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Following Japan's acceptance of Allied terms, the first overseas Japanese post to surrender was that at Mili Atoll, in the southeastern Marshall Islands. One of several "bypassed" island garrisons in the central Pacific, Mili's Japanese forces had endured over eighteen months of regular bombardment and deprivation. Its surrender took place on 22 August on board the escort ship USS Levy (DE-162), which later hosted such ceremonies at Jaluit and Wake. The U.S. flag was formally raised over Mili on 28 August, and most of the Japanese there began the trip home to Japan on the following day.
This page features photographs of Mili's surrender and of conditions there at that time.
For further pictorial coverage of the overseas Japanese surrenders, see:
Surrender of Japanese Forces Outside of Japan, 22 August - mid-September 1945 -- Overview and Special Image Selection.
The pages Surrender of Truk Atoll ... and
Japanese Surrenders in Other Locations ... include coverage of the surrender of other central Pacific garrisons.
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-490368 Surrender of Japan, 1945 Japanese Navy Captain Masanori Shiga salutes as he boards USS Levy (DE-162), off Mili Atoll in the southeastern Marshalls Group, to surrender the Japanese base there, 22 August 1945. Facing the camera, at right, is Captain H. B. Grow, USNR, senior U.S. officer at the ceremonies. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-490369 Surrender of Japan, 1945 Japanese Navy Captain Masanori Shiga signs the surrender document for Mili Atoll, Marshalls, on board USS Levy (DE-162), 22 August 1945. To the right of Capt. Shiga are (left to right): Lieutenant E.R. Harris, USNR; Lieutenant Colonel G.V. Burnett, USMCR, and Captain H. B. Grow, USNR, senior U.S. officer present. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 620 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-490370 Surrender of Japan, 1945 Japanese and U.S. officers negotiate the surrender of Mili Atoll, Marshalls, on board USS Levy (DE-162), 22 August 1945. Identified U.S. officers present include (from left to right): Commander H.E. Cross; Captain H. B. Grow, USNR, senior U.S. officer present; Commander W.C. Burkhard; Lieutenant P.S. Breck, Jr.; Commander C.G. Olson; Japanese officers in center include an unidentified junior officer, at left, and Japanese Navy Captain Masanori Shiga. Note pistol shoulder holster worn by U.S. officer in right foreground, fancy rope decoration on stanchions, metal wardroom chairs and steward in right background. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-490371 Surrender of Japan, 1945 Japanese and U.S. officers negotiate the surrender of Mili Atoll, Marshalls, on board USS Levy (DE-162), 22 August 1945. At left is the senior U.S. officer present, Captain H. B. Grow, USNR. Japanese officer at right is Navy Captain Masanori Shiga. Note packs of cigarettes on the table. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: USMC 134057 Mili Island, Mili Atoll, Marshalls Group Damaged Japanese Navy Type 89 5"/40 twin dual-purpose gun mount on Mili, at the time of the island's surrender in late August 1945. Mili, target of eighteen months of ceaseless bombing by U.S. Marine Corps aircraft, was the first Japanese Pacific island to surrender at the end of World War II. Photographed by R.O. Kepler, USMC. U.S. Marine Corps Photograph. Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
For further pictorial coverage of the overseas Japanese surrenders, see:
Surrender of Japanese Forces Outside of Japan, 22 August - mid-September 1945 -- Overview and Special Image Selection.
The pages Surrender of Truk Atoll ... and
Japanese Surrenders in Other Locations ... include coverage of the surrender of other central Pacific garrisons.
For views of other aspects of Japan's surrender, see: Japan Capitulates, August - September 1945
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10 March 1999