How many aircraft took part in the flypast over USS Missouri after Japan’s surrender ceremony?

Over 800 aircraft took part in the flypast over USS Missouri after Japan’s surrender ceremony.

The formation included aircraft from U.S. aircraft carriers and land bases. More than 800 planes passed over Tokyo Bay after the signing, with 462 land-based B-29 Superfortress bombers among them.

The flypast served as a dramatic demonstration of Allied air power at the moment Japan formally surrendered. It also reflected the scale of the Pacific war, in which long-range bombers, carrier aircraft, and naval forces had operated across enormous distances.

The ceremony itself was conducted under careful security precautions because planners feared a possible attack by Japanese pilots. No kamikaze attack occurred. The aircraft display therefore became a celebration of victory rather than a combat operation.