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Collection PageNavy Combat Artist Standish Backus was in Guam to cover its occupation when his plans changed. The Japanese surrendered. On 15 August he transferred to the Third Fleet and the 2nd Battalion of the Marine 4th Regiment. These Marines conducted the first landing of the Japanese mainland and cleared the way for the arrival of the Third Fleet at Tokyo Bay for the signing of the formal surrender of Japan. Backus accompanied the Marines on the first landing and observed the surrender ceremony on the U.S.S. Missouri. This exhibit documents what he saw in words and pictures.
For more information go to Tokyo Bay Surrender Ceremony, 2 September 1945.
Destination Tokyo Bay
Standish Backus #1
Watercolor on paper, 1945
88-186-A
The Third Fleet at sea is scarcely
ever visible in its entirety to a single observer, either on the
surface or in the air. What one sees is the aspect of some of
the other ships in one's own task group. Occasionally, the whole
fleet will rendevous at a prearranged site and then one can see
lines of ships disappearing over the horizon in all directions.
However, while steaming back and forth some 300 miles southeast
of Honshu during the twelve days between 15 August 1945 and the
27th (when the fleet entered Japanese waters) the most impressive
sight to this observer was the confident form of the battleship
Iowa.
Pre-Surrender
Nocturne Tokyo Bay
Standish Backus #13
Watercolor on paper, 1945
88-186-Z
The forts at Futtsu Saki had to be approached and demobilized early on the morning of 30 August 1945. No landings from the sea had yet occurred and we did not know what sort of reception we would receive from the Japanese. From past experience, it was not expected to be healthy in all respects. Was there a division of troops in those forts waiting to mow us down as we hit the beach? Its very silence, the haunted quantity of the burnt-out Japanese destroyer, and the eeriness of the moonlight gave us all a foreboding.
The
First Wave on Japan
Standish Backus #2
Watercolor on paper, 1945
88-186-B
Futtsu Peninsula, Tokyo Bay: Seal-like
Higgins boats create their own heavy seas as they carry Marines
of the 2nd Battalion 4th Regiment ashore for the first test of
whether the Japanese will resist or abide by negotiated surrender
terms. It is tense for the next five minutes. The Japanese would
logically wait until the Marines were at the shore line to open
a withering fire that could be a massacre. Since there could be
no preparatory bombing or bombardment, it had to be done the hard
way by head-on assault. The main group of boats landed here at
Fort #2 while a small group landed at Fort #1 at the end of the
spit beyond the hulk of a burned-out Japanese destroyer. The setting
moon, which stood watch over the landing of the boats from the
transport, is now relieved by the misty rays of the early sun.
The
Approach to Fort #3, Futtsu Peninsula, Tokyo Bay
Standish Backus #3
Watercolor on paper, 1945
88-186-C
As their part in what General MacArthur called "the greatest
military gamble in history," the 2nd Battalion of the 4th
Marine Regiment made the first landing from the sea on the Japanese
home islands. The purpose of this landing was to seize & demobilize
three forts on the Futtsu Peninsula, across Tokyo Bay from Yokosuka,
so the fleet might anchor in the bay without threat from these
defenses. The great gamble lay in whether the Japanese would permit
these and other landings in spite of assurances made by the Emperor.
These Marines were to be the guinea pigs. The landings were made
with full battle equipment but without the aid of preliminary
bombardment. Had the Japanese decided to resist this could have
been one of the worst beaches of the war perhaps worse the Dieppe.
Instead, no mines were found, pill boxes were few and unmanned,
and only 22 Japanese soldiers were flushed out and they surrendered.
The Marines took no chances, proceeding single file to minimize
the chance of hitting mines, regarding the prepared defenses with
suspicion, carrying sledge hammers to smash the breeches of any
guns found. They secured all forts, positions, and objectives
in two and a half hours with no untoward incidents. Incredulous,
the Marines withdrew across the Bay to Gokusuke to repeat the
operation just as bloodlessly.
First
American Flag Raising in Japan Since 1941
Standish Backus #11
Watercolor on paper, 1946
88-186-K
This incident occurred on 30 August
1945. The scene was the largest of three forts on Futtsu Saki,
a peninsula protruding into Tokyo Bay, opposite Yokosuka. The
2nd Battalion of the 4th Marines had landed there to demobilize
coast defense rifles so that the Third Fleet might enter Tokyo
Bay safely to carry out the main landing at Yokosuka. In the distance
appears the outer fort at the end of the peninsula and further,
Mount Fuji.
Following Signing of Surrender Documents
Standish Backus #11L
Pen, ink and felt tipped pen on paper, 1945
88-186-W
Following the signing of surrender
documents, Japanese delegates start to leave U.S.S. Missouri.
At this moment the sky is darkened by hundreds of U.S. planes.
Most Japanese remained straight faced but a few raised their faces
and opened their mouths.
Yokosuka
Airfield and Tokyo Bay During the American Occupation
Standish Backus #19
Watercolor on paper, 1946
88-186-AF
While units of the U.S. Third and Fifth Fleet ride at anchor off
shore in the tight little harbor, planes of Marine Air Group 31
operate from the field. This field was the Japanese main naval
air experimental station and possessed many advanced types of
airplanes and facilities. Typical of Japanese terrain development
is the cut and fill construction seen here. There are large hangers
and shops dug back under the hills. To the left is a boneyard
of junked planes, including a few shot up U.S. jobs.
Corsairs
Fringe Fuji
Standish Backus #16
Wash & scratch board, 1945
88-186-AC
Mount Fuji, for all that it means
to Japanese, proved a warm friend of American pilots not only
during wartime raids but during the occupation. On routine patrols
Marine pilots often went out of their way to buzz the sacred slopes.
24 June 1999