Air Operations, Japan

• At 0415 hours, 103 Task Force 38 carrier aircraft are launched against Tokyo-area targets. Orders to cease hostilities are broadcast just as the first attackers arrive over their targets.
• While the Allies mount no more offensive strikes, they must nonetheless defend themselves against a spate of strikes, perhaps mounted by Japanese pilots unhappy with the surrender. In the final aerial engagements of World War II, a VBF-83 F4U downs a C6N 'Myrt' reconnaissance plane at sea at 0540 hours.
• VF-31 F6Fs down 4 A6M Zeros and a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter at sea at 0545 hours.
• VF-49 F6Fs down 6 A6M Zeros near Mito at 0620 hours.
• VF-6 F6Fs down an A6M Zero and 2 J2M 'Jack' fighters over Sagami Bay at 0705 hours.
• VF-88 F6Fs down 5 Ki-84 'Frank' fighters and 3 J2M 'Jack' fighters near the Atsugi airfield on Honshu at 0720 hours and 3 C6N 'Myrt' reconnaissance Planes over the Hokoda airfield at 0743 hours.
• A VBF-6 F4U downs a B5N 'Kate' torpedo bomber over Task Force 38 at 1122 hours.
• A VBF-85 F4U downs a D4Y 'Judy' dive bomber 15 miles from Task Force 38 at noon.
• A VF-86 F6F downs an A6M Zero at sea at 1300 hours.
• A VF-86 F6F downs a D4Y 'Judy' dive bomber at sea at 1331 hours.
• Beginning with an A6M Zero downed at 0825 hours on December 7, 1941, over Pearl Harbor by VS-6’s Aviation Radioman 1st Class William C. Miller, US Navy fighter pilots and carrier-based light-bomber crews have been credited with downing 6,800 Japanese aircraft in the Pacific War.
• Task Force 38 recalls a 73-plane afternoon carrier strike mission when Adm Chester W. Nimitz, Jr., orders Adm William F. Halsey, Jr.: 'Suspend air attack operations.' Shortly, several apparently uninformed Japanese pilots down 4 F6Fs on patrol over the coast.
• Pending an actual surrender, Task Force 38 withdraws to an area 100 to 200 miles southeast of Tokyo and maintains its normal wartime routine.

Air Operations, Pacific and East Asia

Effective immediately, all Allied military forces are ordered to terminate offensive action against Japan and Japanese forces.

Air Operations, Ryukyus

On or about this date, the 5th Air Force’s 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group displaces to Ie Shima from the Philippines. The group’s primary mission is locating prisoner-of-war camps, assessing bomb damage, and charting the movement of Japanese military forces in southern Kyushu.

Diplomatic Relations

A Treaty of Friendship is made between Nationalist China and the USSR.

China, Politics

The Chinese Communist leadership tells the US Government that it wants territorial gains from any post-war settlement with Japan. The Soviet Union pledges to return Manchuria to China within 3 months of the end of hostilities with Japan.

France, Politics

In Paris Marshal Pétain is found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. On August 17 this sentence is commuted to life imprisonment because of his age. He lived to 95.

Pacific

New attacks from Vice-Adm John S. McCain's fast carrier squadron are under way when the order ending hostilities arrives and not all planes hear the recall. There is some air fighting also with Adm Matome Ugaki leading final kamikaze attacks. All 7 of his dive-bombers are shot down by US fighters off Tokyo before they can reach Okinawa.

Pacific War

This is VJ Day. Emperor Hirohito's broadcast is made to the Japanese people, many of whom cannot at first accept what has what has happened because the tight control of the government has prevented civilians knowing the full extent of the weakness of Japan's position. He tells of his move to surrender Japan's forces, and asks the Japanese people not to resist the Allies. The next day, Hirohito orders Japanese troops at home and throughout the Pacific to lay down their arms.

United States, Home Front

The rationing of gasoline and canned goods ends in the U.S. This is fortunate since many Americans celebrate V-J day by joyously tearing up their ration coupons. Unfortunately, many also destroy coupons for items which will continue to be rationed.

Images from August 15, 1945

On 15 August 1945 news reached London that Japan had surrendered, bringing World War II to a close, and within minutes crowds flooded on to the streets to celebrate

Celebrating V-J Day in London

15 August 1945 - Melbourne: Jitterbug dancing in Swanston Street during the Victory Pacific celebrations in the city streets

Celebrating V-J Day in Melbourne

Japanese Prisoners of War at Guam, with bowed heads after hearing Emperor Hirohito make announcement of Japan's unconditional surrender. Taken on 15 August 1945

Japanese POWs Hearing Hirohito's Announcement of Surrender

The National Liberation Day of Korea, is celebrated annually on August 15 in both North and South Korea. It commemorates Victory over Japan Day, in which the Korean Peninsula was liberated from Imperial Japanese colonial rule by the United States and the Soviet Union

National Liberation Day of Korea