The 5th of June brought another heavy raid at Kobe (about 20 miles from us), a raid of between 600 to 700 planes causing damage equivalent to that suffered by Osaka on the 1st. We later heard the bad news - that the POWs’ hospital in Kobe had been set on fire and many had been burnt to death in their beds.
Raids now occurred practically every day.
The following is an extract from a diary I kept of attacks on our particular district:
- June 5th - 600 to 700 planes attacked Kobe. POW camp and hospital hit.
- June 7th - Large raid (3 hours) north of camp. Water cut off.
- June 8th-12th - 15 alarms. Mainly Wakayama district.
- June 14th - Pamphlet raid. Giving warning of heavy raid tomorrow.
- June 15th - Raid at 8 a.m. (55 planes) around our camp, too close for comfort. Fires within 100 yards. Water Scarce, food cut by half.
- June 17th - Night raid, mines laid in harbour. 3 ships caught next day.
- June 21st - Pamphlet raid promising heavy raid on the 25th.
- June 25th-26th Heavy raid 350 planes, Osaka, Kobe, Nagoya, Chico hit (high explosive)
- July 2nd - Night raid, mines laid in harbour
- July 3rd - Night raid (3 hours) on Wakayama district
- July 4th - 2 night alarms
- July 5th - 5 raids
- July 7th - Night raid, Kobe and Osaka, many fires started
- July 9th - Raid by P-51’s on Senriyama and shipping in harbour
- July 10th - Day raid (1 ½ hrs). Night raid (3 hrs) east of camp
- July 11th to August 1st - Many raids both night and day.
- July 23rd - two machines brought down. 3 escaped by parachute.
- August 1st - Camp and working parties travelling, Machine gunned by P-51’s, especially Senriyama. Also shipping in harbour.
- August 5th - Large night raid (incendiaries) close to camp
- August 6th - Raids night and day
- August 14th - Large raid on Osaka, over 200 B-29’s preceded by P-38's
Book / Document
Date(s) of events described