Fake US photo of Japanese collaborator?

[Peter H]

This is a typical example of an American forgery circa 1945 outside the subject topic of this discussion but fairly typical of what could be done courtesy of Walt Disney assisting the war effort.

Now whether one was cullable enough to believe that a Japanese POW would assist in bombing his own people,or that the USAAF would trust him further is another matter.


http://members.tripod.com/~ButlerC/USMC ... FLA116.jpg

[David Thompson]

Moulded -- I've seen the photograph of the Japanese officer and the B-25 and Corsair formation before, but this is the first time I've heard that there was something fake about it. Where did you get that information?

[HaEn]

IF this man in the picture was a japanese officer, collaborating with the U.s. he would NOT have been wearing his Nippon headgear anymore. The custome at the time was to dress collaborating enemies in unmarked U.S. Army uniforms. I just have the feeling that this is one of the many propaganda picture fabricated right here in the U.S. HN

[Xavier]

HaEn

exactly, that is the point of the photo. is a fake, but it serves it purpose: a fake japanese leading american bombers.

We are seeing the photo(s) from another point in time, another perspective, from a logical point of view I may say, but for the people then it was as real as day and night.

best regards

Xavier
the link scrounger

[Peter H]

Moulded -- I've seen the photograph of the Japanese officer and the B-25 and Corsair formation before, but this is the first time I've heard that there was something fake about it. Where did you get that information?

David,
I know a US Marine veteran,who was based in Australia,and have discussed this pic with him---he recalls seeing this pic during or after the war and mentioned,that at least among the serving armed forces members,no-one believed it was legit.In my opinion the background aircraft have been superimposed onto the photo,and not the other way around.

Regards,
Moulded

Back on topic even the 'revisionist' historian David Irving does not deny the magnitude of the Einsatzgruppen crimes.

[ChristopherPerrien]

How could you not tell that picture is fake?, look at the lighting and shadows all wrong. And the focus of near and far objects is too good.
I would say that the Japanese was pasted into a B-25 Window picture.

[Juha Hujanen]

That pic of Japanese officer is also in Toinen Maailmansota Kuvin 1944-1948 book.

The caption goes:Japanese Flying Liutenant Minora Wada was captured in battle of Mindanao.In this picture he is in cockpit of US Navy plane and he gives advices to flight,which mission is to bomb Japanese HQ in Mindanao.Thanks to Japanese Liutenant bombs hit to right target

I've always been puzzled by that pic.If its fake,its explains a lot.

Regards/Juha

[David Thompson]

I take it from the responses above that this photograph is suspect, but no one has actually admitted to faking it.

[ChristopherPerrien]

I might have an explanation for the photo in a couple weeks. I think I might have a book that mentions this particular picture and has the two original photos and how they were "spliced".

If I do or don't, I know I have one rather expensive book on "Propaganda"
and the methods of the same, that is really amazing, I will at least post that, Great book, full color photos, Great price too (+$50) about 10 years ago. I think at the time it was the most expensive book I ever bought, besides highly inflated college textbooks.

[redcoat]

I doubt if a faked photo comes under the heading 'Holocaust & Warcrimes' but never mind, because I've found another fake photo, or is it ????

[Rob - wssob2]

This is a typical example of an American forgery circa 1945 outside the subject topic of this discussion but fairly typical of what could be done courtesy of Walt Disney assisting the war effort.

No it's not. You suspect that it's a forgery, but you haven't offered any hard data to support your thesis.

Now whether one was cullable enough to believe that a Japanese POW would assist in bombing his own people

Are you implying that Japanese are somehow impervious to collaboration or treason?

BTW this photo is reproduced on page 161 of the Time-Life WWII series book Return to the Philippines with a caption that reads in part "...Wada agreed to betray his comrades because they already judged him a traitor for not fighting to the death."

That sounds legitimate to me, having read about WWII Bushido code and how the Japanese military considered capture the absolutely most shameful, disgraceful event possible to happen to a member of the military.

In addition, on page 66 of The Road to Tokyo - a companion volume in the Time-Life WWII series - there's a photograph of a Japanese POW pointing out on a map of Iwo Jima the Japanese defensive positions to several US Marine officers and an interpreter. The photo is the last image in a sequence of 4 photos which document the prisoners capture. The copyright owner of the images is Lou Lowery.

So I for one would believe that upon occasion, Japanese PW soldiers and sailors would commit treason or collaborate with their captors.

or that the USAAF would trust him further is another matter

Please take a look at the bottom of the scan you posted:

"CAPTURED JAP OFFICER DIRECTS MARINES TO TARGET MARINE CORPS PHOTO 18-17"

These aren't USAAF planes. These are Marine Corps B-25s and Corsairs. BTW the picture credit in the Time-Life book is attributed to the USMC courtesy of UPI.

