Signing of the Surrender in Tokyo Bay

[kmetz]

I have a listing of all the Naval vessels present for the surrender ceremonies. Does anyone here know where the vessels were in relationship to the USS Missouri? I know that the USS Bennington was along side the Missouri--the Bennington's Air Group Eighty-two planes were the first to hit the Battleship Yamato, when it was sunk--so the Bennington was given the honor of being next to the Mighty Mo. Which ship was on the other side of the Missouri? And where did the huge fly-over during the ceremonies originate? Benny planes were part of that too. The Bennington's nickname during WWII was the "Busy 'B'" in later conflicts the Bennington was call "Big Ben" and the "Benny."

[odanny]

This is the actual table and chair used at the surrender ceremony on the Missouri. I took this picture at the Naval Academy Museum at Annapolis.

[usmcsgt65]

odanny, does your records show if the battleship New Mexico was there? My father served on the New Mexico, but he does not talk about his experiences much.

[odanny]

Hi usmcsgt,

Here is a list of all the battleships present that day. Yes, the New Mexico was in attendance.

Battleships (BB)

USS Colorado (BB-45) USS Mississippi (BB-41)

HMS Duke of York (17) USS Missouri (BB-63)

USS Idaho (BB-42) USS New Mexico (BB-40)

USS Iowa (BB-61) USS South Dakota (BB-57)

HMS King George V (41) USS West Virginia (BB-48)

[kmetz]

I show that the BB's were as follows: Idaho, Mississippi, New Mexice, West Virginia, Colorado, Missouri, Iowa, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Alabama, Indiana, North Carolina.

Source: Radio Press News, Monday 17, August, 1945. Nimitz, Communique Issued Guam Twenty Six--Text of Pacific Fleet Press Release No. Two One Five.

[kmetz]

I have found that the fly over formed up over the Emperor's Palace and then flew out over the bay and the US Fleet present for the ceremonies.

Source: Informal Record of Bombing Squadron One, by Perry Dotson. Bombing Squadron One was based on the USS Bennington from 18 June 1945 to mid September 1945.