JAPAN had Atomic Bomb AND Helicopters in World War II

[Ocklawaha]

Though this started on another thread, one I posted for hikers warning them of Balloon Bombs of which 100's or even 1,000's are unaccounted for. Somehow the thread got hijacked into a discussion of WWII tech, and what Japan did and didn't have.

I made the statement that there is strong evidence that 3 days before the surrender, Japan tested their own successful atomic bomb in Korea... Right away, the history lovers who found the thread wanted to know my sources. So here is a reprint of that story:

1946 Atlanta Constitution Atom Bomb Articles


Reporter David Snell
   David Snell, author of the story of Japan's successful atomic bomb test, was a member of the Constitution's reportorial staff when he joined the Army in 1945.

Snell, a native of Minden, LA, was in charge of the Constitution's News Bureau at Marietta immediately before entering the Army, having served for a while on the city staff in Atlanta.

During his Army service, Snell filed a number of stories to the Constitution both while in training in the United States and after arriving with the occupation forces in Korea. One of his stories in Korea was an interview with Bishop Arthur J. Moore, of Atlanta, who visited China, Japan, and Korea representing the American's Bishops's Association to survey church conditions preparatory to the return of missionaries.

In Korea, Snell was assigned to the 24th Criminal Investigation Detachment checking on crimes against the Unites States. His discovery of the atom bomb story was not in his official line of duty and was not a part of his official assignment.

While with the Constitution, Snell lived at Marietta. His wife is the former Julia Williams of Augusta, Ark. Their one son, Barry, was born while they resided in Marietta.



Japan Developed Atom Bomb;

Russia Grabbed Scientists

Copyright 1946 by the Atlanta Constitution and David Snell.


Actual Test Was Success

Japan developed and successfully tested an atomic bomb three days prior to the end of the war.

She destroyed unfinished atomic bombs, secret papers and her atomic bomb plans only hours before the advance units of the Russian Army moved into Konan, Korea, site of the project.

Japanese scientists who developed the bomb are now in Moscow, prisoners of the Russians. They were tortured by their captors seeking atomic "know-how."

The Konan area is under rigid Russian control. They permit no American to visit the area. Once, even after the war, an American B-29 Superfortress en route to Konan was shot down by four Russian Yak fighters from nearby Hammung Airfield.

I learned this information from a Japanese officer, who said he was in charge of counter intelligence at the Konan project before the fall of Japan. He gave names, dates, facts and figures on the Japanese atomic project, which I submitted to United States Army Intelligence in Seoul. The War Department is withholding much of the information. To protect the man that told me this story, and at the request of the Army, he is here given a pseudonym, Capt. Tsetusuo Wakabayashi.

The story may throw light on Stalin's recent statement that America will not long have a monopoly on atomic weapons. Possibly also helps explains the stand taken by Henry A. Wallace. Perhaps also, it will help explain the heretofore unaccountable stalling of the Japanese in accepting our surrender terms as the Allies agreed to allow Hirohito to continue as puppet emperor. And perhaps it will throw light new light on the shooting down by the Russians of our B-29 on Aug. 29, 1945, in the Konan area.

When told this story, I was an agent with the Twenty-Fourth Criminal Investigation Department, operating in Korea. I was able to interview Capt. Wakabayashi, not as an investigator or as a member of the armed forces, but as a newspaperman. He was advised and understood thoroughly, that he was speaking for publication.

He was in Seoul, en route to Japan as a repatriate. The interview took place in a former Shinto temple on a mount overlooking Korea's capital city. The shrine had been converted into an hotel for transient Japanese en route to their homeland.

Since V-J Day wisps of information have drifted into the hands of U.S. Army Intelligence of the existence of a gigantic and mystery-shrouded industrial project operated during the closing months of the war in a mountain vastness near the Northern Korean coastal city of Konan. It was near here that Japan's uranium supply was said to exist.

This, the most complete account of activities at Konan to reach American ears, is believed to be the first time Japanese silence has been broken on the subject.

In a cave in a mountain near Konan, men worked against time, in final assembly of genzai bakuden, Japan's name for the atomic bomb. It was August 10, 1945 (Japanese time), only four days after an atomic bomb flashed in the sky over Hiroshima, and five days before Japan surrendered.

To the north, Russian hordes were spilling into Manchuria.

