amazing, thanks so much for shaing rare footage of an island that is often overlooked in WWII documentaries. Great seeing new footage from an old battle zone frontline
Thanks for your interest, it's inspiring. I'm thinking to go back and make something much more comprehensive with better Japanese conversation and direct translation. Watch this space...
Thank you for this video. I was reading that book 'flyboys' and your video really helped to feel how things must ve been there. RIP to all people perished
Thanks for your comments. I was recently in Florida and visited some military museums including the Warbird Museum close to Orlando where there are many veterans. Especially since I recently started to learn to fly I enjoyed talking to some of the pilots there who had flown in Vietnam and infact landed at some of the airports I had been flying in Thailand. What also came up with these vets was this story about Chichi Jima and I really started to understand first hand how important any connections to the past like this is. It is not too far for me to go back to these islands as I still live in Tokyo. The interest in this video gives me new inspiration to make some newer, more informed videos and investigations. One of the places I visited which really stayed in my mind but was harrowing and I completely kept it to myself was going to Johns Beach. Here at least one execution took place of one of these poor unfortunate airmen. It is a very peaceful place. There is no development there. But the silence apart from the sea smashing against the rocks is deafening.
@@Live_your_Dreams_Everyday oh please keep making such videos. Long and informative. People like me who cant visit the places, but always wish to. Videos like this are of great value. Thank you for your efforts
I decided to go there basically for whale watching and to see the indigenous birds. These islands are called the 'Galapagos of Asia'. I didn't know much about what happened here until I began researching. The locals and Japanese tourists don't know about it either. The war details are hidden away, or the story is told from the Japanese perspective. For example on my videos you can see the local troops had it pretty hard and napalm was used on them. After reading flyboys I ended up on Johns Beach having done a hike there. It is quite remote. I said a prayer for the poor soul executed there.
My dad was there in 1952. He was on the submarine USS Sabalo SS 302., they stopped there for some kind of repairs and he got to explore the island. I have a few pictures he took of caves and a Japanese jeep like vehicle. He told me the cave he went in contained several Japanese airplanes and he actually sat in the cockpit of a Zero. He told me about seeing piles of Japanese rifles, all with the bolt removed and in another pile.
Sounds interesting and thanks for your comments. Just as with Okinawan islands, although the US Govt left Japan in 1951, it kept Chichi-jima until 1976. I'd certainly be interested to see those photos. I've not heard about any Japanese fighter planes on the islands. I wonder if your dad also visited Iwojima? There was a full scale US invasion there (as shown on the famous Clint Eastwood film)
@@Live_your_Dreams_Everyday the pictures are on another website . Google "A sub sailors visit to Chi Chi Jima". There are photos of my dad, his submarine and the ones he took while on the island. There are descriptions and locations provided by the guy that has the website. The address is members.tripod/john_wick/subvisittochichi.html. He said he didnt go to any more of the smaller islands but was stationed in Yokuska for a time.
I really liked the way you complemented your guide at the start Let alone the guided video tour of things I’d love to see. Probably won’t which makes me all the more thankful for your production. What a somber place. Looks eerie. Even the bats havnt come back to those caves. Wow. Cheers mate
Thanks for your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I made a further visit and met with a guide who got to know some of the survivors on the Japanese side. th-cam.com/video/zTaAfsph114/w-d-xo.htmlsi=kZNnlFMgdA-_zLVG
Thanks for your comments. If you enjoyed that please give this a try th-cam.com/video/zTaAfsph114/w-d-xo.htmlsi=rNSXYnAYqfzyg4Dn It was the same island with a different, more experienced guide on WW2, at slightly different locations.
It's weird to know that many soliders who died ran in and out of those caves... lived inside.. I absolutely love History and very jealous you got to do this lol great video!
On this island (Chichi Jima) the US forces only bombed and never landed. Consequently, most of the troops survived. However, they were still living in terrible conditions thinking they would die within a few weeks. They very recently knew that Guam and Iwojima had been lost. They were fed terrible propaganda about what the US Marines would do them.
