KASTAUFFER Posted February 6, 2015 Share #1 Posted February 6, 2015 This is a rare set to Admiral Ballentine. Admiral Ballentine was assigned duty as Fleet Liaison Officer for Commander-in-Chief Pacific at Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, Pacific. He landed at Atsugi Airport on 30 August in the airborne occupation of Japan escorting General of the Army Douglas MacArthur to the surrender ceremonies on the battleship U.S. Missouri on 2 September 1945. These USS Missouri Tokyo Bay cards are extremely tough to find, and to find one named to an Admiral signed on the back by MacArthur makes this a very unique item. This is an photo of them taken when they arrived in Japan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViewfinderGyrene Posted February 6, 2015 Share #2 Posted February 6, 2015 Your ephemera never ceases to amaze, Mr. Staiffer! Thank you for posting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted February 6, 2015 Thanks for your comment! You can call me Kurt! My dad is Mr. Stauffer Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViewfinderGyrene Posted February 6, 2015 Share #4 Posted February 6, 2015 Good to know, Kurt! I always remind myself not to assume how anybody feels about addressing them, learned not to assume the hard way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted February 6, 2015 Share #5 Posted February 6, 2015 Now that is a true top shelf piece of history. I don't know that there is a card out there to top it, except one named to the men on the card. RC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted February 6, 2015 Share #6 Posted February 6, 2015 Nice pick up Kurt! I saw that one and thought how awesome it was, but didn't really know how rare they were. Glad it made it to a good home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share #7 Posted February 6, 2015 Thanks Nic! I made him an offer for 1/2 of his opening price and he took it, I was surprised he did, Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharfmaster Posted February 6, 2015 Share #8 Posted February 6, 2015 Very rare with MacArthur's signature. Super find ! W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share #9 Posted February 6, 2015 Now that is a true top shelf piece of history. I don't know that there is a card out there to top it, except one named to the men on the card. RC Thanks RC. I have another one of these I will probably sell now, but its to a S1c. I figured this one was a good upgrade. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted February 6, 2015 Share #10 Posted February 6, 2015 Thanks RC. I have another one of these I will probably sell now, but its to a S1c. I figured this one was a good upgrade. Kurt Good!?! I'd say more "incredible"! What a really fantastic little group! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted February 6, 2015 Share #11 Posted February 6, 2015 Kurt, I would say it is more than just a 'good' upgrade. I always thought it was interesting that Captain Murray (who was present in the Philippines when the war broke out) ended up in command of the very ship that the surrender took place on. Here is an example of then Rear Admiral Stuart S. Murray's signature, as it appeared a couple of years after WWII. Nothing spectacular, but I thought I would add it so we could see another signature of one of the men on the card. RC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 8, 2015 Author Share #12 Posted February 8, 2015 Thanks for posting that RC! Nice autograph This thread has motivated me to pull put the rest of the Tokyo Bay cards and certificates I own. I have been hunting these down for 20 years, and this is all that I have found. I will post the wallet cards first: Another USS Missouri USS South Dakota Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 8, 2015 Author Share #13 Posted February 8, 2015 USS Wilkes Barre USS Quincy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 8, 2015 Author Share #14 Posted February 8, 2015 The rest of these are certificates Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 8, 2015 Author Share #15 Posted February 8, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww1collector Posted February 8, 2015 Share #16 Posted February 8, 2015 Nice pickup Kurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor996 Posted February 8, 2015 Share #17 Posted February 8, 2015 Kurt, you always have the most amazing ephemera Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted February 9, 2015 Share #18 Posted February 9, 2015 Fantastic collection of cards and certificates Kurt. RC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 9, 2015 Author Share #19 Posted February 9, 2015 Thanks Guys! Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstop61 Posted February 10, 2015 Share #20 Posted February 10, 2015 Impressive grouping...to say the least. Great artwork. Many thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted February 10, 2015 Share #21 Posted February 10, 2015 Very cool! Never even knew these existed. Thanks for sharing such a neat piece of history. JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViewfinderGyrene Posted February 14, 2015 Share #22 Posted February 14, 2015 Kurt, have you ever found one from Missouri's Marine Ships Detachment? I've seen a fair amount of surrender material, but nothing from them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leatherwringer Posted February 14, 2015 Share #23 Posted February 14, 2015 WOW....the Tokyo Bay cards and certificates are incredible!! My interest in the day comes from my love of all things Antarctic...and especially Admiral Byrd! I have this postal cover with the Mt. Olympus cancel because the USS Mount Olympus was then the flagship for the Commander III Amphibious Forces with Admiral T.S. Wilkinson on board. The Mount Olympus was in Toyko Bay on September 2, 1945 as they landed the occupation forces of the First Cavalry Division. Admiral Wilkinson was unable to attend the ceremony on board the USS Missouri (BB-63). He sent a representative on his behalf, none other than Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted February 14, 2015 Author Share #24 Posted February 14, 2015 Kurt, have you ever found one from Missouri's Marine Ships Detachment? I've seen a fair amount of surrender material, but nothing from them... I have nothing from them. I do have a couple Tokyo Bay covers ( mail ) from Marines though, Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor996 Posted August 15, 2015 Share #25 Posted August 15, 2015 may we never forget the sacrifices the Greatest Generation made for our freedoms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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