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Operation: Cargo Transport, India
Date: 7th November 1943 (Sunday)
Unit No: 99th Transport Squadron, 29th Transport Group, Air Transport Command
Type: C-46A Commando
Serial No: 41-5171
Code: Unknown
Base: Sookerating, India
Location: Near Myitkyina, Burma (Myanmar)
Pilot: FO. Joseph Edgar Parris DFC, T-185561 AAF Age 24. PoW *
Co-Pilot: 1st Lt. Paul Edward Almand O-494774, AAF Age 28. PoW */DED** /MiA
Navigator: 2nd Lt. James Sharp Johnson O-800125 AAF Age 24. PoW *
Radio Operator: Pfc. William John Flynn 11098872 AAF Age 22. PoW *
Crew Chief: Cpl. Charles Thomas Montagna 32434947 AAF Age 24. PoW *
* Burma #5 (Moulmein & Rangoon Jail)
** DED = Declared dead
Above: Reporting of the death of 1st Lt. Paul E. Almand (Courtesy of The Macon News, dated 27th May 1945)
REASON FOR LOSS:
The aircraft took-off from Sookerating, India on a transport mission to Kunming-Wujiaba in China.
Enroute the aircraft suffered from engine issues and apparent radio failure. All of those aboard baled out somewhere near Myitkyina, Burma (Myanmar) and were capture by the Japanese.
They were all eventually incarcerated at the Burma #5 camp known as the New Law Courts Jail, Rangoon, Burma.
1st Lt. Almand died (Declared dead (DED) on the 31st March 1945) whilst being held as a PoW. A British Military Court convened in Rangoon, Burma between the 6th and 19th June 1946 determined that his death was deemed to be a war crime.
Four (4) members of the Imperial Japanese Army were charged with committing a war crime in that they, at the New Law Courts Jail Annex, Rangoon, Burma, between the 1st March 1944 and 1st May 1945 when members of the Staff of the Jail and were responsible for the well-being of the prisoners in custody there, in violation of the laws and usages of war, were together concerned as parties to the ill-treatment resulting in the deaths of seventeen (17) and other American PoW, and physical suffering to other American PoW in custody at the jail.
The four (4) accused were:
Captain (Rikugun-tai-i) TAZUMI Motozo;
1st Lieutenant (Rikugun-Chūi) ONISHI Akio;
Sergeant Major (Rikugun-Sōchō) UENO Kiyoshi;
Superior Private (Rikugun-Jōtō-Hei) UENO Koigetsu.
Note: the Japanese word Rikugun preceding a rank indicates that it relates to the army.
Capt. TAZUMI was the Commanding Officer (CO) of the Futo Buntai prison, also known as the New Law Courts Jail Annex, from 15th March 1944 until May 1944. Lt. ONISHI was the Medical Officer (MO) at the Jail from the 4th May 1944 to the 15th April 1945.
Sgt Maj. UENO was the Quartermaster in change of purchasing food and drawing rations for the entire personnel for the Jail from March 1944 until the evacuation on or about the 25th April 1945.
Sup Pvt. UENO was a member of the guard at the Jail from the 25th April 1943 to 10th October 1944.
During the period April 1943 to May 1945 approximately one-hundred (100) American PoWs were incarcerated in the Annex where they were kept in confinement under harsh and oppressive regulations without proper or adequate food, covering, sanitation facilities and medical attention. During this time the PoWs were subjected to brutal beatings and maltreatment by members of the staff of the jail and in particular by Sup Pvt. UENO.
The treatment of the PoWs directly contributed the deaths of the following seventeen (17) named Americans, and other PoWs:
Sgt. Norman E. Albinson, Sgt. John E. Leisure, Cpl. Julius F. Yackie, T/Sgt. Charles A. Pittard, S/Sgt. Jack R. Sheets, 1st Lt. Robert D. Drummey, 1st Lt. Burdette C. Goodrich, Capt. Armin J. Ortmeyer Jr., 2nd Lt. Joseph G. Rich, 2nd Lt. Burdette H. Baker, 1st Lt. James M. Grey, S/Sgt. Frank Rodriguez, Capt. Wayne R. Westberg, 2nd Lt. Everitt E. Briggs Jr., 1st Lt. Paul E. Almand, FO. Gene Gambale, Sgt. J. Brown. (No corroborated information for a US airman by this name has been found).
The court found TAZUMI guilty of the charge except in the case of the deaths of the seventeen (17) named Americans and other PoWs.
ONISHI was found guilty of the ill-treatment resulting in the death of 1st Lt. Robert D. Drummey and contributing to the deaths of Sgt. Norman E. Albinson, 1st Lt. Burdette C. Goodrich, Capt. Armin J. Ortmeyer Jr., 2nd Lt. Joseph G. Rich, 2nd Lt. Burdette H. Baker, 1st Lt. James M. Grey, S/Sgt. Frank Rodriguez, 2nd Lt. Everitt E. Briggs Jr., 1st Lt. Paul E. Almand and Sgt. J. Brown.
Sgt Maj. UENO and Sup Pvt. UENO were found guilty of the charge except in the case of the deaths of the seventeen (17) named Americans and other PoWs.
The court sentenced TAZUMI, UENO Kiyoshi and UENO Koigetsu to 7 years, 3 years and 15 years imprisonment respectively.
ONISHI was sentence to death, however, upon review on the 14th March 1947 the sentence of death was commuted to imprisonment for life.
The remains of 1st Lt. Paul E. Almand were recovered on the 5th May 1946 from the Rangoon Cantonment Cemetery by the American Graves Registration Service (AGRS). On the 17th May 1946 their remains were loaded aboard C-47B 43-48308 of the 1304th AAF Base Unit to be transported from Mingaladon in Rangoon to Barrackpore in India. The aircraft failed to arrive at the ETA and despite an extensive air search no trace of any wreckage on land or sea was found and the aircraft, crew, passengers and the remains of this airmen along with another thirty-seven (37) are still missing to this day.
Burial Details
Above: 1st Lt. Paul E. Almand, Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)
1st Lt. Paul Edward Almand. Purple Heart (PH). Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery. Born on the 9th April 1915 in Conyers, Georgia. Son of Grover Cleveland and Flora D. Almand of Macon, Georgia, USA.
Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to this crew and their families (Jan 2025).
Other sources listed below:
RS 17.01.2025 - Initial Upload
RS 17.01.2025 - Initial Upload
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