Japanese emissaries arrive at Mingaladon airfield, near Rangoon, Burma, to begin preliminary surrender negotiations.

At Mingaladon airfield, Rangoon, a Japanese Mitsubishi Ki-57 'Topsy' transport aircraft is parked with crowds of Allied servicemen gathered to witness the arrival of the Japanese delegation. The Japanese delegation, led by Lieutenant-General Takazo Numata (Chief of Staff, Southern Army) and Rear Admiral Kaigye Chudo (Deputy Chief of Staff) are received by Lieutenant-General Sir Montague Stopford (commander 12th Army), Major-General Symes (commander South Burma District), Air Vice Marshal Bouchier (commander RAF 221 Group) and Major-General Tuker (acting commande IV Indian Corps). The Japanese board a lorry for transit to Government House in Rangoon. The lorry drives away.

Notes

Historical context: Japan lost the last of her armies in Burma in July 1945. Increasingly intense conventional bombing of the Japanese Home Islands by the United States caused massive loss of life and wrecked war industries before culminating in atomic attacks on 6 August 1945 and 9 August 1945. In the same period the Soviet Union declared war and invaded Japanese-occupied Manchuria. The Japanese government surrendered unconditionally on 15 August 1945.

Formal Japanese surrender in south east Asia would not occur until 12 September 1945 in Singapore. The agreement signed in Rangoon was a preliminary step ordering local Japanese commanders to obey the instructions of British occupation forces. This facilitated the recovery of Allied prisoners of war and internees, a process known as RAPWI.

This occasion covered by multiple British Army and RAF cameramen and still photographers. See related items.