| Accession Number | P02555.006 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white |
| Physical description | Black & white |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Morotai. 1945. Japanese prisoners, with their hands behind their heads, watched by US Navy ...
Description
Morotai. 1945. Japanese prisoners, with their hands behind their heads, watched by US Navy sailors, as they come ashore from the Japanese ship, Tachibana Maru. This ship was sighted by RAAF aircraft in the Banda Sea and was captured on 3 August 1945 by two American Destroyers, USS Conner and USS Charrette. The ship posed as a hospital ship and Red Cross symbols were displayed on the lifeboats, masts and on the side of the ship. It was found to be carrying 1500 Japanese soldiers, thirty eight machine guns, artillery shells and other ammunition labelled "medical stores". The ship was taken to Morotai, where the Japanese on board were taken prisoner. (Donor J. Crisp)