Aerial views of Washington DC in United States. Flying down the Potomac River. Development on either side of the river including Georgetown University and Rosslyn. Views of the Key Bridge over the Potomac River and the old pilings from the removed Aqueduct Bridge, and the Memorial Bridge leading to the Lincoln Memorial. The Munitions Building and Main Navy Building visible on the National Mall beyond the Lincoln Memorial. Roosevelt Island visible. The 14th Street Bridge and the railroad bridges adjacent. View of the Jefferson Memorial. The U.S. Capitol can be seen in the far background. View of the National Airport and the Bolling Air Force Base. Taxied plane on the airstrips and views of the hangars and terminal at Washington National Airport.
With the surrender of Germany, World War 2 in Europe ends, on VE (Victory in Europe) Day, May 8, 1945. Scene opens with church bells ringing and view of west front of St. Paul's Cathedral, on Ludgate Hill, in London, England. Crowd is celebrating in the square. around the statue of Queen Anne. Amongst the crowd are men and women in uniform. Here and there Union Jack flags are seen, one held by a little girl hoisted upon a man's shoulder. Camera pans across various parts of the celebrating crowds. View from above, of several couples dancing within a circle of people. Several uniformed U.S. Air Force officers in a jeep celebrate with the crowd. High altitude view of Trafalgar Square in London, England. 'Victory over Germany 1945' banner draped on base of Nelson's Column. Crowd of British citizens celebrating on streets of Whitehall and closeup of the Cenotaph with inscription "The Glorious Dead".
USAF General Henry Arnold meets crew of U.S. Army Air Forces B-29 Super Fortress at Bolling Field, Washington, DC during World War II. C-47s lined up on the flight line. General Arnold, Lieutenant General Barney Giles and Brigadier General Lauris Norstad walk on the field. Crew members lined up in front of B-29. General Arnold in the foreground. General Norstad introduces the Aircraft Commander, Lt. DO Horsfall of Kalamazoo, Michigan, who salutes and shake hands with General Arnold. Lt. Horsfall introduces members of his crew who step forward, salute and shake General Arnold's hand. General Arnold tells the crew that U.S. bombers from China bases had been unable to reach the Japanese heartland. But B-29s from the Marianas would now be able to strike places like Hokkaido and Kyushu. He dictates a message for Horsfall and crew to write on a bomb. Crew members gather around bombs as the pilot writes the message, reading: 'To the war lords of Japan we have not forgotten. The B-29s will remind you again, again and again!'
The first U.S. Army Air Force B-29 to be based on Saipan, comes in for a landing and taxis onto the ramp at Isley Airfield, Saipan, Marianas Islands, during World War II. A Crowd of U.S. military personnel surround the airplane. Brigadier General Haywood S.Hansell Jr., Chief of 21st Bomber Command, who flew the airplane, is greeted by Colonel Robertson, Colonel Shelmeyer, and other officers, on the ramp in front of the aircraft. Many C-47s and one C-54 cargo aircraft is seen on the ramp. The aircrew stand beside B-29, which bears "T Square 5" tail markings, identifying it as belonging to the 73rd Bombardment Wing, 498th Bomb Group, 873rd Bomb Squadron. Its tail number is: 42-24614. (It is named: "Joltin' Josie, The Pacific Pioneer." )
Operations of U.S. Martin B-26 Marauder aircraft of the 9th Air Force, 323rd Bombardment Group from Denain Airfield (A-83) in France, at very end of World War II in Europe. View from interior of Base Operations building shows B-26s taking off from runway. Six B-26s in formation. Four B-26s in formation. The aircraft all display the distinctive white tail of the 323rd BG.
Surrender of Japanese Imperial forces leads to end of World War II. American planes approach Atsugi Air Base in Japan. Wrecked Japanese planes on airfield. Japanese labor works on airfield. C-54 aircraft lands in Atsugi. General Douglas MacArthur disembarks the plane. USS Missouri in Tokyo bay. Surrender ceremonies aboard USS Missouri. Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mamoru Shegemitsu (with cane), General Yoshijiro Umezu, Major General Yatsuji Nagai, Katsuo Okazaki, Rear Admiral Tadatoshi Tomioka, Toshikazu Kase, and Lieutenant General Suichi Miyakazi on deck of USS Missouri. Cameramen record event. General MacArthur speaks on mike. American officers surround General MacArthur. Surrender Instrument on table. Eleven men Japanese Delegation move ahead to sign the Surrender Instrument. Mamoru Shegemitsu signs Surrender Instrument. General Jonathan Wainwright and Lieutenant General Sir Arthur E Percival of British Army step forward with General MacArthur to sign Surrender Instrument. Map shows surrender locations like China, Manchuria, South West Pacific, Central Pacific, Japan, South Korea and Philippines.
CRITICALPAST.COM: About Us | Contact Us | FAQs - How to Order | License Agreement | My Account | My Lightboxes | Shopping Cart | Advanced Search | Featured Collections | Website Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy ©2026 CriticalPast LLC.
License Agreement |
Terms & Conditions |
Privacy Policy
©2026 CriticalPast LLC.