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Harold Fine Collection - Japanese Surrender of Northern Japan – WWII photographs, ca. 1944-1945

 Collection
Identifier: PCA 525-8

Scope and Contents

This collection contains photographs of Harold M. Fine, his military records, photographs of the surrender of Northern Japan by the Japanese September 8, 1945 on the ship Panamint and photographs of President Roosevelt visiting troops in the Aleutian Islands, August, 1944. The photographs in this collection were found in the estate of Harold M. Fine.

Photographs of Japanese Emissaries aboard USS Panamint (AGC-13) for conference on surrender negotiations for Northern Honshu, Japan, September 7, 1945. (See PCA 80 for photos of ceremony) Photographer unknown (possibly Harold Fine or W.F. Anderson?) Identification of U.S. and Japanese soldiers made possible through National Archives Special Media Archives Services Division. Images held at 80-G-XXXXXX) and of U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s visit to Aleutians in August of 1944.

Dates

  • ca. 1944-1945

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is unrestricted.

Conditions Governing Use

Request for permission to publish or reproduce material from the collection should be discussed with the Librarian. Photocopying does not constitute permission to publish.

Biographical and Historical

Corporal Harold M. Fine (Army Serial # 36 566 600; Organization: 373rd Air SV SQ 23rd SV GP) was born 1/23/1921 in Detroit, Michigan. He completed four years of high school, graduating from Northern High Detroit, Michigan, in 1939. After graduating he worked in the Detroit Board of Assessor’s Office. He enlisted in the U.S. Army 2/10/1943 and served as an administrative and technical clerk and postal clerk during his tour in the Aleutian Islands until 12/11/1945.

USS Panamint

On 12 August 1945 the ship sailed for Adak, Aleutian Islands, where she reported for duty to Commander North Pacific Force and Area. On 29 August Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, Commander North Pacific Force and Area, hoisted his flag on Panamint. Two days later she left Adak with the 9th Fleet and headed west for the occupation of northern Japan. On 7 September the flagship pulled away from the anchored task force and proceeded to a rendezvous point to await the Japanese surrender ship from nearby Ominato Naval Base. On schedule a Japanese destroyer escort bore down the Tsugaru Strait carrying emissaries to hand over northern Japan, and pilots to guide the American ships through Japanese waters. The commissioners were quickly transferred to Panamint. Commodore R. E. Robinson, Jr., represented Vice Admiral Fletcher, and Rear Admiral Densuke Kanome was the head of the Japanese delegation. On the morning of the 8th the massive naval force got underway led by a Japanese frigate through the mineswept channel and Tsugaru Straits leading to Ominato Anchorage. Panamint moored off the shattered naval base that afternoon, and the following morning the formal occupation ceremony was held on her decks. Surrender had come so quickly that two weeks passed before American troops arrived to occupy the countryside. On 20 September Panamint returned to Adak, and proceeded to Kodiak 2 October.

(taken from http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p1/panamint.htm, last accessed 01/18/2007 at 23:00:00 UTC)

Aleutian Islands in WWII

Dutch Harbor, on Unalaska was bombed by Japanese forces June 3-4, 1942.

Japanese forces invaded Kiska Island on June 6 and Attu Island on June 7th, 1942. The islands were reclaimed by the United States on May 11, 1943.

In August 3 of 1944, U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited Alaska as part of his Inspection Trip to the Pacific (07/13/1944 to 08/13/1944.) He spoke at the naval air station at Adak, Alaska.

Extent

40 Photographic Prints : 3 folders ; black and white photographs ; NARA photocopies of photographs

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was donated by Steve Henrikson of the Alaska State Museum to the Alaska State Library Historical Collections and is accessioned as 2007-6. Mr. Henrikson purchased the collection from a Ms. Christine Liimatta of Lexington, KY via eBay in 2006.

Existence and Location of Copies

Photographs digitized and available for viewing via Alaska's Digital Archives: (1-)-01; (2-)02, 28-32;

Processing Information

This collection has been described at the item level. All items have been placed in Mylar and into pH-neutral folders.

Title
Finding aid for the Harold Fine Collection - Japanese Surrender of Northern Japan – WWII photographs, ca. 1944-1945
Status
In Progress
Author
Processed by: Sean Lanksbury ; Revised by: Alea Oien 5/2009 ; ArchivesSpace finding aid by: Sandy Johnston
Date
2019 June
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Alaska State Library - Historical Collections Finding Aids Repository

Contact:
PO Box 110571
Juneau AK 99811-0571 US
907-465-2920
907-465-2925
907-465-2151 (Fax)