Pictou. | BS foe - | Aston oF pores", corre wus gow sna aoe, ; _ The following narrative is'a combination of the Hellbird's "show of Force" ove Tokyo on 31 August 1945, the first gchedtiled day for the peace term signing, and WJ Day, 2 Septenber 1945, when the actual terms of surrender were signed by the Japs and Allies aboard the battleship U.3.3. lissouri. \. Edel mission Jeft Timian carly if the morning of their respective days; both missions reported similar ground and sea activities and were different oniy in that the ¥J Day "show of Force" was present over Tokyo on the historical date of 2 September 1915, for the sighing of the peace terms. ~The observations were identical with those made by the "shor of Force! on the 30th of Sugust. ‘Tokyo, Yokohama, and Yokosuka were in utter ruin. Red ash vas all that was left of the once large domestic and industrial section of the cities. Rail~ roada were retuilt to a certain small dexree ‘and few trains were seen running, Duspes and few people were the only signs of Japanese actiyity. Tt was noted that the Duperor's Palace renained undgmaged amid the ruins of Tolgos ‘As the formations flew at. approximately 3 to , thousand feet above the terrain, Uhey witnessed the ccoupation of Japan by ‘both naval and army units. Those air— craft operating on the 3lst‘of August were impressed by the large U.S. Fleet moving — nto Tokyo Bay. Other planes were present toth on the 31 August and 2 September missions to supplenent the Superfort's impressive formation, 295 flyluy Ts Day formation werd saluted by the Naval personnel aboard the battleship sae as the formation "buzzed" the ace WE vessel. ‘The sky above Tokyo on VJ Day was shared by at least 10 other, formations of BA29s other “that the Hellbirds'. ve tae aig ee eS ‘WA2 aircratt returned safely to TinlaH with no thoident other than a few Two Jima refuelings. opal mere 28.#. a FRISONER OF WAR SUPPLY JassTon -—»«462ND_BOMBARDEIT GROUP «= «30. ausUST 1945 On 30 August 1945, sixteen aircraft of the 462nd Bombardment Group took off from Tinian loaded with Prisoner. of War Supplies for those men interned on the Japanese Mainland. The morning before, 29 August, the aircraft scheduled for the PW Supply mission flew to Saipan where they were loared with the sipplies the dropped. The Red Tails of the Group flew separate courses and parachuted their loads of supplies according to each bombardiers calculations. Bach plane carried thirty- six "chuted" boxes witich weighed approximately 5,000 pounds totel. The name of each Camp and the number of aircraft dropping on each target is ay follows: HIROSHIMA CAMP: 1 A/C assigned and aborted HIROSHIMA CAMP #2 3 a/c assigned and dropped HIROSHIMA CAMP $3 1 A/C assigned and dropped HIROSHIMA CAMP BRANCH #1 1 a/c assigned but dropped over water f HIROSHIMA CAMP BRANCH #2 1 A/C assigned, observed no activity ab the camp so dropped on Branch #1 HIROSHIMA CAMP BRANCH #4 3 A/C assigned, 2 dropped entire load ty 1 dropped half a load : HIROSHIMA CAMP BRATCH #6 7 5 A/c assigned to drop four and a half loads FUKASHIIA CAMP : : 1 A/c assigned and dropped ; 7 rt eral reception the 4/¢ received at the Pa Campe was nor, 0 to the athort usel in carrying out the mission. Fils were waving and eager rec: e “ALL camps were marked by large Pw signs on tl sain peor ast Be groups of men forming the letters P and i. had men dressed in white shirts and blue pants for Patt (acertain whether these men were American ited although the parachutes wereek ie tae ate Phe ae all planes landing at Tinian safely.