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August 1945: Liberation of...

August 1945: Liberation of POWs in Images

By Callie Oettinger

Allied Prisoners of War Wave at U.S. Navy planes that have just dropped food to them, during supply flights over POW camps in the Tokyo area, 25 August 1945. Credit: Naval Historical Center.

Prisoner of War camp in the Fukushima area of north-central Honshu, photographed from a USS Lexington (CV-16) plane, 25 August 1945. Coordinates for this location are 37-46N 140-29E, which place the camp just north of Fukushima city. Note people on the ground, inside and outside of the camp perimeter fence. Credit: Naval Historical Center.

Flag Secretary to Commander, Third Fleet, Admiral William F. Halsey Accompanies Commodore Rodger W. Simpson, USN, Commander, Task Group 30.6 (right), as they head for shore on a mission to rescue Allied prisoners of war at the Aomori camp near Yokohama, Japan, circa 29-30 August 1945. Credit: Navy Historical Center.

Commodore Rodger W. Simpson, USN, Commander Task Group 30.6, (center) and Chaplain Charles Robinson, USN (right) Questioning a Japanese soldier about a reported prisoner of war camp, in the Tokyo Area, 29-30 August 1945. Simpson's TG 30.6 was specially organized to rescue prisoners of war from camps around Tokyo Bay. Credit: Navy Historical Center. — Commodore Rodger W. Simpson, USN, Commander Task Group 30.6, (center) and Chaplain Charles Robinson, USN (right) Questioning a Japanese soldier about a reported prisoner of war camp, in the Tokyo Area, 29-30 August 1945. Simpson’s TG 30.6 was specially organized to rescue prisoners of war from camps around Tokyo Bay. Credit: Navy Historical Center.

Allied prisoners of war cheering their rescuers, as the U.S. Navy arrives at the Aomori prison camp, near Yokohama, Japan, on 29 August 1945. They are waving the flags of the United States, Great Britain and The Netherlands. Credit: Naval Historical Center.

Prisoners of war cheering their U.S. Navy rescuers, at the Aomori prison camp, near Yokohama, Japan, 29 August 1945. A United States' flag is being held up in top center. Credit: Navy Historical Center. — Prisoners of war cheering their U.S. Navy rescuers, at the Aomori prison camp, near Yokohama, Japan, 29 August 1945. A United States’ flag is being held up in top center. Credit: Navy Historical Center.

Leon S. Johnston of Atlanta, Georgia, and Harry R. Sanders of Terre Haute, Indiana, interned for over three years at Omori Camp. Credit: U.S. Army Center for Military History.

Close-up of Barracks, Omori Prisoner of War Camp. Credit: U.S. Army Center of Military History.

Prisoner of War camp in the Yokohama area, photographed from a USS Shangri-La (CV-38) plane in late August 1945. Note men waving at the plane. Credit: Naval Historical Center.

Released prisoner of war Alfred Sorenson, U.S. Army, contemplates a full meal in one of the hospital ship's wards, 30 August 1945. Navy Nurse Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Asplan is assisting. Sorenson had been captured at Corregidor on 6 May 1942. He was rescued from a POW camp in the Tokyo area. Credit: Naval Historical Center. — Released prisoner of war Alfred Sorenson, U.S. Army, contemplates a full meal in one of the hospital ship’s wards, 30 August 1945. Navy Nurse Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Asplan is assisting. Sorenson had been captured at Corregidor on 6 May 1942. He was rescued from a POW camp in the Tokyo area. Credit: Naval Historical Center.

At Atsugi Airfield, Allied prisoners of war released from Toyama Camp bring letters to the American Red Cross table for postage and mailing back home. U.S. Army Center of Military History.

Prisoner of War camp in the Tokyo waterfront area, photographed from a U.S. Navy plane on 30 August 1945. Note signs on rooftops celebrating victory and requesting food and a return home. One identifies the camp as # 2B. Others identify the occupants as Americans, British and Australians. Also note several nearby bomb craters and wrecked structures. Credit: Naval Historical Center.

CALLIE OETTINGER was Command Posts’ first managing editor. Her interest in military history, policy, and fiction took root when she was a kid, traveling and living the life of an Army Brat, and continues today.