World War II officially ended on August 14th,(The day Japan announced the surrender) but it wasn't signed until September 2nd of 1945. The signing occured on the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The same flag that hung in Washington on December 7, 1941, was now waving on this tremendous battleship.

      Nine Japanese delegation members dressed formally and were lead onto the ship. General Douglas MacArthur, head of the Pacific War, was there on the battleship ready to sign the document. Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu was the first to sign the surrender. General Yoshijiro Umezu of the General Staff signed the document for the Japanese armed forces and the emperor.

      General MacArthur was next to sign. He was accompanied by Lieutenant General Jonathan M. Wainwright, and Lieutenant General Arthur Percival. The two were recently rescued from P.O.W. camps. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, General Hsu Yung Chang, Sir Bruce Fraser, and Lieutenant General K. Derevyanko also signed the surrender.

      Over 400 Superfortresses flew over Tokyo, and later some 20,000 troops were ashore Japan. President Roosevelt claimed September 2nd, 1945 as V-J Day. Emperor Hirohito of Japan ordered his people to take in the Americans.

      People all over the world celebrated. The war was over. After nearly 6 years, it was finally over! One of the most disastrous, innovative, and destructive wars was over. There was finally peace.