[VR-21]

Your picture reminds me of the surrender on the Missouri. It’s almost never shown in the footage one sees of that event, but when the Japanese signed the document, they were required to use two pens. Immediately after the signatures were made Mac called Generals Wainwright and Percival (commander of the British forces at Singapore) to the table and gave them each one of those pens. I guess is’s not considered diplomatic to show that portion of that film.

[CougarGA7]

Wainwright worried the entire time of his captivity that he would be looked down on by the American people for surrendering. The first Americans he saw when the war ended was a group of OSS personnel who had been airdropped to secure the safety of POWs (This was being done all over the areas where POWs camps were known to be). He asked on of the men what people back in the states thought of him. He was told that he is a hero and was even on the cover of Time”.

Funny, I was just reading about his liberation last night not even making the connection that today would be May 6th, the day he surrendered.

[fredhead]

The way I remember reading it was that MacArthur himself used four pens to sign the surrender documents. He signed for the United Nations, Adm. Nimitz for the US. One was given to Wainwright, one to Percival, one sent to West Point, and the last given to Jean, his wife.

[VOA]

Some photos from the surrender on the USS Missouri; click on the
thumbs for enlarged image.

Signing the Instruments of Surrender
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/japansur/js-8g.htm

Wainwright and Percival standing behind MacArthur
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/ac00001/ac04627.jpg

Formal Surrender
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/japansur/js-8.htm

“Japan Capitulates”
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/japansur/japansur.htm

and one of VOA’s favorite graphics:
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/i00000/i00856k.jpg

minor factoid: I remembered an interview with a future film star recalling
his witnessing of the surrender in Tokyo Bay:
“Between 1942 and 1945 Curtis served in the United States Navy aboard
the submarine tender, the USS Proteus. He witnessed the Japanese surrender
in Tokyo Bay September 2, 1945, from 300 yards (274.32 m) away.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Curtis