USA-Japan: General Douglas MacArthur signs the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, USS Missouri, Tokyo Bay, September 2, 1945

General Douglas MacArthur signs as Supreme Allied Commander during formal surrender ceremonies on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Behind General MacArthur are Lieutenant General Jonathan Wainwright and Lieutenant General A. E. Percival. On August 28, the occupation of Japan by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers began. The surrender ceremony was held on September 2 aboard the U. S. battleship Missouri, at which officials from the Japanese government signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, ending World War II. (Photo by: Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)