Thanks for the feedback. If you enjoyed this one please check out my other video in Chichi Jima with a different guide. th-cam.com/video/zTaAfsph114/w-d-xo.htmlsi=A2h1YvWNVA4x4EHG
Thanks very much for the comments. If you enjoyed that one, please check out th-cam.com/video/zTaAfsph114/w-d-xo.htmlsi=9PWEzENa7NpzpCl6 More knowledgable guide on WW2 and covered more of the George Bush senior story etc.
So ... #1. Why were 25,000 Japanese troops stationed on this small island ? Answer: It is strategically located near the middle of the expansion phase of what was then the War time Japanese Empire. As such, the vast distances required communication, and ChiChiJima served as a relay station so Japan could communicate with its Waring Navy and commercial fleet. This is also why the Allies devoted time and resources to eliminate it by bombing. There was no invasion since the Americans had learned the cost of invasion from other island conflicts, also that "island hopping" was a better strategy. US planners simply eliminated Japanese supply lines and starved the Japanese troops into oblivion. Strangely, the Japanese soldiers knew this would be their fate. #2. George H.W. Busch is mentioned. Also mentioned is that the written account of his military event is "hard reading". Let me explain what that means in Japanese (I worked for Toyota Corporation for 30 years). On a fateful day in 1944, Ensign Junior Grade George Busch, along with his two-man crew (3 in all) and in the company of three other TMB Avengers (4 TBM's in all, and 12 men total) left their aircraft carrier for a bombing mission on ChiChiJima. The island was unbelievably garrisoned with anti-aircraft artillery, resulting in all four planes being shot down. Three of the planes went down on the island, and Busch's plane made it off the coast of the island. Busch bailed out of his TBM, as did one other crew member but his chute malfunctioned and he died hitting the water. Busch was able to mount his inflatable craft however was pursued by a Japanese patrol boat while Busch paddled away from the island by hand to escape.. Fortunately, other US fighter planes came to Busch's rescue and strafed the patrol boat. Within hours, a US Submarine rescued Busch. Now ... for the Paul Harvey "rest of the story". Of the 3 other TBM's that crashed on the island, there were 8 survivors. These men were captured by the Japanese, individually tortured, one-by-one dismembered while still alive, and systematically eaten by the Japanese troops over time. So you see ... that's why it's "hard reading".
#1 yes, I generally agree. One distinctive point about Chichi Jima is that it has relatively high mountains compared to other islands in the Pacific. Therefore ideal for radio communications to the Pacific zone. A submarine cable was also run to Chichi which is 600 due south of Tokyo. The island then served as the communication base for the Pacific back to HQ. This island is also in the same geographic group as Iwojima. To your point, after the heavy loss of life already incurred the US decided that as long as the communication base could be eliminated then Chichi could be simply blockaded. Also the island has very strategic, and well protected harbours and no other easy landing points due to the rocky nature and high cliffs etc. My understanding is that it was very clear to both the Naval and Army chiefs on the island that after Iwojima, they were next. The order was passed down that every man would die although it was his duty to take 10 of the enemy first. #2 I have not read George Bush version although I'd like to. If you have any good references please let me know. For my part I would recommend James Bradley's Fly Boys. My understanding is that some of the American fighters were partly eaten. For example one was buried in a shallow grave, but then later dug up so his liver could be fried for the very senior officers. There were alot of disagreements between the ranks however, with the Navy trying to be resistent to the Army officers who had already committed many attrocities in China. Some of the young flyboys tried various methods to stay alive but I wasn't aware of systematic torture. Generally the Japanese past brutal orders down the ranks rather than doing themselves and there are several accounts of younger soldiers refusing orders. I didn't read any accounts of systematic torture of the flyers and the accounts of body parts being cut off of live men for food come from Papua New Guinea and possibly Philippines. If you are interested in seeing some of my other first hand accounts and video please check out th-cam.com/video/zTaAfsph114/w-d-xo.htmlsi=9a3dW3U4z0O_sgm3 This guide, as a lifetime resident, interviewed and stayed in-touch with some of the surviving Japanese troops and he got many first hand accounts. As you can see my speaking Japanese is not so great, but I was able to listen fairly well and then add subtitles (with alot of work) once back in Tokyo. Although the planes of those known to be captured in the incident you refer to were Avenger bomber crews there were many other planes which crashed while attacking Chichi. Note the plane I was shown in the jungle was a Mustang. you will have seen I was also shown the crash site of an Avenger. While on the island I was able to meet some of the local residents who survived down the American line. They still fly the stars and stripes. One bar owner showed me an number of artefacts he found and kept over the years.
