The "Mighty Mo's" Place At the End of World War II-- Part 5: "Where Are Those Damn Planes?"

Thousands of men from the military's top brass to regular crewmen witnessed he signing of the documents, ending the war with the surrender of the Japanese Empire.  The Allied copy was bound in leather and the Japanese one in canvas.

There were a few glitches, despite Starnes' careful planning.  The Canadian representative signed on the wrong line.  Yet, for the most part the 23-minute ceremony, broadcast around the world, ran smoothly.

At the end, General Douglas MacArthur said, "Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world, and that God will preserve it always.  These proceedings are closed."

He then turned to Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey and said, "Where are the damn planes?"  The plan was to have a massive flyover of some 450 carrier aircraft from the 3rd fleet, followed by a formation of B-29 bombers.  A clear indication of the might of the United States.

They finally arrived as the Japanese delegation was escorted off the deck.  Starnes remembers, "They were so low they made the sky look black."

--GreGen