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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
901 M STREET SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- World War II in the Pacific -- Japan Capitulates --
Allied Fleet off Japan, 15 August - 2 September 1945

Carrier Planes Patrol Over Japan, August - September 1945.

To enforce the cease-fire, locate and supply prisoner-of-war camps and gather information for the impending occupation, Navy carrier aircraft maintained a heavy schedule of patrols over Japan during the weeks following August 15. This page presents pictures taken during these aerial patrols, with links to ones taken shortly after the 2 September formal surrender ceremonies.

For additional views of aerial patrols over Japan, taken shortly after 2 September 1945, see Carrier Plane Patrols Over Japan, early September 1945

For links to further pictorial coverage of the Allied Fleets off Japan during 15 August - 2 September 1945, see: Overview and Special Image Selection

For views of other aspects of Japan's surrender, see: Japan Capitulates, August - September 1945

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: 80-G-339354

Surrender of Japan, 1945


A Curtiss SB2C-4 "Helldiver" bomber on patrol over Tokyo, 28 August 1945.
Photographed from a USS Shangri-La (CV-38) plane by Lieutenant G. D. Rogers.
Note light traffic on the city streets, also burned out areas and damaged buildings.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 117KB; 605 x 675 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

Photo #: 80-G-373575

Tokyo, Japan


A badly fire-damaged section of the city, photographed from a USS Essex plane, 31 August 1945.
Note surviving larger buildings amid the ruins.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 126KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

Photo #: 80-G-490386

Allied Prisoners of War


Wave at U.S. Navy planes that have just dropped food to them, during supply flights over POW camps in the Tokyo area, 25 August 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 117KB; 740 x 645 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

Photo #: 80-G-332610

Surrender of Japan, 1945


Prisoner of War camp in the Fukushima area of north-central Honshu, photographed from a USS Lexington (CV-16) plane, 25 August 1945.
Coordinates for this location are 37-46N 140-29E, which place the camp just north of Fukushima city.
Note people on the ground, inside and outside of the camp perimeter fence.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 113KB; 635 x 675 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

Photo #: 80-G-490442

Surrender of Japan, 1945


Prisoner of War camp in the Tokyo waterfront area, photographed from a U.S. Navy plane on 30 August 1945.
Note signs on rooftops celebrating victory and requesting food and a return home. One identifies the camp as # 2B. Others identify the occupants as Americans, British and Australians.
Also note several nearby bomb craters and wrecked structures.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 560 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

Photo #: 80-G-332563

Surrender of Japan, 1945


Prisoner of War camp in the Yokohama area, photographed from a USS Shangri-La (CV-38) plane in late August 1945.
Note men waving at the plane.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 105KB; 610 x 675 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

Photo #: 80-G-490422

Takasago Maru

(Japanese Hospital Ship, formerly Passenger Liner, 1936)
Tied up at Tokyo, Japan, 27 August 1945. Photographed from a U.S. Navy aircraft.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 600 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 


For additional views of aerial patrols over Japan, taken shortly after 2 September 1945, see Carrier Plane Patrols Over Japan, early September 1945

For links to further pictorial coverage of the Allied Fleets off Japan during 15 August - 2 September 1945, see: Overview and Special Image Selection

For views of other aspects of Japan's surrender, see: Japan Capitulates, August - September 1945


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25 February 1999