@@Live_your_Dreams_Everyday -+ Your work on this is impeccable. The Busch family has stayed distant from the post-pickup aspect of the event (politics being what they are). Due to my own experience (March 1969) I gravitate toward the "reality" of things. I watched as my own associates tortured and disfigured "HO CHOY" members of the adversary. I simply marvel at the "bar-recollections" of gladiators who never were to folks in proximity that don't know the difference. Life is good, and then you die.
Yes, I wondered the same myself. The guide said that the wing of the Mustang P.51 used to have very clear markings many years ago of the US Star on it, but nowadays it's hardly visible. Some of the wonder of this location is that it is so remote things have just been left where they went down in the jungle, but I have to wonder if they might actually be better preserved in a museum. Unfortunately the Japanese Govt doesn't have the same strength of awareness for this kind of history that we might see in the West.@@alohathaxted
Interesting facts: Whalers left behind several western family names, Washington is one them. Kids from island were sent to High school at Guam up until the time the islands were returned to Japan in the 70's..
Yes, the history here is very unique. In the 1830s Nathaniel Savory led an expedition and later settled there. The Japanese claimed the islands in the 1860s. The islands were so remote in the 1700s and early 1800s they were mostly dismissed, although sometimes visited by whalers. Later, when steam ships needed coal, they became much more strategic. During WW2 the island of Chichi Jima were used by the Japanese as the communication base for the whole of the Pacific war theatre. Being so remote, the islands have a very unique nature, even some endemic species. Sometimes called the Galapagos of Asia. The Savory family has many remaining descendants. One of the small hotels I stayed at is called Pat Inn. Still owned by a Savory family. It's a real treasure to take their history tour around Chichi Jima.
Interesting island. Did you get the BuNo to those downed planes? Is that island off limits to the general public or how hard is it to visit? I've been to Iwo Jima but would love to see that island.
Unfortunately I didn't get any ID numbers. I just found out what a BuNo number is, prompted by your comment. There is also an Avenger Bomber wreck on another part of the island. I should have got that one too. The Avenger was the same plane as crashed by George Bush senior when he was here in 1945. The island is fully accessible to tourists but many of the jungle zones are fenced off and a guide is required. The only way to reach the islands is by ship from Tokyo, which takes a full 24 hours to cover the 600 miles. Iwo Jima is quite close to the Ogasawara Islands and infact is part of the same island chain from a geological perspective. I think you would certainly enjoy a visit. It's remarkable to see the history of WW2 but apart from that there are many other attractions such as indigenous nature and whale watching. To this day, the unique history blends and although the islands belong to Japan there are many people with a proud American heritage dating back to the early 1800s.
Thank you. I have been to Iwo Jima but that was in 1995. I'm surprised that 75mm mountain gun was still intact! Good stuff, thanks again for posting. I also do whale watching trips in Monterey Bay, California so would definitely would love to see the whales there too!
Chichijima was the most feared island to be taken to by U.S. pilots as the Japanese guards performed heinous acts against their prisoners. Some Japanese were punished after the war.
Yes, you are right, but unfortunately the Japanese committed heinous acts in many places. Some of the US airmen who were taken prisoner here in Chichi-jima were partially eaten. The US Military and authorities didn't even have any thing on the legal statute which described cannibalism. If it wasn't for the extremely detailed work carried out by the US occupying force the whole thing would have been covered up. The reason the truth was able to come out was partly because of the very big divide between the Japanese Army and the more mild Japanese Navy officer personnel who decided to tell the truth.
I’ve never heard that. Every place they could have been captured was feared just as much as the other. The japs committed heinous acts to prisoners everywhere they were. This island is notorious because the japs ate the captured pilots.
