Joseph Campbell Cronin Collection

Collection

Identifier: 000062

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Joseph Campbell Cronin Collection features an album of Rear Admiral Cronin’s personal photographs from the Japanese unconditional surrender aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63). The photos depict the arrival of Allied military leaders and Japanese representatives at the ceremony and the signing of the Instrument of Surrender. The collection also includes a portrait of Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey, images from the USS Franklin (CV-13) during a kamikaze attack, and Japan's model of Pearl Harbor before the attack.

Dates

Creation: September 2, 1945

Creator

Cronin, Joseph Campbell, 1899-1971 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to research.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish materials from this collection in any form must be obtained from the National Museum of the Pacific War's, Center for Pacific War Studies.

Biographical / Historical

Joseph Campbell Cronin (December 3, 1899 - June 13, 1972) was born in Geneva, Alabama, but was orphaned at a young age. In 1917, Cronin joined the United States Naval Academy and earned the World War I Victory Medal before graduating as an Ensign in 1921. He then went into Naval aviation. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Cronin was a Captain serving as the Operations Officer, Chief of Staff at Kaneohe Bay Naval Air Station in Oahu, Hawaii.

After surviving Pearl Harbor, Captain Cronin was stationed at the Millington Naval Air Station in Tennessee before commissioning and commanding the USS Tulagi (CVE-72) in 1944. Captain Cronin took part in Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France, and was present aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63) for the unconditional surrender of the Japanese at the end of the war.

When Cronin retired from the U.S. Navy in 1951, he was a Rear Admiral. He received the Legion of Merit, Croix de Guerre from the French Government, World War II Victory Medal, American Defense Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Area Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, and the China Service Medal.

Extent

.08 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Joseph Campbell Cronin Collection features an album of Rear Admiral Cronin’s personal photographs, documenting the Japanese unconditional surrender aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63), a portrait of Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey, and images from the USS Franklin (CV-13) and Japan's Pearl Harbor model.