Photos of all 12 U.S. victims of the atomic bombing have been registered at Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims
Jul. 9, 2009
by Kyosuke Mizukawa, Staff Writer
A Hiroshima historian filed an application to register the photo of an American serviceman at Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims on July 7. Shigeaki Mori, 72, has been investigating the American soldiers who experienced the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. He believes that a total of 12 soldiers died in the bombing and now the photos of all 12 have been registered at the hall.
According to documents obtained by Mr. Mori from the U.S Navy and the Allied General Headquarters, John Hantschel, 23 at the time, was flying solo in a fighter jet when his plane was shot down into the Seto Inland Sea on July 25, 1945. He was then taken to the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters, about 400 meters east of the hypocenter, on July 30.
Mr. Mori could not find any information regarding his whereabouts after the bombing so he believes that Mr. Hantschel died in detention on August 6. After the story about Mr. Mori registering the soldiers’ photos was covered by the American press in May, Mr. Hantschel’s niece, who lives in the U.S. state of Colorado, sent the photo of her uncle and other needed documents to Mr. Mori.
In 1983, the U.S. military announced that eight army and two navy servicemen died in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima while being held as POWs. But after conducting his own investigation, Mr. Mori concluded that two more soldiers were killed, including Mr. Hantschel.
Mr. Mori, who has been researching the American victims of the atomic bombing for over 20 years, began registering their photos at the Memorial Hall in 2004. “I have always felt that handing down their names and photos to future generations was something small I could do to help console the spirits of the victims.”
(Originally published on July 8, 2009)
Related articles
Photos of two U.S. soldiers registered at Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims (June 16, 2009)
Piece from crashed U.S. bomber to be sent from Hiroshima to relatives of crewman (March 12, 2009)
Historian publishes book about American A-bomb victims (July 30, 2008)
A Hiroshima historian filed an application to register the photo of an American serviceman at Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims on July 7. Shigeaki Mori, 72, has been investigating the American soldiers who experienced the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. He believes that a total of 12 soldiers died in the bombing and now the photos of all 12 have been registered at the hall.
According to documents obtained by Mr. Mori from the U.S Navy and the Allied General Headquarters, John Hantschel, 23 at the time, was flying solo in a fighter jet when his plane was shot down into the Seto Inland Sea on July 25, 1945. He was then taken to the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters, about 400 meters east of the hypocenter, on July 30.
Mr. Mori could not find any information regarding his whereabouts after the bombing so he believes that Mr. Hantschel died in detention on August 6. After the story about Mr. Mori registering the soldiers’ photos was covered by the American press in May, Mr. Hantschel’s niece, who lives in the U.S. state of Colorado, sent the photo of her uncle and other needed documents to Mr. Mori.
In 1983, the U.S. military announced that eight army and two navy servicemen died in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima while being held as POWs. But after conducting his own investigation, Mr. Mori concluded that two more soldiers were killed, including Mr. Hantschel.
Mr. Mori, who has been researching the American victims of the atomic bombing for over 20 years, began registering their photos at the Memorial Hall in 2004. “I have always felt that handing down their names and photos to future generations was something small I could do to help console the spirits of the victims.”
(Originally published on July 8, 2009)
Related articles
Photos of two U.S. soldiers registered at Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims (June 16, 2009)
Piece from crashed U.S. bomber to be sent from Hiroshima to relatives of crewman (March 12, 2009)
Historian publishes book about American A-bomb victims (July 30, 2008)