Highly recommend reading "Flyboys" by James Bradley. All of the flyers that were downed while trying to destroy the Communications center were caught and ultimately executed by a sadistic officer. He was later caught and paid the price for that horrific deed. The most interesting fact is that President Bush 41 was also downed there while trying to bomb the radio station but I'll leave that to you to read the book.... One scary episode. PS: he did revisit that station later and met the radio operator who befriended him. Remarkable.
This is the island the Japanese officers slaughtered and ate American airmen that they captured, right? Not because they were hungry,, but because they wanted to steal their Mojo. They especially liked the livers I recall. Remember history
By the time the US started bombing Chichijima All P-51 Mustangs had were powered by the US built the Packard V-1659-7, a licensed built version of the RR Merlin 66.
Thanks for your comment. It’s an interesting subject, but as shown in the video the engine I found was a V12 Rolls Royce. From my research likely flown from recently captured Iwo Jima. I’ll research this further though as to why.
Still by no means an expert on this subject, but this week I had a chance to visit both the Imperial War Museum at Duxford for the 50th Battle of Britain Airshow and also RAF Coningsby where they maintain several rare vintage planes such as a Spitfire that was actually used in the Battle of Britain (still flying) and one of the only two remaining Avro Lancaster Bombers still flying in the world today. Discussing the case of the Mustang engine I found in the Ogasawara jungle, the tour guide expert there told me the Packard engines were marked up as Rolls Royce, so this seems to explain why I found a 'Rolls Royce' marked engine block.
I think the officers over this ate American Pallets that were unlucky enough to parachute onto this island. I saw nothing to laugh about in this video.
Thanks for your comments. This video is not about that subject, but I agree it did happen. I also see nothing to laugh about any of it. War is a terrible thing. Sometimes perhaps it seems I laugh at some of the guides comments in the video, but this is mostly due to my bad Japanese communication and also very amateur interviewing skills. I'm working to improve both.
It really depends on your perspective. Even though the P-51 is the only US plane (but actually there is an Avenger bomber too - th-cam.com/video/zTaAfsph114/w-d-xo.htmlsi=nC7caJQ0OY4C-poh - see my other video. So perhaps the value is not to see the effects of combat, but to see how the Japanese lived there - tunnels, anti ship and anti aircraft guns, jungle hideouts, effects of receiving napalm etc. In actual fact, as many comments have made clear, there was some very brutal treatment of some of the prisoners. Brutal to say the least.
They were not eaten alive. But, some of them did have body parts such as liver eaten after they were murdered. That is not really what this video is about however.
Yes, I totally agree :-) Lots of unusual vocabulary while being totally on the spot at the time doesn't help. I think you will find the subtitles are accurate which took alot of follow up effort. If you enjoyed the content you might want to check th-cam.com/video/zTaAfsph114/w-d-xo.htmlsi=H0LMEjRrM-4Ic3RL Japanese is probably worse in this video as the subject is more in-depth and the speaker harder to understand. Alas, subtitles took at pile of work and are accurate I believe 🙂
amazing, thanks so much for shaing rare footage of an island that is often overlooked in WWII documentaries. Great seeing new footage from an old battle zone frontline
Thanks for your interest, it's inspiring. I'm thinking to go back and make something much more comprehensive with better Japanese conversation and direct translation. Watch this space...
Thank you for this video. I was reading that book 'flyboys' and your video really helped to feel how things must ve been there. RIP to all people perished
Thanks for your comments. I was recently in Florida and visited some military museums including the Warbird Museum close to Orlando where there are many veterans. Especially since I recently started to learn to fly I enjoyed talking to some of the pilots there who had flown in Vietnam and infact landed at some of the airports I had been flying in Thailand. What also came up with these vets was this story about Chichi Jima and I really started to understand first hand how important any connections to the past like this is. It is not too far for me to go back to these islands as I still live in Tokyo. The interest in this video gives me new inspiration to make some newer, more informed videos and investigations. One of the places I visited which really stayed in my mind but was harrowing and I completely kept it to myself was going to Johns Beach. Here at least one execution took place of one of these poor unfortunate airmen. It is a very peaceful place. There is no development there. But the silence apart from the sea smashing against the rocks is deafening.
