According to the War Patrol Report written and submitted by Captn S. L. Johnson of USS Segundo, he went aboard I-401 as follows:
30. AUGUST 1945:
0220 Received orders from Commander Third Fleet to rendezvous at 0500 August 31.
0230 Slowed to 7 knots.
0610 Changed course to 200(T), speed 5 knots.
0945 Ordered Jap to step for conference.
0955 Commanding Officer went aboard the 1-401 to give final instructions for the surrender and resume of our plans for entering TOKYO BAY.
The Commanding Officer of the 1-401, Lieut. Comdr. NEMBU (Jap Naval Academy 1934) met me on deck and made the opening statement of 'I's sorry you come".
After dispensing with further pleasantries, we settled down to business.
The final agreement was for a formal surrender to Lieutenant BALSON at HOC August 31.
Until we were secured in TOKYO BAY, the Japs were to retain the conn and administration of their ship.
Informed them we would probably moor to PROTEUS as directed by Commander Third Fleet's dispatch.
Got the following E-mail from Mr. Rod Johnson Lt. (jg) of Segundo:
Whether Captain Stephen Johnson, himself, went aboard I-401, or not? No- Our Exec went aboard their sub as a member of our prize crew dressed as an enlisted man with no insignia.
I'm sorry- Captn Stephen Johnson was trying to build up his promotion points with this patrol report.
According to the above answer I got from Mr. Rod Johnson, Captn S.L. Johnson never went aboard I-401. What is more, all the officers of I-401 never told the captn came aboard I-401. What I want to say is that a captn of a US submarine made up a story and submitted it to the top brass to be promoted.
Chrysler Imperial
