Prisoners of War at Omori Camp Cheer Rescuers from the U.S. Navy

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Description

This iconic photograph shows Allied prisoners of war cheering on their rescue when the US Navy arrived to liberate the Omori POW camp near Yokohama, Japan. Photographer John Swope captured the image while aboard a U.S. Navy landing craft.

The original caption reads: “Gaunt allied prisoners of war at Aomori [sic] camp near Yokohama cheer rescuers from U.S. Navy. Waving flags of the United States, Great Britain and Holland. Japan, August 29, 1945.”

Citation

This primary source comes from the General Records of the Department of the Navy.

National Archives Identifier: 520992

Full Citation: Photograph 80-G-490444; Gaunt allied prisoners of war at Aomori camp near Yokohama cheer rescuers from U.S. Navy. Waving flags of the United States, Great Britain and Holland. Japan, August 29, 1945.; 8/29/1945; General Photographic Files, 1943 – 1968; General Records of the Department of the Navy, Record Group 80; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/document/omori-pow-liberation/, March 31, 2026]

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