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U.S.S. SPRINGFIELD (CL-66) — "Tokyo Bay Occupation Force," September 2, 1945
Naval cover postmarked U.S. Navy, Sep 2 1945, 15959 Br. — the date of the Japanese surrender ceremony aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
Markings and franking:
• Printed cachet: ship silhouette against Mount Fuji and a setting rising sun, "Tokyo Bay Occupation Force, September 2, 1945"
• Red circular "PASSED BY NAVAL CENSOR" handstamp with censor's initial
• 1c green National Defense (Scott 899) and 5c blue Monroe (Scott 810)
• Typed address to Mrs. T. J. Pert, Downey, California; printed airmail border envelope
Historical note: Springfield was a Cleveland-class light cruiser commissioned September 1944. She screened the fast carrier task forces off Kyushu, Honshu and Okinawa and earned two battle stars. She anchored in Sagami Wan on 27 August 1945, covered the entry of TF 31 into Tokyo Bay and the occupation of Yokosuka Naval Base on 30 August, and entered Tokyo Bay itself on 3 September — the day after the surrender ceremony. This cover was therefore cancelled aboard a ship of the occupation force on surrender day, most likely at anchor in Sagami Wan just outside the bay.
Sold as a surrender-date occupation force cover; I make no claim that the ship was present at the ceremony itself.
Condition: Clean and unaddressed to a service member — this is a philatelic cover, prepared for the occasion, no enclosure. Cachet strike sharp, censor mark clear, postmark legible. Light age toning consistent with 1945 paper. No tears, creases or repairs. See photos, which form part of the description.
Ships in a rigid mailer with protective sleeve.
