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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

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Topic
  • Theater of Operations--Pacific
  • Ceremonies. Celebrations, Commemorations
  • People-Places-Things--Japanese
  • Boats-Ships--Battleship
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  • Artifact
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
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Location of Archival Materials

Plaque from USS Missouri Marking the Location of the Japanese Surrender 


USS Missouri World War II Japanese Surrender Plaque

Title: Plaque, Commemorative, Japanese Surrender onboard USS Missouri (BB-63)
Accession #: NHHC 1989-170-A
Circa: 1945
Size: 19"
Medium: Brass
Location: Headquarters Artifact Collection, Naval History and Heritage Command

One plaque commemorating the surrender ceremony on board the USS Missouri (BB-63). Brass disk with worn but legible raised lettering. Plaque reads, "Over This Spot / On 2 September 1945 / The Instrument / Of Formal Surrender / Of Japan To The Allied Powers / Was Signed / Thus Bringing To A Close / The Second World War / The Ship At That Time / Was At Anchor / In Tokyo Bay". Lettering around the perimeter of the plaque reads, "U.S.S. Missouri / Latitude 35 (degrees) 21' 17" North - Longitude 139 (degrees) 45' 36" East." 

Word of the Japanese surrender was announced by President Harry Truman 15 August 1945. The surrender ceremony was to take place onboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Harbor. On 2 September 1945, the official surrender of Japan was broadcast to the world. A plaque to commemorate the signing of the surrender agreement to be placed onboard the Missouri was requested by ADM Nimitz in a letter dated 11 Sept 1945- only nine days after the ceremony took place.  

This is the original plaque that was placed in the deck of the Missouri in October 1945. After more than forty years of polishing, the writing had become worn and difficult to read. In 1988, the MISSOURI Association raised funds to replace the original plaque. The original was removed from the ship and sent to NHHC in 1989. An exact replica of the original was installed in its place onboard the Missouri.

Published: Thu Apr 16 13:59:34 EDT 2020