Paying attention to details is key for good historical research.

I know a US Marine veteran,who was based in Australia,and have discussed this pic with him---he recalls seeing this pic during or after the war and mentioned,that at least among the serving armed forces members,no-one believed it was legit.

This isn't evidence. It's speculation. My hippie brother is convinced Jim Morrison is still alive. Does this make it true? Unlikely, for as Doors bandmate Ray Manzarek points out, Jim hasn't called the band accountant lately.

Haen's the only one who has offered a sensible observation - that it would be extremely unlikely for a Japanese PW collaborator to still be wearing his Japanese uniform while on a US bomber.

If anyone's interested in learning more about this photo, I would suggest researching the Feb-June 1945 campaign in Mindanao, specifically looking for what (possibly Marine) air units participated in the campaign & when did these air units bomb the Japanese HQ on the island.

Here's a lead - an operation history of the 494th Bomb Group - including an overview of the Mindanao bombing campaign

http://home.att.net/~kelleys_kobras/494 ... ritten.htm

I would also like to point out that there a photo can be staged or retouched to reflect an actual event. So another thesis to consider (for all the folks who complain about the lighting and focus) is that this might be a "fake" picture of a real event.

-- Rob

[Peter H]

The authenticity of the photo will be clarified once Chris checks out the book he has.

Otherwise attempts to equate the dazzed actions of a half-buried Japanese soldier on Iwo Jima,with the cold,calculating act of bombing your own countrymen are difficult to equate.Why fly the guy on the bombing mission anyway if air recce,mapping,spotting(all an American speciality in 1945) were available.At worst a forgery,at best a publicity stunt.

Relying on the historical accuracy of Time-Life is not a sure thing.Isn't it surprising that not one of its readers have challenged the authenticity of the photo since its publication in 1979?

PS Thanks for equating the recollections of a distinguished WW2 veteran with a doped up Hippie.

[Rob - wssob2]

I've found additional information on the photo which I wanted to share:

The incident, along with two photos of Lt. Wada in the plane (one which is repoduced above) is mentioned on pp.62-63 of the book PBJ Mitchell Units of the Pacific War (Jerry Scutts, Osprey Publishing, 2003)

Here's the text:

Japanese Assistance

An incident that has passed into Marine close air support lore involved a mission flown by 2Lt. Minoru Wada. The opportunity of carrying a Japanese soldier in the waist of a PBJ as he guided American bombers and fighters in to obiterate his own headquarters seemed a US public relations dream. Wada duly climbed aboard one of VMB-611's PBJ-1Js on 10 August, and he did indeed call out coordinates to the formation, which probably bombed accurately enough to kill Gen. Harada, who still led the Imperial Japanese Army's tough 100th Division. His HQ was a primary target for that particular PBJ mission to the Upian area of Mindanao.

Wada had been born in the US and was a student in Japan when war was declared. Trapped by circumstances, he had no choice but to accept the Army draft. However, you don't (as the saying goes) have to like it, and Wada surrendered to US forces in the Philippines and agreed to help the Marines pin-point Harada's position. He was photographed at the briefing with Marine crews and several times throughout the mission by Lt. David Duncan.

The Americans failed fully to appreciate Wada's action, assuming either that he had harbored burning hatred for his CO, or that he had been punished for some transgression. Understandably, Wada appeared to be experiencing mixed emotions as the Marine bombs fell. The bombing was quite accurate, and the PBJs then went down to rocket and strafe the area, being well-covered by the F4Us of VMF-115.

The caption to photo #1 is as follows:

One of the more bizarre incidents of the war was the voluntary offer by Japanese army officer 2Lt. Minoru Wada to guide VMB-611 PBJs straight to his unit's headquarters on Mindanao, in the Philippines, shortly before Japan surrendered. Approaching the area, this mixed formation of PBJ-1D/Js prepares for bombs away, well covered by their VMF-115 F4U Corsair escort (Agencies/IWM)

The caption to photo #2 is as follows:

1Lt (sic) Wada coordinates the 10 August attack, acting as formation 'lead bombadier'. Using a microphone in the waist position of a PBJ, he passes radio messages to the pilot, and watches, grim-faced, as the bombs go down. The Marine fliers were at a loss to know why he had volunteered to help them in this way (USMC)

The attack itself is mentioned in the VMB-611 commemorative website at
http://www.vmb611.com/history.htm


A period article about the attack (probably from Marine Corps Gazette or similar publication), with extensive, and additional photos is at
http://www.vmb611.com/wada.htm

In summary, the inicident wasn't staged, and the photos aren't faked. Case closed.

[David Thompson]

Thanks, Peter H.

[Rob - wssob2]

What did Peter do, other than make fun of my hippie brother?

(for the record, he doesn't believe Jim Morrison is alive)