Shortly after midnight of that day a convey of Japanese trucks moved from the mouth of the cave, past watchful sentries. The trucks wound through valleys, past sleeping farm villages. It was August, and frogs in the mud of terraced rice paddies sang in a still night. In the cool predawn Japanese scientists and engineers loaded genzai bakudan aboard a ship in Konan.

Off the coast near an inlet in the Sea of Japan more frantic preparations were under way. All that day and night ancient ships, junks and fishing vessels moved into the anchorage.

Before dawn on Aug. 12 a robot launch chugged through the ships at anchor and beached itself on the inlet. Its passenger was genzai bakudan. A clock ticked.

The observers were 20 miles away. This waiting was difficult and strange to men who had worked relentlessly so long who knew their job had been completed too late.

OBSERVORS BLINDED BY FLASH

The light in the east where Japan lay grew brighter. The moment the sun peeped over the sea there was a burst of light at the anchorage blinding the observers who wore welders' glasses. The ball of fire was estimated to be 1,000 yards in diameter. A multicolored cloud of vapors boiled toward the heavens then mushroomed in the stratosphere.

The churn of water and vapor obscured the vessels directly under the burst. Ships and junks on the fringe burned fiercely at anchor. When the atmosphere cleared slightly the observers could detect several vessels had vanished.

Genzai bakudun in that moment had matched the brilliance of the rising sun in the east.

Japan had perfected and successfully tested an atomic bomb as cataclysmic as those that withered Hiroshimo and Nagasaki.

The time was short. The war was roaring to its climax. The advancing Russians would arrive at Konan before the weapon could be mounted in the ready Kamikaze planes to be thrown against any attempted landing by American troops on Japan's shores.

It was a difficult decision. But it had to be made.

The observers sped across the water, back to Konan. With the advance units of the Russian Army only hours away, the final scene of this gotterdammerung began. The scientists and engineers smashed machines, and destroyed partially completed genzai bakudans.

Before Russian columns reached Konan, dynamite sealed the secrets of the cave. But the Russians had come so quickly that the scientists could not escape.

This is the story told me by Capt. Wakabayashi.

Japan's struggle to produce and atomic weapon began in 1938, when German and Japanese scientists met to discuss a possible military use of energy locked in the atom.

No technical information was exchanged, only theories.

In 1940 the Nisina Laboratory of the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research in Tokyo had built one of the largest cyclotrons in the world. (Cyclotrons found in Tokyo by the invading Yanks were destroyed).

THOUGHT ATOMIC BOMB RISKY

The scientists continued to study atomic theory during the early days of the war, but it was not until the Unites States began to carry the war to Japan that they were able to interest the Government in a full-scale atomic project. Heretofore, the Government had considered such a venture too risky and too expensive. During the years following Pearl Harbor, Japan's militarists believed the Unites States could be defeated without the use of atomic weapons.

When task forces and invasion spearheads brought the war ever closer to the Japanese mainland, the Japanese Navy undertook the production of the atomic bomb as defense against amphibious operations. Atomic bombs were to be flown against Allied ships in Kamikaze suicide planes.

Capt. Wakabayashi estimated the area of total destruction of the bomb at one square mile.

The project was started at Nagoya, but its removal to Korea was necessitated when the B-29's began to lash industrial cities on the mainland of Japan.

"I consider the B-29 the primary weapon in the defeat of Japan" Capt. Wakabayashi declared. "The B-29 caused our project to be moved to Korea. We lost three months in the transfer. We would have had genzai bakudan three months earlier if it had not been for the B-29."

The Korean project was staffed by about 40,000 Japanese workers, of whom approximately 25,000 were trained engineers and scientists. The organization of the plant was set up so that the workers were restricted to their areas. The inner sanctum of the plant was deep in a cave. Here only 400 specialists worked.

KEPT IN DARK ON EACH OTHER'S WORK

One scientist was master director of the entire project. Six others, all eminent Japanese scientists were in charge of six phases of the bomb's production. Each of these six men were kept in ignorance of the work of the other five. (Names of these scientists are withheld by Army censorship).

The Russian's took most of the trained personnel prisoner, including the seven key men. One of the seven escaped in June, 1946, and fled to the American zone of occupation in Korea. U.S. Army Intelligence interrogated this man. Capt. Wakabayashi talked to him in Seoul. The scientist told of having been tortured by the Russians. He said all seven were tortured.

