USS Thornhill In The Pacific

Rear Adm MASUDA

Conference Room This open air conference room was set up for the debriefing and interrogation of Rear Adm Masuda, commander of the Japanese garrison at Yalut.
Rear Adm Masuda Rear Adm Masuda on the far left, with a Japanese Lieutenant acting as interpreter, and Capt McKeithen of the Thornhill. The Admiral was suspected of war crimes.
Interrogation Lieutenant Evans, Rear Adm Masuda, the Japanese Lieutenant that was acting as interpreter, and a US Army corporal acting as interpreter for Capt McKeithen. The admiral was interrogated as to his part in alleged war crimes. Five US Navy flyers had been captured and exectued at Yalut in early 1944. Questioned on this matter, when Capt McKeithen had left and later returned to the island with an official message demanding all information on this matter, Masuda committed suicide rather than face the American. In a written death message that he left behind, Rear Adm Masuda admitted giving secret orders for the executions, including the beheading of one of the aviators.