Pacific News Speeded
News hungry home folks were kept up to date on Pacific war news developments this year, including the actual surrender, by the Navy's press and radio facilities, placed at the disposal of war correspondents.
Within eight months after it had begun operation, the Navy's shortwave radio communications NU5Q at Guam carried the broadcast of the surrender ceremonies from the deck of the USS Missouri. before picking up this historic occasion, the station had broadcast more than 3,000 programs to the US,
Shortly after KU5Q was set up. transmitters were placed aboard the USS Eldorado. During the first six weeks of the Okinawa invasion these transmitters relayed more than 300 programs to the states via KU5Q. A shore station was established on Okinawa before the island had been secured.
News correspondents found Navy facilities essential and used them to file 4,500,000 words in nine months. This copy to papers and magazines was accompanied by 627 pictures sent by photoradio, either from Guam or direct to San Francisco from ships. In addition still pictures and movie films were flown to the states.
More than 200 correspondents accredited to CincPac/CincPoa used the Navy facilities. On 1 April, the day Okinawa was invaded, 38,000 words were transmitted through radio teletype channels.
9-2-45 Aboard the Destroyer U.S.S Missouri
COMMENTATORS: Robert Trout, Webley Edwards
Addresses by: President Truman, General MacArthur, Admiral Nimitz
Two wire recordings were made aboard the U.S.S. Missouri. One was taken to a Japanese radio station for broadcast. The other was flown to the Island of Guam and broadcast over radio station KU5Q by the U.S. Navy. The networks chose the Guam broadcast as it was clearer. U.S. receiving point was RCA shortwave communications center near San Francisco. CBS feed