Capt. Wakabayashi said he learned from this scientist that the other six had been removed to Moscow.

"The Russians thrust burning splinters under the fingertips of these men. They poured water into their nasal passages. Our Japanese scientists will suffer death before they disclose their secrets to the Russians," he declared.

Capt. Wakabayashi said the Russians are making and extensive study of the Konan region.

When Edwin Pauley of the War Reparations Committee, inspected Northern Korea, he was allowed to see only certain areas, and was kept under rigid Russian supervision.

On Aug. 29, 1945, an American B-29 headed for Konan with a cargo of food and medical supplies, to be dropped over an Allied prisoner of war camp there. Four Russian Yak fighters from nearby Hammung Airfield circled the B-29 and signaled the pilot to land on the Hammung strip.

PILOT REFUSES; REDS FIRE

Lt. Jose H. Queen of Ashland, KY., pilot, refused to do so because the field was small, and headed back toward the Saipon base, to return "when things got straightened out with the Russians." Ten miles off the coast the Yak fighters opened fire and shot the B-29 down. None of the crew of 12 men were injured, although a Russian fighter strafed but missed Radio Operator Douglas Arthur.

The Russian later told Lt. Queen they saw the American markings but "weren't sure." because sometimes the Germans used American markings and they thought the Japs might too. This was nearly two weeks after the war ended.

Capt. Wakabayashi said the Japanese Counter Intelligence Corps at least a year before the atom bombing of Hiroshima learned there was a vast and mysterious project in the mountains of the eastern part of the United States. (Presumably the Manhattan project at Oak Ridge, Tenn). They believed, but were not sure, that atomic weapons were being produced there.

On the hand, he said, Allied Intelligence must have know of the atomic project at Konan, because of the perfect timing of the Hiroshimo bombing only six days before the long-scheduled Japanese naval test.

Perhaps here is the answer to moralists who question the decision of the United States to drop an atomic bomb.

The Japanese office, the interpreter and I sipped aromatic green tea as Capt. Wakabayashi unfolded his great and perhaps world-shaking story. His eyes flashed with pride behind the black-rimmed glassed. When the interview ended, he ushered us to the door and bowed very low.



Korea in August 1945
   When Japs Tested Atom Bombâ€"This was the war map of Korea in August, 1945, when the Russian spearhead pushed down the western coast in the drive on Konan, site of the Japanese atomic project. The atomic test was made at an unchartered inlet in the Sea of Japan. Today the 38th parallel just above Seoul divides Russian occupied territory from American. Konan remains tightly under Russian control. Russian proximity to Konan prompted the Japs decision to destroy the bomb. 

Japanese cyclotron
AT WORK ON ATOMâ€"Japan is known to have worked on Atomic energy as evidenced by this picture printed in 1940 showing an atom-smashing cyclotron. Such equipment was discovered by the U.S. Army after Japan's surrender and was destroyed by the Army then.

Japan also had the first super-size submarines, The I -class were as big as many of todays "Red October" or "USS GEORGIA" type submarines. They were giant underwater aircraft carriers, with special lighweight bombers that folded away inside the hangers. In the post war photos, our submarines look like toys next to theirs. Though they never deployed the fleet for it's purpose - attack the west coast of the USA with aircraft and knock out the Panama Canal, they "could have".

We were much more in the dark with our free press then they were. It was one of these super-subs that sank the USS Indianapolis, leading to one of the worst sea disasters, shark fests and survival tales ever. After the war the surviving officers of the Indianapolis got to meet the commander of the Submarine that sank them. He appologized for their suffering, and stated that he went after them because Japan KNEW he was carrying the atomic bomb! Something the crew didn't even know until THAT moment. They had just off-loaded the bomb before they were sunk or the war might have turned against us very quickly considering the above story.

Someone else wanted to know about JAPANS use of military Helicopters and I couldn't find the source, then remembered the funny part. Germany Fokker had built many types and versions by the time of the war, so I was thinking they were probably copies of the German models. DUMB me! The Japanese bought two auto-gyro aircraft from UNCLE SAM in 1932 for their Navy. They then set about improving it. By 1941 they had two pocket carriers on the ways to become anti-submarine warfare ships. So here is the modern US Navy completely outclassed by Japan with two carrers full of Helicopters on patrol for our subs by the wars end. What became of THAT story. Shhhhh:

In World War II, Germany pioneered a very small gyroglider "rotor-kite", the Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 "Bachstelze" (Water-wagtail), towed by U-boats to provide aerial surveillance.

