KISSING SAILOR DIES
THE ecstatic US sailor pictured kissing a woman in New York’s Times Square celebrating the end of World War II has died.
George Mendonsa was 95 when he fell and had a seizure at an assisted living facility in Middletown, Rhode Island.
Mr Mendonsa was famously photographed kissing dental nurse Greta Zimmer Friedman on August 14, 1945 — known as Victory over Japan Day, the day Japan surrendered to the US.
On the day, people spilt on to the New York City streets to celebrate the news.
Mr Mendonsa planted a kiss on Ms Friedman, whom he had never met.
The photo, taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt, was published in Life magazine and became one of the most famous photos of the century.
Another photographer, Victor Jorgensen, who was in the navy, also captured the kiss in a similar photo. The moment has been shared widely and is often seen on posters.
Several people later claimed to be the kissing couple, and it was years before Mr Mendonsa and Ms Friedman were confirmed to be the couple. He was on leave when the war ended.