160307-0032 - Japanese Surrender WWII

Japanese emissaries en route to Manila to meet with General Douglas MacArthur’s staff to work out the details of Japan’s surrender marking the end of WWII are briefed by American commanders on the US held island of Iejima in Okinawa Prefecture shortly after noon on August 19, 1945 (Showa 20).

The delegation of 16 military and civilian representatives had arrived on two specially-marked Japanese Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” bombers.

After the briefing they boarded the US C-54 Skymaster transport plane whose shade they had used to continue their flight to the Philippines.

The crew of the two Japanese bombers were detained overnight until the surrender delegation returned from Manila the following day.

The delegation travelled in two bombers which were painted white with dark green crosses to identify them as non-hostile.

The flight therefore became known as the Green Cross flight. Over the following month, the technique became the standard operating procedure for Japanese aircraft carrying envoys for surrender.