@@Live_your_Dreams_Everyday oh please keep making such videos. Long and informative. People like me who cant visit the places, but always wish to. Videos like this are of great value. Thank you for your efforts
You read Flyboys and still went? That book effects me to this day. What they did to those airmen is unforgivable.
I decided to go there basically for whale watching and to see the indigenous birds. These islands are called the 'Galapagos of Asia'. I didn't know much about what happened here until I began researching. The locals and Japanese tourists don't know about it either. The war details are hidden away, or the story is told from the Japanese perspective. For example on my videos you can see the local troops had it pretty hard and napalm was used on them. After reading flyboys I ended up on Johns Beach having done a hike there. It is quite remote. I said a prayer for the poor soul executed there.
My dad was there in 1952. He was on the submarine USS Sabalo SS 302., they stopped there for some kind of repairs and he got to explore the island. I have a few pictures he took of caves and a Japanese jeep like vehicle. He told me the cave he went in contained several Japanese airplanes and he actually sat in the cockpit of a Zero. He told me about seeing piles of Japanese rifles, all with the bolt removed and in another pile.
Sounds interesting and thanks for your comments. Just as with Okinawan islands, although the US Govt left Japan in 1951, it kept Chichi-jima until 1976. I'd certainly be interested to see those photos. I've not heard about any Japanese fighter planes on the islands. I wonder if your dad also visited Iwojima? There was a full scale US invasion there (as shown on the famous Clint Eastwood film)
@@Live_your_Dreams_Everyday the pictures are on another website . Google "A sub sailors visit to Chi Chi Jima". There are photos of my dad, his submarine and the ones he took while on the island. There are descriptions and locations provided by the guy that has the website. The address is members.tripod/john_wick/subvisittochichi.html. He said he didnt go to any more of the smaller islands but was stationed in Yokuska for a time.
I really liked the way you complemented your guide at the start
Let alone the guided video tour of things I’d love to see. Probably won’t which makes me all the more thankful for your production.
What a somber place. Looks eerie.
Even the bats havnt come back to those caves. Wow.
Cheers mate
Thanks for your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I made a further visit and met with a guide who got to know some of the survivors on the Japanese side. th-cam.com/video/zTaAfsph114/w-d-xo.htmlsi=kZNnlFMgdA-_zLVG
That was amazing, thanks for sharing this. Youve a new subscriber, cheers from merry ol England.
Thanks for your comments. If you enjoyed that please give this a try
th-cam.com/video/zTaAfsph114/w-d-xo.htmlsi=rNSXYnAYqfzyg4Dn
It was the same island with a different, more experienced guide on WW2, at slightly different locations.
It's weird to know that many soliders who died ran in and out of those caves... lived inside.. I absolutely love History and very jealous you got to do this lol great video!
On this island (Chichi Jima) the US forces only bombed and never landed. Consequently, most of the troops survived. However, they were still living in terrible conditions thinking they would die within a few weeks. They very recently knew that Guam and Iwojima had been lost. They were fed terrible propaganda about what the US Marines would do them.
Very cool! Thanks for the tour!👍
Thanks for the feedback. If you enjoyed this one please check out my other video in Chichi Jima with a different guide. th-cam.com/video/zTaAfsph114/w-d-xo.htmlsi=A2h1YvWNVA4x4EHG
Don I really enjoyed this video. I spent 13 months on Okinawa Aug74 to Sep75. A few places like this. New Subscriber too, thank you.
Thanks very much for the comments. If you enjoyed that one, please check out th-cam.com/video/zTaAfsph114/w-d-xo.htmlsi=9PWEzENa7NpzpCl6
More knowledgable guide on WW2 and covered more of the George Bush senior story etc.
So ...
