Japan Speaking Tour #10 – Hiroshima Memorial to American POWs
By Pat Elder
August 21, 2024
The plaque here says, “The atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 devastated the city and its people with a force beyond any known before. U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy airmen interned as POWs at the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters which was located at this site, near the epicenter, were among the victims of this holocaust. This plaque is placed in the memory of these brave and honorable men. May this humble memorial be a perpetual reminder of the savagery of war.”
We spent much of the day laying flowers at various locations in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. We ventured several blocks outside of the park to honor 12 American POWs who were being held at a prison near the epicenter.
The men who died
Radio Operator of the B-24 “Lonesome Lady” which took off from Yontan Airfield, Okinawa on 28 July 1945 on a bombing mission against the Japanese battleship Haruna anchored in Kure Harbor by Hiroshima. After dropping their bombs, the plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire and went into a vertical dive, crashing in a field near the town of Ikachi. The entire crew was able to bail out. Hugh was taken prisoner by the Japanese, and was held at the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters in the center of Hiroshima. He was killed on 6 August 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima
From Sebring, Ohio, lower gunner of the B-24 bomber "Taola" which took off from Yontan Airfield, Okinawa on 28 July 1945 on a bombing mission against the Japanese battleship Haruna anchored in Kure Harbor by Hiroshima. After dropping their bombs, the plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire and went into a vertical dive and crashed. Baumgartner was taken prisoner by the Japanese, and was held at the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters in the center of Hiroshima. He was killed on 6 August 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Standing fourth from left in picture.
Born 10 May 1926 in Lowell, MA. Gunner of a Helldiver which took off from the USS Ticonderoga on 28 July 1945 on a mission to attack the Japanese cruiser Tone anchored near Kure. Hit by anti-aircraft fire over target, the plane ditched near Hiroshima. Brissette was taken prisoner by the Japanese, and was held at the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters in the center of Hiroshima. He was near the epicenter on 6 August 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. He died on 19 August of radiation poisoning. His remains were never recovered.
Joseph E. Dubinsky
Born in Washington, Pennsylvania. Pilot of the B-24 bomber "Taola" which took off from Yontan Airfield, Okinawa on 28 July 1945 on a bombing mission against the Japanese battleship Haruna anchored in Kure Harbor by Hiroshima. After dropping their bombs, the plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire and went into a vertical dive and crashed. Dubinsky was taken prisoner by the Japanese, and was held at the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters in the center of Hiroshima. He was killed on 6 August 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.
From Abilena, Texas. Engineer of the B-24 “Lonesome Lady” which took off from Yontan Airfield, Okinawa on 28 July 1945 on a bombing mission against the Japanese battleship Haruna anchored in Kure Harbor by Hiroshima. After dropping their bombs, the plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire and went into a vertical dive, crashing in a field near the town of Ikachi. The entire crew was able to bail out. Ellison was taken prisoner by the Japanese, and was held at the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters in the center of Hiroshima. He was killed on 6 August 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.
A US Navy pilot shot down over the Seto Inland Sea off Yamaguchi Prefecture on July 25, 1945. Neal was taken prisoner by the Japanese, and was held at the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters in the center of Hiroshima. He was killed on 6 August 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima
Born 3 February 1918. From New Castle, PA, married Luella Long in 1942. Nose Turret Gunner of the B-24 “Lonesome Lady” which took off from Yontan Airfield, Okinawa on 28 July 1945 on a bombing mission against the Japanese battleship Haruna anchored in Kure Harbor by Hiroshima. After dropping their bombs, the plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire and went into a vertical dive, crashing in a field near the town of Ikachi. The entire crew was able to bail out. Long was taken prisoner by the Japanese, and was held at the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters in the center of Hiroshima. He was killed on 6 August 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima
Born March 18, 1923. From Huntington, Arkansas, the son of Walter and Bertha Looper, the brother of W.D. Looper, Sr., Walter Looper, Jr., and Charles Looper.. Co-pilot of the B-24 “Lonesome Lady” which took off from Yontan Airfield, Okinawa on 28 July 1945 on a bombing mission against the Japanese battleship Haruna anchored in Kure Harbor by Hiroshima. After dropping their bombs, the plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire and went into a vertical dive, crashing in a field near the town of Ikachi. The entire crew was able to bail out. Looper was taken prisoner by the Japanese, and was held at the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters in the center of Hiroshima. He was killed on 6 August 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima
Julius Molnar
From Kalamazoo, Michigan, Tailgunner of the B-24 bomber "Taola" which took off from Yontan Airfield, Okinawa on 28 July 1945 on a bombing mission against the Japanese battleship Haruna anchored in Kure Harbor by Hiroshima. After dropping their bombs, the plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire and went into a vertical dive and crashed. Molnar was taken prisoner by the Japanese, and was held at the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters in the center of Hiroshima. He was killed on 6 August 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.
Ball Turret Gunner of the B-24 “Lonesome Lady” which took off from Yontan Airfield, Okinawa on 28 July 1945 on a bombing mission against the Japanese battleship Haruna anchored in Kure Harbor by Hiroshima. After dropping their bombs, the plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire and went into a vertical dive, crashing in a field near the town of Ikachi. The entire crew was able to bail out. Neal was taken prisoner by the Japanese, and was held at the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters in the center of Hiroshima. He was near the epicenter on 6 August 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. He survived the initial blast and died days later from the radiation poisoning
From Butler, Pennsylvania, pilot of a Helldiver which took off from the USS Ticonderoga on 28 July 1945 on a mission to attack Kure. Hit by anti-aircraft fire over target, the plane ditched near Hiroshima. Porter was taken prisoner by the Japanese, and was held at the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters in the center of Hiroshima. He was killed on 6 August 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima
From Binghamton, NY. Bombardier of the B-24 “Lonesome Lady” which took off from Yontan Airfield, Okinawa on 28 July 1945 on a bombing mission against the Japanese battleship Haruna anchored in Kure Harbor by Hiroshima. After dropping their bombs, the plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire and went into a vertical dive, crashing in a field near the town of Ikachi. The entire crew was able to bail out. Ryan was taken prisoner by the Japanese, and was held at the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters in the center of Hiroshima. He was killed on 6 August 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.
The Battleship Haruna (shown here) was sunk at
Kure Naval Base in Hiroshima U.S. by aircraft on July 28, 1945.
The Japanese Cruiser Tone was also sunk on July 28, 1945.
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