P-MAN V - p. 11            

FINAL CONCLUSIONS AND REMARKS FROM P-MAN V

AIRCRAFT CRASH SITES:

Since 2000, P-MAN teams have found three crash sites in Palau (two of them during
P-MAN V) where remains of American airmen may still be present:

• Crash site, in Ngaremlengui (Babeldaob), of F4U-1D Corsair (Bu No 57393) flown by 2LT William L. Arnett, USMC, VMF-122, KIA, BNR, 05 AUG 45 (see P-MAN III report)
   
• Crash site, in Malakal Harbor, of F4U-1D Corsair (Bu No 76471) flown by MAJ Quintus B. Nelson, USMC, VMF-122, KIA, BNR, 16 APR 45 (ATTACHMENT 1 in the present report)
   
• Crash site, on and around Pope's Ridge, Peleliu, of TBM-1C Avenger (Bu No 16596), with ENS D. E. Baxter and ARN1 Arthur C. Miller, both KIA, BNR, of VT-20 from USS Enterprise, 13 SEP 44) (ATTACHMENT 2 in the present report).

POWs:

Since 2000, P-MAN teams have worked with Professor Don Shuster and two CILHI teams (2000, 2001) searching for a final gravesite for one group of airmen/civilians POW's known to have been executed on Babeldaob. P-MAN II team also located what the Palauans referred to as the jungle HQ of LT GEN Inoue in Ngatpang from where the executions may have been ordered. P-MAN V has now:

• Located two new Japanese cemetery sites, reported to be Japanese military, in Ngatpang/Ngaremlengui.
   
• Learned that one previously identified execution site near the "Police Station" and also near a third Japanese cemetery ("hospital cemetery"), was used for additional executions (USN frogmen). Based on interviews, a trail of events concerning these frogmen has been established all the way from Yap to Koror to the execution site (near the execution site of the American airmen/civilians).
   
• Located the "General's House" (a Palauan term) which may be the "Command Post" referred to by Japanese in War Crime's testimony and by a still-living Japanese elder, where one execution may have occurred (see P-MAN III report).

Finally, the P-MAN V team has made recommendations to the appropriate authorities, based on the composite of this recent field work combined with all preceding efforts, that additional consideration be given to continue and expand the search in Palau for a) American remains in or near these three known crash sites associated with KIA, BNR status and b) human remains of POW's executed in Ngatpang State with focus on the "Police Station" site (but bearing in mind the other located cemetery sites). In particular, we have submitted that such considerations be given timely review because at least two crash sites (Peleliu Avenger and Malakal Corsair) have potential for being disturbed and possibly destroyed. Further, in reference to the POW searches, we have concerns that the living witnesses, who may have additional information to share, are quite elderly.