All documents, pictures, and World War II Japan Surrender Memorabilia including Admiral Halsey's 4 Star Flag are owned by my family.
Currently, this collection is undergoing an appraisal. Once the appraisal is complete, this collection will be brought to the USS Missouri to be displayed (hopefully before September 2, 2013).
The purpose of this site is to display my grandfather's World War II Japanese Surrender Memorabilia. The Japanese Surrender Ceremony aboard the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945 was one of the most pinnacle moments in World History. My grandfather, Frank Orban, was the flag man aboard the USS Missouri. Frank Orban is listed under the World War II memorial database.
Some of the memorabilia I have showcased includes Admiral Halsey's 4 Star Admiral Flag, which lead Admiral Halsey to the Surrender Ceremony when the Japanese signed the surrender documents, original copies of the Japanese Surrender Ceremony on Board the USS Missouri, original photos taken on board the USS Missouri, and other significant items linked to the Japanese Surrender Ceremony.
My family owns over a hundred original pictures and original documents pertaining to the Surrender of Japan. I will be posting the documents and pictures over time.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the World War II Surrender items I have.
The following flag belonged to Admiral Halsey, Fleet Commander of the Third Fleet. This flag was on board the Admiral's Gig on September 2, 1945 during the signing of the Japanese Peace Treaty ending World War II. My grandfather, Frank Orban, was on Admiral Halsey's staff and flagmen on board the USS Missouri during the ceremony signing off the coast of Japan. The flag was Admiral Halsey's personal flag that followed him around on his Admiral Barge!
The following clip shows Admiral Halsey's Admiral Gig coming to the USS Missouri for the Surrender Ceremony. Admiral Halsey gets off the Admiral's Gig and comes on board the USS Missouri. The Admiral's Gig is then moved away from the USS Missouri. At 4:38 of the video, you can see the Admiral's Flag being taken down from the front of the Admiral's Gig. Look closely; enlarge if necessary! The flag above is this flag. Thank you to Mark Hinton (Military Uniforms) for this great find!
This picture is an autographed picture of the flagmen who were on board the USS Missouri during the Japanese Peace Treaty Signing. My grandfather, Frank Orban, is bottom row second from right in white shirt.
The following two documents prove that my grandfather Frank Orban was one of the flagmen on the USS Missouri during the Japanese Surrender and Peace Treaty signing on board the USS Missouri. The last document titled "Report of Passengers" actually shows all the flagmen who were transferred onto the USS Missouri along side my grandfather Frank Orban from the USS Louisville.
The following US 48 Star flag was present on board the US Missouri during the Japanese Surrender at Tokyo Bay, Japan on September 2, 1945. This flag was in Admiral Halsey's office and was believed to be mounted on the wall in the Admiral's office. My grandfather was on Admiral Halsey's staff and was the Coxswain dealing with flags.
The following pictures show Admiral Halsey's 4 Star Flag in detail which was his personal flag during the Peace Treaty Signing for World War II on September 2, 1945. The flag was present during the Peace Treaty Signing to end World War II.
The above picture was given to my grandfather who served on board the USS Missouri during the Japanese Surrender Ceremony on September 2, 1945.
Robert Bostwick Carney was Admiral in the United States Navy. Admiral Carney served as commander-in-chief of the Nato forces in Southern Europe from 1951-1953. This picture is was taken when Admiral Carney was Rear Admiral to Admiral Halsey on or about 1943.
The following photos are original black and white photos taken on board the USS Missouri during the Surrender of the Japanese on September 2, 1945. These photos belong to my family and are in need of appraisal.
On August 14th, 1945 President Truman announced to the people of the world that Japan had surrendered unconditionally.
The announcement was made simultaneously in Washington, Moscow, London, and Chungking.
The Text of the President statement is as follows:
"I have received this afternoon a message from the Japanese Government in reply to the message forwarded to that Government by the Secretary of State on August 11, 1945.
"I deem this reply an acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration which specified the Unconditional Surrender of Japan.
"Arrangements are now being made for the formal signing of the Treaty at the earliest possible moment.
"General Douglas MacArthur has been appointed the Supreme Allied Commander to receive the Japanese Surrender.
"Great Britain, Russia and China will be represented by high ranking officers.
"Meantime the Allied Armed Forces must wait upon the formal signing of the surrender terms by Japan".
President Truman made this his formal announcement to a huge crowd of reporters who had been virtually living in the White House for days in anticpation of just such development.
