The attack by the P-47's on the Radar Sites was less than successful. The P-47's were forbidden to go below 4500 feet and were unable to hit the targets with any degree of accuracy from that altitude. The Radar Installations were finally strafed out of existence by VMD pilots Lts. Stewart and Schofield. The VMD Photo Pilots made the same Photo Recon Run using the Sonne Camera to verify the damage. The strike proved to be effective because there were no further Japanese Fighter Aircraft opposing the next flight of B-29 Bombers on their way to the Japanese Mainland. Following the surrender by Japan, VMD-354 pilots, Lt's David Schofield and William Derby, of the Iwo Jima Detachment were used to communicate to the Japanese Commander located on Chi CHi Jima, the Allied Surrender Terms. The message relating to the surrender terms and conditions was placed into empty film canisters attached to Sonar Buoy Parachutes and tossed out of the cockpit of the F6F Hellcats flown by the VMD-354 pilots onto the airfield at Chi Chi Jima. Lt. David Schofield recounts that at that time, it was not known if the Japanese on Chi Chi Jima knew that there was a truce and the flight of the F6F's over the airfield at Chi Chi Jima at a very low altitude, with greatly reduced air speed, landing gear down and with full flaps while tossing the canisters with the parachutes out of the cockpits onto the airfield at Chi Chi Jima, was cause for great anxiety. Fortunately, the Japanese on Chi Chi Jima had received word that the hostilies had cease and there was no AA fire. The pilots had been accompanied on that flight with other F6F Hellcats fully armed and ready to defend them in the event the Japanese hadn't received the word and made any attempt to down the F6F Hellcats. Contained with the message were the instructions for confirming that the Japanese understood the conditions of the surrender terms. If understood and agreed to, they would lay three white strips on their airfield runway. A VMD-354 Photo Aircraft would return on the following day to photograph their answer, if there were one. For the Historian, the surrender of the Bonin Islands was arranged via VMD-354 F6F, Film Canister Airfield Photo Communications System! The formal surrender took place on board the Destroyer, USS Dunlap. Two VMD photographers were on board to memorialize the the surrender ceremonies. Defensive air cover was provided by VMD-354, F6F's during the surrender signing ceremonies. Iwo Jima-Pictorial