UNITED NEWS [Series Title]

Edition of US-produced wartime newsreel depicting the arrival of American occupation troops in Japan at Atsugi and Yokosuka near Tokyo.

'Allied forces land in Japan'; aerial views of the United States Navy's Third Fleet under Admiral Halsey sailing in Japanese waters. Low altitude aerial view of an aircraft carrier. View of the forecastle of an Iowa Class battleship. Admiral Halsey on deck. View of the fleet. Aerial views of a large airfield on Okinawa with parked United States Army Air Forces transport aircraft. Aerial view of an aircraft passing Mount Fuji. Douglas C-54 transport aircraft, carrying troops of the 11th Airborne Division, arrive at Atsugi aerodrome in Kanagawa Prefecture. A party of Japanese officers approaches to hand over the airfield. They talk with Major-General Joseph Swing (commander 11th Airborne Division) and Lieutenant-General Robert Eichelberger (commander, US Eighth Army). An American flag flies over Atsugi. Tilt down the control tower, the base now bedecked with signs in English ('Atsugi Airdrome Tokyo - Base Operations - 3rd Airdrome Squadron - First in Tokyo'). A party of Japanese military police march past. Japanese aircraft parked at Atsugi. American ships in Sagami Bay en route to Tokyo. A US Navy PBY Catalina flying boating landing on the water. Commentator describes Admiral Chester Nimitz, commander US Pacific Fleet approaches Halsey's flagship, USS Missouri (see note below). Nimitz is piped aboard. Nimitz and Halsey shaking hands. A tug carrying Japanese harbour pilots comes alongside the cruiser USS San Diego (flagship of Task Force 31 under Admiral Oscar Badger) in the Uraga Channel. Japanese pilots on board. Sunken Japanese ships can be seen partially submerged. Approaching the battleship Nagato. The crew on deck. The American crew take over. Nagato with American flag flying. Landing craft underway, laden with Marines heading ashore at Futtsu. Landing craft beaching; two are marked PA13818 and PA13814. PA138-16 is also seen (these landing craft probably from the attack transport USS Braxton (APA-138)). Marines hoist a flag. Marching inland. More landing craft, including PA156-15 and PA156-17 from USS Mellette, beach at Yokosoka. Men come ashore from PA203-4 (of USS Meriwether). Planting a flag. Marines pass camera. The light cruiser USS San Diego berthed at Yokosuka. Japanese officers surrender Yokosuka to American officers. Another flag is raised. At Atsugi; more transports land. Curtiss C-46 Commando aircraft, marked 374th TCG (374th Troop Carrier Group), taxis past. Troops disemplane. View from an aircraft landing at Atsugi. Nose of the plane marked 'Bataan'. General MacArthur steps down from his aircraft and is greeted by Eichelberger. Parked Japanese trucks. Infantry board the trucks to deploy around Tokyo. Freed American prisoners of war shake hands with newly arrived troops. Group of freed prisoners; one is an amputee standing on crutches. MacArthur inspects Atsugi. MacArthur and party.

35mm