As I research the saga of World War II it becomes more apparent that my Uncle Bob (Bucky's brother) was in the center of most of the action in the South Pacific. He was flying C-47 aircraft around the South Pacific islands hauling freight and troops to strategic locations.
After the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, in August of 1945, the realization came that the War was ending. Bob had been flying freight missions from Manila to Okinawa as our troops were trying to conquer the island. Troops were being brought in by ships and Bob's squadron needed to fly in "heavy work type equipment".
Gradually Bob's missions switched to carrying important people on his flights (not troops) but people with with rank and authority. His squadron was moved up to the island of Iwo Jima and eventually to a field near Tokyo. After the surrender of Japan, the Japanese were to have their first "face to face" meeting with Americans on the island of le Shima (never heard of it). The Japanese Generals were flown on Japanese military aircraft from Japan to le Shima. Bob recalls being on a flight to Okinawa when he was ordered to take a plane load of world newsmen and reporters to le Shima so they could photograph and report on the meeting. That gave Bob the opportunity to watch the historic meeting.
He then flew many missions to Japan before the signing of the surrender on board the Battleship Missouri in the harbor of Tokyo. There was plenty of time to mingle with the Japanese pending the formal surrender and Bob "was always amazed at the courtesy and friendliness of everyone". There was never a feeling of being in danger.
Bob happened to have a flight out of Japan on Sept. 2, 1945 and his flight plan took him directly over the Battleship Missouri during the formal signing of surrender. Bob said he didn't realize what he was seeing and had to ask others "what the hell is going on on that big battleship in the harbor"?
So you see, my Uncle flew "over the top" of a very historic event. He was there at the end.
I do remember going to the Plymouth train station waiting for the "troop train" from Milwaukee returning military personnel after the War. Most travel in 1945-46 was by train. Standing on the platform waiting for the train was filled with anticipation. You could see the train come around a curve about a mile before it got into Plymouth. It seemed to take forever to traverse that mile. Finally the train would pull into the station (you need to experience the sensation of standing on the platform watching the train and never being sure who or what was really moving). Every family in attendance did a frantic search for their returning loved one as they stepped from the train to the platform.
World War II was over.
Love,
Dad