The Chaos of Victory (1946)

In the week following the Emperor’s order to cease hostilities, U.S. planes on photo-reconnaissance missions over Japan were twice attacked by enemy interceptors. On 17 August, four B-32s were attacked over Tokyo by an estimated 10 Japanese fighters, of which two were probably destroyed and a third damaged. The same day, three other photo planes over Yokosuka and Miyakonojo were met by antiaircraft fire. On the 18th, two unescorted reconnoitering B-32s over Tokyo were attacked by 14 enemy fighters. An aerial photographer in one plane was killed, two of the crew were wounded, and both planes were heavily damaged. Our aircraft retaliated by shooting down two of the Japanese attackers and probably destroying two more. This attack occurred only a few hours after the Japanese government had accepted General MacArthur’s instructions to fly a peace delegation to Manila on the following day.

11 February 1946

From: Commander in Chief,

U.S. Pacific Fleet