#1. Why were 25,000 Japanese troops stationed on this small island ? Answer: It is strategically located near the middle of the expansion phase of what was then the War time Japanese Empire. As such, the vast distances required communication, and ChiChiJima served as a relay station so Japan could communicate with its Waring Navy and commercial fleet. This is also why the Allies devoted time and resources to eliminate it by bombing. There was no invasion since the Americans had learned the cost of invasion from other island conflicts, also that "island hopping" was a better strategy. US planners simply eliminated Japanese supply lines and starved the Japanese troops into oblivion. Strangely, the Japanese soldiers knew this would be their fate.
#2. George H.W. Busch is mentioned. Also mentioned is that the written account of his military event is "hard reading". Let me explain what that means in Japanese (I worked for Toyota Corporation for 30 years). On a fateful day in 1944, Ensign Junior Grade George Busch, along with his two-man crew (3 in all) and in the company of three other TMB Avengers (4 TBM's in all, and 12 men total) left their aircraft carrier for a bombing mission on ChiChiJima. The island was unbelievably garrisoned with anti-aircraft artillery, resulting in all four planes being shot down. Three of the planes went down on the island, and Busch's plane made it off the coast of the island. Busch bailed out of his TBM, as did one other crew member but his chute malfunctioned and he died hitting the water. Busch was able to mount his inflatable craft however was pursued by a Japanese patrol boat while Busch paddled away from the island by hand to escape.. Fortunately, other US fighter planes came to Busch's rescue and strafed the patrol boat. Within hours, a US Submarine rescued Busch. Now ... for the Paul Harvey "rest of the story". Of the 3 other TBM's that crashed on the island, there were 8 survivors. These men were captured by the Japanese, individually tortured, one-by-one dismembered while still alive, and systematically eaten by the Japanese troops over time. So you see ... that's why it's "hard reading".
#1 yes, I generally agree. One distinctive point about Chichi Jima is that it has relatively high mountains compared to other islands in the Pacific. Therefore ideal for radio communications to the Pacific zone. A submarine cable was also run to Chichi which is 600 due south of Tokyo. The island then served as the communication base for the Pacific back to HQ.
This island is also in the same geographic group as Iwojima. To your point, after the heavy loss of life already incurred the US decided that as long as the communication base could be eliminated then Chichi could be simply blockaded. Also the island has very strategic, and well protected harbours and no other easy landing points due to the rocky nature and high cliffs etc.
My understanding is that it was very clear to both the Naval and Army chiefs on the island that after Iwojima, they were next. The order was passed down that every man would die although it was his duty to take 10 of the enemy first.
#2 I have not read George Bush version although I'd like to. If you have any good references please let me know. For my part I would recommend James Bradley's Fly Boys. My understanding is that some of the American fighters were partly eaten. For example one was buried in a shallow grave, but then later dug up so his liver could be fried for the very senior officers. There were alot of disagreements between the ranks however, with the Navy trying to be resistent to the Army officers who had already committed many attrocities in China.
Some of the young flyboys tried various methods to stay alive but I wasn't aware of systematic torture. Generally the Japanese past brutal orders down the ranks rather than doing themselves and there are several accounts of younger soldiers refusing orders. I didn't read any accounts of systematic torture of the flyers and the accounts of body parts being cut off of live men for food come from Papua New Guinea and possibly Philippines.
If you are interested in seeing some of my other first hand accounts and video please check out th-cam.com/video/zTaAfsph114/w-d-xo.htmlsi=9a3dW3U4z0O_sgm3
This guide, as a lifetime resident, interviewed and stayed in-touch with some of the surviving Japanese troops and he got many first hand accounts. As you can see my speaking Japanese is not so great, but I was able to listen fairly well and then add subtitles (with alot of work) once back in Tokyo.
Although the planes of those known to be captured in the incident you refer to were Avenger bomber crews there were many other planes which crashed while attacking Chichi. Note the plane I was shown in the jungle was a Mustang. you will have seen I was also shown the crash site of an Avenger.
While on the island I was able to meet some of the local residents who survived down the American line. They still fly the stars and stripes. One bar owner showed me an number of artefacts he found and kept over the years.
@@Live_your_Dreams_Everyday -+
Your work on this is impeccable. The Busch family has stayed distant from the post-pickup aspect of the event (politics being what they are). Due to my own experience (March 1969) I gravitate toward the "reality" of things. I watched as my own associates tortured and disfigured "HO CHOY" members of the adversary. I simply marvel at the "bar-recollections" of gladiators who never were to folks in proximity that don't know the difference. Life is good, and then you die.
