You are here
Wwii Veteran Army Photographer's Original Album Pg Japanese Surrender Manila'45
They are held to the album paper by photo corners, so the pictures can be gently squeezed to lift them out of the corners. Inscription reads JAPANESE MILITARY OFFICIALS, ARRIVING IN MANILA TO, MEET WITH MAC ARTHUR & COMMITTEE, AND TO HEAR THE TERMS OF SURRENDER.
Photo #1: Album page says "BILIBAD PRISON, MANILA". Reverse of photo says " Bilibad Prison where Tojo's General Yamashito is being held prisoner - The "Tiger of The Philippines. Note red cross on the roof, jeeps parked in front, and Navy men seen walking.
Note MP at bottom of ramp. Ramp says AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND, 1571 AAF (Army Air Force) BASE UNIT.
The first Japanese appears to be Lieutenant-General Torashiro Kawabe. The more common picture of this scene has the US officer looking down and being lower down the stairs. There were probably different cameras taking many different snapshots so it is interesting to contrast differences with other known pictures. Photo #4: US and Japanese officers at car after departing the plane. In the group is Major-General Charles Willoughby who was MacArthur's Chief of Intelligence and Colonel Mashbir.
Photo #5: Battle-worn City Hall with many servicemen looking on. Backside inscription says This was taken just after the Japs had entered Mac's headquarters.
I passed by here about the time the picture was snapped. Photo #6: Album page says A JAP OFFICER SURRENDERING TO OUR TROOPS. " Reverse of photo says " This picture was in Yank. Shows a Jap officer after he surrendered to our forces in Northern Luzon.
Photo #7: Major-General Charles Willoughby and Lieutenant-General Torashiro Kawabe ascending staircase. MP at attention by doorway. A similar picture is archived at the Australian War Memorial Private Records Collection. Photo #8: Japanese officers ascending staircase with attaché cases. Building columns show bullet holes.
Photo #9: Japanese and US officers entering the Manila City Hall. Photo #10: Conference table with US and Japanese officers. This appears to be May 6 1942 in Bataan with General Wainwright and General Homma.
Appears to have been highlighted for accent as old photos sometimes were. There is some on-negative writing visible in the lower left of the picture Where is Jap glory today...
Backside inscription says full verse Where is Jap glory today? The Japs look pretty sad don't they?
It is an interesting picture because usually this 1942 scene is from the perspective of the other end of the table. Photo #11: Japanese and US delegation coming down the stairs. We believe the man in the white suit is Katsuo Okazaki, (Foreign Minister) of the Japanese Delegation and Lieutenant-General Torashiro Kawabe is in the right of the picture.
No dates are written on the pictures, but this surrender delegation event took place on August 19, 1945. The pictures may not be in order because the officers of both sides left hats and swords in an anteroom before entering the main conference room. Also, General Yamashita referenced on the prison picture did not surrender until September after the formal Tokyo surrender. Photograph picture prints are 3 1/4" x 2 3/8". Album sheet is 11 3/4" x 14". We do not recommend rolling it because the album paper is aged and has photographs inserted in photo corner holders. An amazing and personal bit of WWII history from somebody who was there! Great item for historians or militaria enthusiasts! Album page is torn and creased. Album paper has faded as seen when pictures were removed from their holders showing darker paper behind the pictures.
Pictures are in good condition, but have aged. One picture lower right corner and holder are crumpled. One picture has two white processing spots. Some pictures have slight creases. Hand inscriptions on album page and the backs of some pictures.