The British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF), was the name of the joint Australian, British, Indian and New Zealand military forces in occupied Japan, from February 21, 1946 until the end of occupation in 1952. At its peak, BCOF comprised about 40,000 personnel, equal to about 25% of the total US military personnel in Japan.

While US forces were responsible for military government, BCOF was responsible for supervising demilitarisation and the disposal of Japan's war industries.[1] BCOF was also responsible for occupation of the western prefectures of Shimane, Yamaguchi, Tottori, Okayama, Hiroshima and Shikoku Island. BCOF headquarters was at Kure.

For most of the occupation period, BCOF was comprised mostly of Australian Army personnel, centred around the 34th Infantry Brigade. The initial BCOF presence included the British 5th Infantry Brigade, Indian 268th Brigade and the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The position of commanding officer was always filled by Australians: Lt Gen. John Northcott , February to June 1946; Lt Gen. Horace Robertson , June 1946 to November 1951, and; Lt Gen. William Bridgeford from November 1951 until the end of the occupation.

The British Pacific Fleet initially provided most of the naval forces. The air contingent, known as BCAIR, was initially comprised of the Royal Australian Air Force No. 81 Fighter Wing, flying P-51 Mustangs, four Spitfire squadrons from the Royal Air Force and Indian Air Force, and a Royal New Zealand Air Force F4U Corsair squadron.

During 1947, the BCOF began to wind down its presence in Japan. However, BCOF bases provided staging posts for Australian and other Commonwealth forces deployed to the Korean War, from 1949 onwards. BCOF was effectively wound-up in 1951, as control of Commonwealth forces in Japan was transferred to British Commonwealth Forces Korea.

External link

A Brief History Of Australia’s Participation in the Occupation of Japan 1945-1952

Australian War Memorial, British Commonwealth Occupation Force 1946 - 1951