) AKITA-ken, KATSUNO [Kazuno]-gun, KOSAKA-machi Area Map     Exact topo map     Satellite View Timeline: 1 Dec 1944: Camp established as Tokyo-10B (Kosaka) 14 Apr 1945: Jurisdictional control transferred from Tokyo POW Command to Sendai POW Command. Camp redesignated as Sendai-08B (Kosaka). 11 Sep 1945: Rescue effected; Most boarded the hospital ship in Sendai HArbor for transit to Yokohama. Camp Layout Interviews: Location Map

Primary Slave Labor Usage: Mining and smelting of Copper. Men employed by the Fujita-gumi Construction Company. Hell Ships: Based upon manifest located at NARA, RG 407 and analysis by noted researchers Jim Erickson (Texas A&M) and Michael Hurst (MBE)- founder of the Taiwan Memorial Society, many of the men at the camp were aboard the Hokusen Maru to Taiwan. Probably all were taken to Japan aboard the Melbourne Maru in Jan 1945, but it's possible that some of the men made the journey aboard the Enoshima Maru in Feb 1945. Informative Links: Kosaka Today- slide show by son of American POW Aldrich. Dutch POW Petrus Rugers - Excellent story written by grand daughter Oral Interview of Navy pilot Jack Williams- dropped note to camp Camp Rosters at Liberation:  Roster at liberation, Sep 1945 - American, British (8)and Dutch (99) List of deceased at Kosaka Americans (8) No other deaths Japanese Camp Staff: At time of rescue Camp Photographs & Sketches  Aerial Photograph and Liberation Photos Books Describing Life at Kosaka: "The Hero Next Door Returns" by Kristin Gilpatrick     Preview pages on Amazon indicate good description of Kosaka. George Brenzel of the 59th CA is noted in text.