[PRESS RELEASE] Japanese to Sign Surrender Aboard USS Missouri Mightiest Ship in the United States Fleet. Navy Department **Rare Mimeographed Document** Social History,WWII

Japanese to Sign Surrender Aboard USS Missouri Mightiest Ship in the United States Fleet, this being a press release from U.S. Department of the Navy. Dated August 28, 1945. 11x8.5", 3 leaves, stapled. Provenance: Miss Estelle and Miss Helene Philibert (Alexandria, Virginia), who worked for the U.S. Department of the Navy in the 1940's-1960's (at least), and who were, in particular, biographers of Samuel Eliot Morrison and John Paul Jones. Although I can find numerous copies in WorldCat, I haven't been able (over time) to find a copy of this release available in the trade. VG/Fine condition--probably a Fine copy.[++] This press release comes at the very end of World War II--the end in Europe, (VE Day) was May 8, 1945, while the Armistice with Japan--the governing powers finally seeing the clear end after two atomic bombs six days later, on August 14, while the formal signing of the declaration and instrument of surrender occurred on September 2. The U.S.S. Missouri was just 14 months old at this point, and had in that time already seen action at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. It was the newest of the Iowa-class ships, and was certainly enormous (887') and powerful, and a fitting stage for the signing ceremony. After years of war, the proceedings for signing over the end of the devastating war took all of 23 minutes. [++] NOTE--I have another copy of this document for sale here on ABE--just not quite as nice.