Japan’s surrender is signed on USS Missouri, September 2, 1945
The two thousand crew members literally hang off of gun turrets and other parts of the ship to witness this moment of history. None of the eleven Japanese diplomats and military officers wants to be there, fearing the humiliation will stick to them permanently. They advance at the invitation of General Douglas MacArthur to sign the Instrument of Surrender. Two copies lie on the table, leather-bound for the Americans and canvas-coated for the Japanese. As the Japanese depart, a massive formation of American aircraft fly overhead. Looking up, they receive a dramatic message: the Americans are now your masters.