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Re: Seeking list of reporters on USS Missouri when Japanese signed surrendered
2 people found this helpfulWhat was his name, and which news organization did he work for? There may be extant copies of newspaper articles and/or recordings of radio broadcasts regarding the surrender that reference him.
The following has recordings of reporting by Webley Edwards of CBS.
https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/educational-resources/sights-and-sounds-v-j-dayThis article claims that Webley Edwards and Merrill Mueller were the only broadcast journalists aboard the Missouri, though that may be mistaken. Even if that is the case, there would have been a great many more newspaper and wire service journalists.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webley_Edwards-
Re: Seeking list of reporters on USS Missouri when Japanese signed surrendered
Thank you for the links. His name was Ross (Rosco) McConnell. He was working as a radio broadcaster for KOMO is Seattle before the war.
The story we were told was that he worked for NBC and he was one of about 300 print journalists and broadcasters on the Missouri. He said that he was the original broadcaster of the surrender that was beamed throughout the US. We have never been able to find or hear his broadcast. Thus leaving us to believe his story was not quite true...We have confirmed he was on the ship. Just hoping to find a recorded broadcast.
Thank you
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Re: Seeking list of reporters on USS Missouri when Japanese signed surrendered
Malisa Simco
Sep 10, 2019 12:28 PM
2 people found this helpfulDear Ms. Westin,
Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!
We searched the National Archives Catalog and located a series titled Records Relating to Public Relations, ca. 10/1943 - ca. 4/1946 in the Records of Naval Operating Forces (Record Group 313) that has files for individual war correspondents in the Pacific. However, it would not necessarily document your grandfather’s presence at any specific location or event.
We also located USS Missouri Logbook Entries Relating to the Surrender of Japan (2 September 1945) and USS TAYLOR - Report of operations in connection with the surrender of Japan and the occupation of the Tokyo Bay Area, Honshu, Japan, 8/16/45-9/2/45 in the Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel (Record Group 24). The USS Taylor (DD-468) carried 238 Allied correspondents and photographers to USS Missouri. For access to other deck logs and the files of war correspondents, please contact the National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference (RDT2) via email at archives2reference@nara.gov.
In addition, we located a series titled Sound Recordings of Broadcasts, 1927-1962 in the National Broadcasting Company, Inc., Collection, 1953-1962, that includes a sound recording of “The Surrender of Japan.” For more information about the collection, please contact the National Archives at College Park - Motion Pictures (RDSM) via email at mopix@nara.gov.
We hope this is helpful for you. Best of luck with your family research!
[Some information provided by Nate Patch, Subject Matter Expert]