| At Atsugi airdrome, near Tokyo, Japan. Major General Joseph M. Swing (February 28, 1894 – December 9, 1984), Commanding General, 11th Airborne Division, left; Lieutenant General Richard K. Sutherland (November 27, 1893 – June 25, 1966), Chief of Staff, South West Pacific Area (SWPA), 3rd from right; United States General of the Army Douglas MacArthur (January 26, 1880 – April 5, 1964) Supreme Commander, South West Pacific Area (SWPA), 2nd from right; General Robert L. Eichelberger (March 9, 1886 – 26 September 1961), 8th Army Commander, right. Aircraft in the background is a Douglas C-54. At 1419 Hours, 8 hours after Swing landed, MacArthur’s converted C-54 “Bataan” touched down at Atsugi amid great fanfare. The 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment’s Honor Guard moved to stand under the craft’s wings and watched the General greet Swing and the 11th Airborne Band on the tarmac. After the Angels played several numbers, MacArthur said to Warrant Officer Robert Bergland, “I want you to tell the band that that’s about the sweetest music I’ve ever heard.” MacArthur’s decision to land at Atsugi was considered quite a risk as it was unknown if Japanese suicide squads would indeed try to kill their great enemy. Winston Churchill even noted, “Of all the amazing deeds in the war, I regard General MacArthur’s personal landing at Atsugi as the bravest of the lot.” | |
| Image Filename | wwii1959.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.91 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 5778 x 4466 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Signal Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | August 30, 1945 |
| Location | |
| City | Atsugi |
| State or Province | Kanagawa |
| Country | Japan |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | USA C-1732 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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