The Japanese Army developed the Kayaba Ka-1 Autogyro for reconnaissance, artillery-spotting, and anti-submarine uses. The Ka-1 was based on an American design first imported to Japan in 1938. The craft was initially developed for use as an observation platform and for artillery spotting duties. The Army liked the craft's short take-off span, and especially its low maintenance requirements. In 1941 production began, with the machines assigned to artillery units for spotting the fall of shells. These carried two crewmen: a pilot and a spotter.

Later, the Japanese Army commissioned two small aircraft carriers intended for coastal antisubmarine (ASW) duties. The spotter's position on the Ka-1 was modified in order to carry one small depth charge. Ka-1 ASW autogyros operated from shore bases as well as the two small carriers. They appear to have been responsible for at least one submarine sinking.

The submarine in question is now listed as the first sunk by "helicopter", we know there were no other ships in the reigon and their WERE helicopters. Japans pilots claimed many hits but we refused to confirm the kills. Recent dives on the wreckage, have backed Japan and tell a different tale. They may have sunk many more!

Japans newest secret weapon? A whole new class of "Destroyers". Uh oh... but they don't look like distroyers!



Watch out world! The Japanese Navy is back in the large carrier business, especially with the completion of first of the new Hyuga class carriers like the lead ship pictured above.

The Hyuga class are a surprise to me, though Japan already had "carriers" earlier in this decade if you count the Osumi class assault ships which have long decks that seem capable of landing any VTOL aircraft; IIRC, their capabilities are similar to a US LHD of the US Wasp or Tarawa class though the Japanese ships don't have Harriers.

It is fitting that the Japanese named the new ship Hyuga, which was also the name of a WW2-era battleship which was converted into a Hybrid Battleship carrier as a response to the heavy carrier fleet losses in the Battle of Midway in June 1942. The Hyuga and her sister ship Ise never saw combat in their new role, and they were finally pummeled into useless hulks when the USN carrier fleets of TF58/38 began bombarding Japan mercilessly in mid-1945.

Even more "weird" is the dimensions of the new class, though they are "CERTAINLY" helicopter carriers, every dimension, door, runway, hanger etc... fits the new JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER aircraft. Y'all let me know when you want to talk about this, or Confederate railroad guns and ironclads in Jacksonville, or the Civil War missle attack on Washington DC?  God knows, I love this stuff.

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto - “You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass.”

OCKLAWAHA

[BridgeTroll]

If even part of the atom bomb story is true then any argument against the U.S. use of these bombs against Japan is over and done with.  Not that those arguments held any water before...

[downtownparks]

Pretty cool. That Carrier is Aegis. Notice the lack radars (Except the small raydome on the front of the mast, which is probably a small surface radar) Those octogon shapes on the front and side are fixed array radars. I didnt realize Aegis technology was being used in Carriers.

[BridgeTroll]

AEGIS...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegis_combat_system

[Doctor_K]

If even part of the atom bomb story is true then any argument against the U.S. use of these bombs against Japan is over and done with.  Not that those arguments held any water before...

There was also political motivation to use the A-bombs:  keep the Soviets from a performing a joint invasion of Japan, thus deny them war-spoils.  The whole 'Japan had the ability to truly kick the US Navy's butt' reinforces this decision, strategically.

Even more "weird" is the dimensions of the new class, ... fits the new JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER aircraft.

Japan has become a solid, stolid 'Western' ally.  They contribute more money to worldwide peace-keeping and/or combat missions (love the irony) than almost every other NATO and UN ally we have.  Their post-war Constitution forbids them from having an offensive military, but they've been trying to amend it for the last several years - across multiple administrations. 

The fact that they appear to be building a new class of Carrier to accommodate the F-35C would indicate that they're close to doing just that.

[RiversideGator]

Great find, Ock.  I had never heard that.  I wonder if there is any contemporary literature on it.

BTW, I am afraid we are going to need Japan to boost their naval capacities in order to help us deal with an ascendant China one day.  It should get interesting in East Asia in the next few decades.

