Legacy & Death

• Netaji's plane crashed


  17 August 1945
• Events leading to the air crash

  1. Plane took off from Saigon

  2. Stopped over in Tourane

  3. Took off from Tourane

  4. Arrived at Taipei

  5. Engines checked

  6. Plane took off from Taipei
• The plane was overloaded with 13 passengers instead of the maximum 9
• The Taipei aerodrome was small with tall chimneys, making take-off difficult
• Netaji and others received news of Russia occupying Port Arthur


  They became impatient to reach their destination quickly
• Some engines were found defective even at take-off from Saigon, but they flew anyway
• The pilot was not used to the Taipei aerodrome, so the plane didn't lift off until two-thirds down the runway
• The extra load put too much pressure on the engines and propellers, causing imbalance
• The chaotic state in the Formosan Army Command prevented proper investigation into the crash
• What happened when the plane crashed

  1. Propellers and left engine fell off

  2. Plane crashed and burst into flames

  3. Plane took a nose dive and left side hit the ground first
• Casualties


  • Lt-Gen Shidei and Pilot Major Takizawa killed instantly
  • Netaji, Pilot Aoyagi and 2 others died in hospital
  • 7 others survived with injuries
• Major Kono was alert and noticed what was happening during the crash
• Major Takizawa was hit in the face by the steering gear, Warrant Officer Aoyagi was hit in the chest
• The fire spread rapidly and the heat became unbearable
• What happened at the moment of the crash

  1. He had his wits about him and noticed what others were doing

  2. The petrol tank fell between him and Mr. Bose

  3. He could see Lt.-Gen. Shidei after the crash

  4. He had a cut at the back of his head
• What happened to Major Takizawa and Warrant Officer Aoyagi

  1. Major Takizawa was hit in the face and forehead by the steering gear

  2. Warrant Officer Aoyagi was hit in the chest, which was bleeding and he was leaning forward
• What happened as the fire spread

  1. He broke open the plastic cover and escaped through it

  2. He got burnt in his hands and legs

  3. He got splashed by petrol which caught fire

  4. He ran about 30 metres and then rolled on the ground to put out the fire

  5. He took off his outer garments which had caught fire
• Major Kono was under treatment for eighteen months and his hands became misshapen ever since
• What happened when the plane crashed and Netaji and Col. Rehman tried to escape

  1. The fore part of the plane split and caught fire

  2. Netaji turned towards Col. Rehman

  3. They could not get out through the entrance door as it was blocked

  4. Netaji had to get out through the fire and Col. Rehman followed him

  5. Netaji's clothes were on fire and his trousers had caught fire and burnt on his person

  6. Col. Rehman laid him down on the ground and noticed a very deep cut on the left side of his head

  7. Col. Rehman's hands were very badly burnt and he had received a bleeding cut in the forehead and his right knee was also bleeding profusely
• Netaji: 'When you go back to India, tell the people that up to the last I have been fighting for the liberation of my country, they should continue the struggle, and I am sure India will be free before long. Nobody can keep India in bondage now.'
• Netaji urged the Indian people to unite and fight for India's independence even when he was on the verge of death
• What happened to the navigator Okita

  1. His spine was damaged

  2. He suffered a 40 cm-long cut in the back

  3. He was hospitalized for quite some time and was eventually repatriated in the autumn of 1947
• Ironically enough, Gen. Shidei and Netaji who were occupying the best seats in the plane died and the junior officers occupying not so safe seats survived the accident
• What happened when Netaji was taken to the Nanmon Army Hospital

  1. The hospital received a telegraphic message to be ready to receive injured

  2. Capt. Yoshimi identified Netaji and Col. Rehman

  3. Netaji's condition was most serious but he told the doctors to attend to the others first

  4. Netaji was burnt all over and his skin had taken on a black colour, even his chest was burnt

  5. His face was swollen and his eyes were swollen

  6. He was in high fever and his heart condition was weak
• The treatment given to Netaji

  1. His burns were dressed and bandaged

  2. He was given injections of vita-camphor, digitamine, and Ringer-solution

  3. About 200 cc of his blood was let out and 400 cc of blood transfusion was given

  4. A sulfonamide injection was also given to prevent infection
• The initial reaction to the treatment was favourable
• What Netaji said to the interpreter

  1. My men are following me and they should be taken care of when they come to Formosa

  2. What happened to Gen. Shidei?

  3. My blood is rushing to the head. Please give me treatment for that

  4. I want to sleep
• Netaji spoke in English, although Hindustani crept in here and there
• Netaji's stoic calm greatly impressed the people who were around
• What happened as Netaji's condition deteriorated

  1. His pulse became very weak

  2. Dr. Yoshimi gave him more injections but his heart and pulse did not improve

  3. Shortly after 8 PM, he breathed his last
• The cause of Netaji's death was recorded as "Burns of third degree"
• Persons present at the time of Netaji's death

  • Dr. Yoshimi
  • Dr. Tsuruta
  • Two nurses
  • Col. Habibur Rehman
  • Mr. J. Nakamura (Interpreter)
  • A medical orderly (Mr. Kazo Mitsui)
• The Japanese were initially secretive, delayed to publish the news and did not take proper steps to confirm Netaji's death
• The Government of India sent two parties of intelligence officers to investigate Netaji's whereabouts and they confirmed that he died in the aeroplane accident
• What happened after Netaji passed away

  1. The Japanese present stood up and paid respect to his mortal remains by saluting

  2. Col. Rehman prayed for the departed soul

  3. The nurses were weeping loudly and everybody present in the room was crying
• What happened with Netaji's body after his death

  1. The body was removed to one corner of the room and a screen was put around it

  2. Flowers and candles were placed by its side

  3. The Imperial General Headquarters ordered the body to be cremated in Taipeh instead of being flown to Tokyo
• The cremation ceremony


  1. It took place at the Taipeh City Crematorium

  2. Persons present were Col. Rehman, Major Nagatomo, Mr. Nakamura, and a Buddhist priest

  3. The ashes were placed in a small wooden box and taken to the Nishi (West) Honganji Temple where a special ceremony was held
• Gen. Isayama, Chief of Staff of the Formosan Army, said the news of Netaji's death was kept secret and made known only to high-ranking military officers
• The body was too big to be carried in the small plane which the Japanese had
• Formosa was warm in August, and it was the third day after the death