Japan's message was delivered to Secretary of State Paynes by the Swiss Minister in the State Department office. Secretary Byrnes immediately left his office and walked to the Executive Office at the White House.
Later President Truman dispatched through Secretary of State Byrnes an order for the Japanese Government to halt the war on all fronts.
CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE SECRETARY OF NAVY
"All hands of the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard may take satisfaction in the conclusion of the war against Japan- and pride in the part played by them in accomplishing that result.
The demoblization of the Armed Forces of the United States and the return to conditions of peace will create problems taxing pride and control almost as great as the tensions of war. I ask that the discipline which has served so well to bring this democracy through hours of great crisis be maintained to the end that nothing shall mar the record of accomplishments…"
Subject: Flag Allowance General Quarters and Dispersion Bill.
1. When general quarters or torpedo defense quarters are sounded for other thean drill, or test purposes or morning and evening alert, men of the THIRD Fleet Flag allowance will proceed to the stations assigned them as follows:
(a) Flag Plot
Carr, Y 2/c.Merlar, CY.
Dial, Rdm 2/c.
Scarpa, Rdm 2/c.
Weber, MoMM 1/c.
Stoneham, QM 2/c.
RN ib watch remain at stations.
(b) Flag Bridge
Suiter, CY.
(c) Signal Bridge
SM on watch remain at stations.
(d) Main Radio
RM on watch remain at stations.
(e) Flag Office
Singley, CY Garner, BM 2/c
Blasius, Y 1/c. Orban, Cox (THIS WAS MY GRANDFATHER!)
Bucon, Y 2/c. Beal, AerM 3/c
Madson, CY. McDonnell, AerM 3/c
Jacobs, Y 3/c Brunner, S 2/c. (RM)
Johnson, Y 2/c. Massar, S l/c. (RM)
Runyon, Y 3/c. Gill, Y l/c.
(f) Room 0202
Militello, Y 2/c.
Britzenhoff, CY
Broussard, Y 3/c.
(g) Room 0203
Erickson, Y l/c.
FLAG ALLOWANCE ORDER. (cont.)
(h) Intelligence Office (Admiral's Cabin)
Howes, Y 2/c.
Houston, Sp (X) l/c.
(i) Admiral's Country
Stewards and Cook assigned to wardroom.
(k) Captain's Cabin (or as Commodore Boone may direct.)
Wagoner, PhM l/c.
(l) Room 0113
Lavelle, Y 3/c
Polidori, Y 3/c.
(m) Marines as assigned by Sgt. Mitchell.
(n) SM off watch to assigned area for Ship's SM off watch.
(o) One Section of RM off watch to Cpt. A-307-L. One section of RM off watch remain in their living spaces.
(p) Room 0121
Erikson and McGill, PhoM, topside for action pictures.
(q) Radio Intelligence
RM assigned to RI Unit
(r) Remain in assinged living spaces
Small, Y 2/c. Bock, Cox.
Wolfe, Y 3/c. Crowe, S l/c.
Boothroy, AermM 3/c. Dick, Cox.
Eden, Aerm 3/c Lewis, BM 2/c
Zenner, Aerm 2/c. Roche, EM 1/c.
Pridmore, GM 3/c. Wilhite, S 2/c.
(s) Aerological Offices
Zaffino, CAerM.
Flag Allowance (cont.)
2. The men listed above who do not have duties assigned during general quarters or torpedo defense are subject to call.
This document part of my World War 2 Surrender documents which contains the Order of Dignitaries during the Peace Treaty signing on board the USS Missouri during the Japanese Surrender on September 2, 1945.
The following dignitaries attended the Japanese Surrender Ceremonies on board the USS Missouri:
1.) United States
Col. Q.S. Lander (SCAP Liason)
2.) Republic of China
Gen. Hsu Yung-Chang
Vice Adm. Yang Hsuan Chang
Lt. Gen. Chu Shih Ming
Maj. gen. Wang Chih
Col. Li Sho Chang
Col. Wang Pei Cheng
3.) United Kingdom
(a) Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, GCB, KBE
Capt. A.D. Nicholl, CBE, DSO
Comdr. R.H. Courage, OBE, DSC
Comdr. (S) A.P. Carwright, SANF(V) Senior South African Officer present.
Surgeon Lieutenant G.R. Gayman, RCNVR, Senior Canadian Officer present.
