80 Years Ago, Tuesday, 14 August 1945

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japan accepts the provisions of the Potsdam Declaration and agrees to surrender ("VJ Day"). General of the Army Douglas MacArthur is named Supreme Allied Commander to receive the enemy's capitulation and conduct the occupation of his homeland.

            Thirty‑five USAAF B‑29s mine Shimonoseki Straits and the waters off Nanao, Maizuru and Hamada, Japan, in the final B‑29 minelaying operations of the war.

            Submarine Spikefish (SS‑404) sinks Japanese submarine I 373, then en route from Sasebo to Takao, 190 miles southeast of Shanghai, China, 29°00'N, 124°00'E.

            In Sea of Japan, submarine Torsk (SS‑423) sinks Coast Defense Vessel No.13 at 35°44'N, 134°38'E, and Coast Defense Vessel No.47 at 35°41'N, 134°38'E.

            Mines laid by USAAF B‑29s (20th Air Force) sink Japanese gunboat Hirota Maru off Mutsure, Japan, 33°59'N,130°52'E, cargo ship Mikamasan Maru at 39°18'N, 126°28'E, and merchant cargo ships Yojo Maru in Osaka harbor,34°38'N, 135°28'E; and Kashima Maru off coast of Korea, 35°10'N, 129°00'E.

            Marine casualties account for damage to Japanese merchant tankers No.8 Nankai Maru at 36°54'N, 126°12.5'E and tanker Nanki Maru 300 miles off Bontensen.

            Aircraft (nationality and type unidentified) sink Japanese merchant cargo ship No.6 Hatokama Maru off Tanoura. and damage merchant cargo ships No.5 Shinko Maru at 34°35'N, 131°23'E, and Tatsusugi Maru at 34°12'N, 129°46'E. Merchant cargo ship No.3 Takakawa Maru, damaged by aircraft, is beached north of Hirato Island.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FEAF—B‑25’s, P‑47’s and P‑51’s attack shipping in Korea and Kyushu waters, claiming several vessels destroyed and damaged. P‑47’s over Osaka‑Nagoya area claim several Japanese aircraft shot down.

TWENTIETH AF—302 B‑29’s bomb naval arsenal at Hikari and Osaka Army Arsenal while 108 bomb railroad yards at Marifu. VII FC planes escort Very Heavy Bombers over Osaka area. During 14/15 Aug, 160‑plus B‑29’s attack Kumagaya and Isezaki with incendiaries while 132 (in the longest nonstop unstaged B‑29 bombing mission from the Marianas‑3,650 mi) bomb Nippon Oil Company at Tsuchizakiminato. 39 others mine waters at Nanao, Shimonoseki, Miyazu, and Hamada. These are the final B‑29 combat missions against Japan. Before the last B‑29’s return, President Truman announces the unconditional surrender of Japan. Immediately thereafter, 11th Airborne Div leaves Phil Is by air for Okinawa, where it goes on standby as the initial occupation force for Japan.

VII FC—After escorting B‑29 strike over Osaka area, 160‑plus fighters (from VII FC on Iwo Jima) fly last fighter strike against Japan Home Islands, hitting airfields and other military installations in Nagoya general area.

 

US ARMY

JAPAN—Accepts Allied unconditional surrender terms. 11th Airborne Division moves by air from the Philippines to Okinawa en route to Japan.

 

US MARINE CORPS

4th Marines (Reinforced), comprising the Yokosuka Landing Force, departs Guam for Japan.