@@Live_your_Dreams_Everyday that Rolls Royce engine fetches a fairly large amount of money on todays market. I wonder if its worth saving for parts?
Yes, I wondered the same myself. The guide said that the wing of the Mustang P.51 used to have very clear markings many years ago of the US Star on it, but nowadays it's hardly visible. Some of the wonder of this location is that it is so remote things have just been left where they went down in the jungle, but I have to wonder if they might actually be better preserved in a museum. Unfortunately the Japanese Govt doesn't have the same strength of awareness for this kind of history that we might see in the West.@@alohathaxted
Interesting facts: Whalers left behind several western family names, Washington is one them. Kids from island were sent to High school at Guam up until the time the islands were returned to Japan in the 70's..
Yes, the history here is very unique. In the 1830s Nathaniel Savory led an expedition and later settled there. The Japanese claimed the islands in the 1860s. The islands were so remote in the 1700s and early 1800s they were mostly dismissed, although sometimes visited by whalers. Later, when steam ships needed coal, they became much more strategic.
During WW2 the island of Chichi Jima were used by the Japanese as the communication base for the whole of the Pacific war theatre.
Being so remote, the islands have a very unique nature, even some endemic species. Sometimes called the Galapagos of Asia. The Savory family has many remaining descendants. One of the small hotels I stayed at is called Pat Inn. Still owned by a Savory family. It's a real treasure to take their history tour around Chichi Jima.
Interesting island. Did you get the BuNo to those downed planes? Is that island off limits to the general public or how hard is it to visit? I've been to Iwo Jima but would love to see that island.
Unfortunately I didn't get any ID numbers. I just found out what a BuNo number is, prompted by your comment. There is also an Avenger Bomber wreck on another part of the island. I should have got that one too. The Avenger was the same plane as crashed by George Bush senior when he was here in 1945. The island is fully accessible to tourists but many of the jungle zones are fenced off and a guide is required. The only way to reach the islands is by ship from Tokyo, which takes a full 24 hours to cover the 600 miles. Iwo Jima is quite close to the Ogasawara Islands and infact is part of the same island chain from a geological perspective. I think you would certainly enjoy a visit. It's remarkable to see the history of WW2 but apart from that there are many other attractions such as indigenous nature and whale watching. To this day, the unique history blends and although the islands belong to Japan there are many people with a proud American heritage dating back to the early 1800s.
Thank you. I have been to Iwo Jima but that was in 1995. I'm surprised that 75mm mountain gun was still intact! Good stuff, thanks again for posting. I also do whale watching trips in Monterey Bay, California so would definitely would love to see the whales there too!
Hi , hi , hi , hi , hi to you , also ! Video was great ✔️
thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed it!
Chichijima was the most feared island to be taken to by U.S. pilots as the Japanese guards performed heinous acts against their prisoners. Some Japanese were punished after the war.
Yes, you are right, but unfortunately the Japanese committed heinous acts in many places. Some of the US airmen who were taken prisoner here in Chichi-jima were partially eaten. The US Military and authorities didn't even have any thing on the legal statute which described cannibalism. If it wasn't for the extremely detailed work carried out by the US occupying force the whole thing would have been covered up. The reason the truth was able to come out was partly because of the very big divide between the Japanese Army and the more mild Japanese Navy officer personnel who decided to tell the truth.
I’ve never heard that. Every place they could have been captured was feared just as much as the other. The japs committed heinous acts to prisoners everywhere they were. This island is notorious because the japs ate the captured pilots.
Highly recommend reading "Flyboys" by James Bradley. All of the flyers that were downed while trying to destroy the Communications center were caught and ultimately executed by a sadistic officer. He was later caught and paid the price for that horrific deed. The most interesting fact is that President Bush 41 was also downed there while trying to bomb the radio station but I'll leave that to you to read the book.... One scary episode. PS: he did revisit that station later and met the radio operator who befriended him. Remarkable.
