World War II Surrender Collection

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World War II Surrender Collection Welcome to our World War 2 Surrender Collection. This is a private collection.

Our newest addition to our World War II Surrender Collection is this original TOP SECRET Operation Plan No 6-45 for the ...
28/01/2026

Our newest addition to our World War II Surrender Collection is this original TOP SECRET Operation Plan No 6-45 for the Commander of the Fifth Fleet dated August, 1945 hand signed by Admiral Spruance who was onboard the USS New Jersey at this time. This manual is extremely comprehensive with about 130 pages of historic information including several hand drawn maps pertaining to the Surrender of the Japanese.

My grandfather’s (Frank P. Orban) 1943 Graduation Class. He went directly from Great Lakes to Admiral Halsey’s Personal ...
17/01/2026

My grandfather’s (Frank P. Orban) 1943 Graduation Class. He went directly from Great Lakes to Admiral Halsey’s Personal Staff in New Caledonia as Halsey’s Coxswain/Personal Driver. Less than a year later, he was fighting on the USS New Jersey, Louisville, Missouri (where he witnessed the Surrender) and came home and went on victory tour on South Dakota.

A new addition to our World War II Surrender Collection! Here is an original confidential military message sent by Gener...
07/01/2026

A new addition to our World War II Surrender Collection! Here is an original confidential military message sent by General Dwight D. Eisenhower announcing the unconditional surrender of all German forces in Europe during World War II.

The message, dated May 7, 1945, details that the surrender was signed simultaneously to the Allied Expeditionary Force and the Soviet High Command.
It specifies that active operations were to cease at 0001 hours on May 9, 1945.

The communication instructs that all offensive operations by the Allied Expeditionary Force should cease immediately, but defensive precautions must be maintained due to potential delays in orders reaching enemy troops.

It strictly mandates no release to the press pending an official announcement by the heads of the three governments.

The document is a historical artifact from the end of the war in Europe, a significant moment in time.

I am really excited to announce a new addition to our World War II Surrender Collection. Here is an extremely rare (only...
01/10/2025

I am really excited to announce a new addition to our World War II Surrender Collection. Here is an extremely rare (only one I know in existence) World War II Japanese Surrender Proclamation from the USMC III Amphibious Corps from K.E. Rockey, Major General, U.S. Marine Corps, Commanding. It reads “On 2 September 1945 the Imperial Japanese Government formally and unconditionally surrendered to the Allied Powers. By order of the Supreme Allied Powers, the Senior Japanese Army and Navy Commanders in China have surrendered their forces to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek. The III Amphibious Corps, United States Marine Corps, has landed in China in order to assist the Chinese Government and people in (1) Disarming and repatriating Japanese troops. (2) Reestablishing legally constituted municipal administrations completely free of Japanese influence. (3) Preservation of law and order and the return of the Chinese people to a peacetime way of life. We earnestly request the fullest cooperation of all peoples living in localities where United States Naval Forces are present, so that there may be a rapid and thorough accompaniment of our mission.”

03/09/2025

Admiral Samuel John Paparo Jr. speaks at the 80th Anniversary of the Surrender Ceremony on board the USS Missouri; September 2, 2025.

03/09/2025

Mr. Ed Buffman speaks at 80th Anniversary of the Surrender Ceremony at the USS Missouri.

Meeting Ed Buffman, one of the last surviving USS Missouri crew members at the 80th Anniversary of the Surrender Signing...
03/09/2025

Meeting Ed Buffman, one of the last surviving USS Missouri crew members at the 80th Anniversary of the Surrender Signing at the USS Missouri.

GM2c Edgar “Ed” Buffman
Hailing from Newport, Rhode Island, Mr. Buffman served aboard the USS Missouri from 1944 to 1946 as a Gunner’s Mate Second Class (GM2c) in the Gunnery Department’s 8th Division. He is also a proud World War II plank owner.

On April 11, 1945, he witnessed the Kamikaze attack on the starboard side of the ship. "Being on the port side, we felt the ship shake, and we could see the smoke coming up... All hell was going on over there." He would later be present aboard the Missouri during the formal surrender on September 2, 1945.

Mr. Buffman was part of Malone’s Marauders, a contingent of USS Missouri and Third Fleet sailors selected to be the first Allied personnel in Tokyo as part of an advance occupation force prior to the formal surrender. He was tasked with destroying Japanese munitions at an artillery emplacement. Mr. Buffman now resides with his wife, Jolene, in Media, Pennsylvania, where he founded the Pennsylvania Veterans Museum.

When my grandfather was driving the Japanese Delegation to the Surrender Ceremony September 2, 1945, he was given a smal...
02/09/2025

When my grandfather was driving the Japanese Delegation to the Surrender Ceremony September 2, 1945, he was given a small personal “meatball” flag from the Japanese Delegation prior to coming aboard the USS Missouri. Today, I met the grandson of Mamoru Shigemitsu, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Japan and shared the flag with him. We may make a future date to transfer the flag back to Mr. Shigemitsu.

80 Years ago today, my grandfather, Frank P. Orban, Admiral Halsey’s Coxswain drove the Japanese Surrender Delegation to...
02/09/2025

80 Years ago today, my grandfather, Frank P. Orban, Admiral Halsey’s Coxswain drove the Japanese Surrender Delegation to the USS Missouri off of Tokyo Bay to Surrender to the World ending World War II. Today, my family is at the USS Missouri’s 80th Anniversary Surrender Ceremony to pay our respects to all that served and especially my grandfather.

01/09/2025

Rocking it at the USS Missouri 80th Anniversary Surrender BBQ with the US Navy Pacific Fleet Brass Band (combo).

01/09/2025

At the 80th Anniversary Peace Treaty BBQ at the USS Missouri.

Here is my grandfather Frank P. Orban, Admiral Halsey’s flagman and Coxswain driving the Japanese Delegation to the USS ...
31/08/2025

Here is my grandfather Frank P. Orban, Admiral Halsey’s flagman and Coxswain driving the Japanese Delegation to the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945 for their formal Surrender.

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