[Ocklawaha]

I agree River, we are headed for big trouble in the EAST. Big... Huge...  Just for fun, did you know the Bible prophecys that speak of an end of time, King or Kings of the East is no where near the word for word translation of the same verses? In the word for word it is speaking of "The sons of the rising sun..." Yikes!

Glad some of you enjoy this, if you'd like sometime today (since it's already tomorrow???) I'll dig out the I-class sub stuff I have, you might be shocked!

Talk about the bomb not being needed, y'all are right, this makes it right on time and on target. In fact maybe a bit slow since Japan already knew about it and even what ship transported it. Had we invaded the southern Island we had it all figured out, air force shot down, Navy sunk, air wing shot down, army strength at invasion site about 200,000 men, widely scattered, no unified command. The realitys would have been a real killer to our war machine and maybe "The Golden Gate in 48" would have been more like 58!

They had 15,000 aircraft waiting for us, many jets among them. thousands of guided missles BAKAS, no navy to speak of but 2 carriers, a complete super sub force, and 6,000,000 men dug in and waiting for us.

If y'all want, I'll dig out some more old stuff, my dad was at the surrender... amazing stuff.

OCKLAWAHA
DEO VINDICE!

[gatorback]

Aren't the japanese paranoid about the Koreans?  And wouldn't you want to protect yourself from Kum Young Lao or whatever his name is.  That guy's the quintessential nut ob I tell you what.

[Ocklawaha]

Ahh, yes, GREAT LEADER Kim-jong-il (should be spelled ILL)!!
To think this nut case has Japans  Nuke factory...

and another question

Japan is NEVER shown as a nuke country...Hum? Can a Nija or Samurai keep a seceret?


OCKLAWAHA

[civil42806]

Sorry guy, interesting find but one that is unsubstantiated other than the author of the atlanta constitution article.  Its generally not believed nor is it taken seriously.  The japanese had 4 cyclotrons but the development of the bomb is beleived to have been behind germanys.  s far as the helicopters go don't sell the japanese short.  Sikorsky was flying crude ones in the early 40's no reason to believe that the japanese couldn't have developed there own.  INteresting article on wikipedia about it/  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_atomic_program

[Ocklawaha]

Yeah, I know, and Troy and the horse are all myths too.
Kahn didn't use bio-warfare
and Confederates didn't develop Missles and Torpedos

The Japanese were all short, near sighted and had bad "buck" teeth, OF COURSE they couldn't do it alone, they would have needed the help of DER SUPER MEN!

Sorry guy, but there is more to this then ANY of you know, MY DAD WAS THERE! He also told me about weapons they had dreamed up that we can't imagine YET.

OCKALWAHA

[civil42806]

ahhhhh well if your dad says so then it must be true   .  Look there is no objective evidence that the japanese developed or used an atomic bomb, other than an old newpaper article in the Atlanta Constitution.  I give the japanese full credit for many unique military items.   I didn't say this  "The Japanese were all short, near sighted and had bad "buck" teeth, OF COURSE they couldn't do it alone, they would have needed the help of DER SUPER MEN!"  you did.

[gatorback]

True and we've also never heard of the US Government suppressing any findings so as to not alarm Americans.

[civil42806]

Lack of evidence does not mean there is a conspiracy, that way lies madness.

[Ocklawaha]

The japanese had 4 cyclotrons but the development of the bomb is beleived to have been behind germanys.  s far as the helicopters go don't sell the japanese short.  Sikorsky was flying crude ones in the early 40's no reason to believe that the japanese couldn't have developed there own.  INteresting article on wikipedia

My point is/was history is chock full of stories of the impossible. Historians almost to a person blow them off until some shred of evidence is found then suddenly slap their knees and say, "We knew it all along..." The Japanese are all "short, near sighted... etc..." came from American propaganda just prior and during the war. It was ingrained in the American minds including the wikipedia that Japan just couldn't do it.

If your so certain that men on the ground and in the occupation force didn't know what they saw, ask one of them, ANY OF THEM, to give you the details on "Special Unit 731". You won't get a word because the horrors they produced were taken by the USA and are still classified. Why do you think they walked away while the less horrible Nazi's went to the gallows? FACT: The bio-chem horrors of 731 are now part of the US Military. So you think we advertised that they had a bomb, oh and yeah, the world just went through 6-7 years of war, by the way folks, the Russians got it.

NOT!

OCKLAWAHA