LABUAN, BORNEO, 1945-09-10. LIEUTENANT GENERAL MASAO BABA, COMMANDER OF THE JAPANESE 37TH ARMY ...

LABUAN, BORNEO, 1945-09-10. LIEUTENANT GENERAL MASAO BABA, COMMANDER OF THE JAPANESE 37TH ARMY AND SUPREME COMMANDER OF JAPANESE FORCES IN BORNEO, ARRIVES AT LABUAN TO SURRENDER THE FORCES UNDER HIS COMMAND TO MAJOR GENERAL WOOTTEN. GENERAL BABA IS SEEN HERE RETURNING THE SALUTE FROM THE CREW OF THE JAPANESE AIRCRAFT THAT FLEW HIM TO LABUAN. THIS AIRCRAFT, A TACHIKAWA KI-54C (HICKORY) WAS FLOWN TO AUSTRALIA AND WAS AT RAAF FAIRBAIRN FOR MANY YEARS. THE AIRCRAFT IS NOW IN THE COLLECTION OF THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL. GENERAL BABA WAS TRIED AS A WAR CRIMINAL ON CHARGES RELATING TO THE SANDAKAN DEATH MARCH AND WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH. HE WAS HUNG AT RABAUL AT 0800 ON 1947-08-07. (ORIGINAL FRAMED PRINT HELD IN AWM ARCHIVE STORE) (PHOTOGRAPHER N.J. TURNER, DONOR UNKNOWN)