This is the island the Japanese officers slaughtered and ate American airmen that they captured, right? Not because they were hungry,, but because they wanted to steal their Mojo. They especially liked the livers I recall.
Remember history
Correct ! They trussed them like hogs and ate them
Needed more light can see anything in underground 🤔🤔
Thanks for your comment. I agree. I am thinking about going back to do some better research and videos early next year.
supercool
Thanks. I appreciate your comment.
By the time the US started bombing Chichijima All P-51 Mustangs had were powered by the US built the Packard V-1659-7, a licensed built version of the RR Merlin 66.
Thanks for your comment. It’s an interesting subject, but as shown in the video the engine I found was a V12 Rolls Royce. From my research likely flown from recently captured Iwo Jima.
I’ll research this further though as to why.
Still by no means an expert on this subject, but this week I had a chance to visit both the Imperial War Museum at Duxford for the 50th Battle of Britain Airshow and also RAF Coningsby where they maintain several rare vintage planes such as a Spitfire that was actually used in the Battle of Britain (still flying) and one of the only two remaining Avro Lancaster Bombers still flying in the world today. Discussing the case of the Mustang engine I found in the Ogasawara jungle, the tour guide expert there told me the Packard engines were marked up as Rolls Royce, so this seems to explain why I found a 'Rolls Royce' marked engine block.
Chichi=Jima
Chi-chi means father. Jima means Island. Father Island. Just south of Chichi-Jima is Haha Jima. Haha means Mother.
@@Live_your_Dreams_Everyday haha - mother
there is also another island closeby called oni - jima (brother island)@@RAMBO9991000
I think the officers over this ate American Pallets that were unlucky enough to parachute onto this island. I saw nothing to laugh about in this video.
Thanks for your comments. This video is not about that subject, but I agree it did happen. I also see nothing to laugh about any of it. War is a terrible thing.
Sometimes perhaps it seems I laugh at some of the guides comments in the video, but this is mostly due to my bad Japanese communication and also very amateur interviewing skills. I'm working to improve both.
Hai Hai Hai, haihaihai
sou des neh!
Since the island was never invaded, little remains of the Japanese occupation. The only interesting thing was the P-51.
It really depends on your perspective. Even though the P-51 is the only US plane (but actually there is an Avenger bomber too - th-cam.com/video/zTaAfsph114/w-d-xo.htmlsi=nC7caJQ0OY4C-poh - see my other video. So perhaps the value is not to see the effects of combat, but to see how the Japanese lived there - tunnels, anti ship and anti aircraft guns, jungle hideouts, effects of receiving napalm etc. In actual fact, as many comments have made clear, there was some very brutal treatment of some of the prisoners. Brutal to say the least.
No se VE BIEN en el primer túnel
Si, lo siento. Estaba muy oscuro alli. Casi 80 anos desde que estos tuneles estuvieron en uso
No es por los túneles es por la cámara.@@Live_your_Dreams_Everyday
Si, Estoy acuerdo. La proxima vez consequire una camera mejor. Todavia soy un principiante.@@franciscobautistaambite2092
No es una crítica negativa es positiva para que la gente lo vea mejor y así se suscriba a tu canal y te dé un me gusta.@@Live_your_Dreams_Everyday
The Americans were eaten alive.
They were not eaten alive. But, some of them did have body parts such as liver eaten after they were murdered. That is not really what this video is about however.
The video is interesting, but I suggest you to study more japanese language.
Yes, I totally agree :-) Lots of unusual vocabulary while being totally on the spot at the time doesn't help. I think you will find the subtitles are accurate which took alot of follow up effort. If you enjoyed the content you might want to check th-cam.com/video/zTaAfsph114/w-d-xo.htmlsi=H0LMEjRrM-4Ic3RL
Japanese is probably worse in this video as the subject is more in-depth and the speaker harder to understand. Alas, subtitles took at pile of work and are accurate I believe 🙂
wondering around in the bush with a mask on ?? wtf
It's called the COVID virus. In Japan we wore masks.
Wearing a mask while outside and under his nose. Duh!
Lots of things happened during COVID.