Seabees in World War II loaded into a U.S. Army Air Force B-29 bomber, named the Enola Gay. A short time later, the Enola Gay took off with its secret load from Tinian's North Field, The largest airfield of the WWII, which the Seabees had built, and started on her mission to Japan. Later in the day, the mission ended with the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. This historic event sealed the fate of Japan. Realizing that the war was lost, the Japanese government negotiated a cease fire that went into effect on 16 August. On 2 September 1945 Japan formally surrendered,
Operation Exodus (WWII operation) more throughout the month, until by the end of May, 72 Dakotas had brought 1,787 PoWs. Operation Exodus was in full swing and May 1945 was even busier with 443 Avro Lancasters, 103 Dakotas, 51 Handley Page Halifaxes, 31 Consolidated Liberators, 3 Short Stirlings, 3 Lockheed Hudsons, and 2 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses bringing 15,088 personnel. Operation Exodus (WWII operation) Operation Exodus was an Allied operation to repatriate Allied prisoners of war (POW)s from Europe to Britain in the closing stages of the Second World War. After the end of hostilities in Europe, orders were received on 2 May 1945