On 15 August 1945, the Japanese announced they would surrender to the Allies. The formal surrender would not occur until 2 September. For my grandfather and his ship, the USS Sway (AM-120), it was operations as normal. They were still off the coast of Okinawa, still clearing mines from the shipping lanes. As the Allies prepared for the surrender and the ultimate occupation of Japan, the Sway would soon move to Japan to clear the way for the occupation forces.
16 August 1945
0628: Commenced streaming gear. 1457: Cut one Japanese moored contact mine with port gear at 29 33 N- 127 04 E. 1808: Exploded one mine in port gear at 29 32 N, 127 06 E. 1904: Commenced recovery of gear. One mine fouled in port end cutter. Mine broke loose. 1940: Joined night retirement formation.
17 August 1945
0549: Commenced streaming gear as above. 1655: Recovered gear. 1905: Joined night retirement formation.
18 August 1945
0605: Commenced streaming "O" Type gear as above. 1755: Recovered gear. 1820: Joined night retirement formation.
19 August 1945
0555: Commenced streaming "O" type gear as above. 0738: Cut two Japanese moored contact mines at 39 37 N, 127 04 E. 1245: Left formation due to loss of starboard seep gear. 1250: Recovered gear. 1410: Commenced restreaming "O" type gear. 1455: Rejoined sweep formation. 1625: Recovered sweep gear. 1915: Assumed position in night retirement formation.
20 August 1945
0630: Commenced streaming "O" type gear as above. 1712: Recovered all sweep gear. 1930: Assumed station in night retirement formation.
21 August 1945
0723: Commenced streaming "O" type gear as above. 0954: Left formation due to loss of port float. 1130: Rejoined formation for night retirement.
22 August 1945
0745: Commenced streaming gear as above. 1345: Recovered all sweep gear. 1450: Joined night retirement formation.
23 August 1945
0650: Commenced streaming gear as above. 1357: Commenced recovering all sweep gear. 1534: On Screening Station No. 8 for night retirement.
24 August 1945
0625: Commenced streaming "O" type gear as above. 1200: Recovered all sweep gear. 1430: On station 4.5200 in screen for return to Buckner Bay.
25 August 1945
0037: Radar contact made on Hado Saki 30 miles bearing 162°T. 0240: Passed Yoron Shima abeam to port. 0750- Entered Buckner Bay. 0835- Anchored in Berth B-208, Buckner Bay, Okinawa.
26–29 August 1945
Anchored as above for logistics and maintenance.
30 August 1945
1125: Assigned to Task Unit 95.4.31, Lieutenant-Commander W. A. Nicholson (CominDiv 18) in USS Threat (AM-124) as Unit Commander..
31 August 1945
0800: Commander B. K. Cockey USNR, relieved this date as Commander Mine Division 18 by Lieutenant Commander W. A. Nicholson, USNR, who hoisted pennant in USS Threat (AM-124). 1200: Under way in accordance with CominPac's 300229 in company with Task Unit 95.4.31 to rendezvous with CominPac off Tsugaru Strait. 1250: On No. 3 screening station 3.8067.
1–5 September 1945
Under way in company T.U. 95.4.31 with accordance with CTG 95.4's dispatch 300229 to rendezvous with ConNorPac Force off Tsugaru Strait. Screening in No. 3 Station-3.8067.
2 September 1945
With the Sway en route to Japan, the Japanese officially signed the surrender ending World War II on board the USS Missouri (BB-63), an Iowa-class battleship. The war had begun with the sinking of the Pacific Fleet's battleships and ended on the deck of the most modern battleship in the world. The war was over, but ahead lay the occupation of the Japanese Home Islands. The soon would begin mine-clearing operations in northern Japan.
