VJ Day

Heroes Remember

VJ Day

Transcript

Interviewer: So VJ Day, you, you said a bit about how the local commanders, the Japanese commanders didn't consider it necessarily over but what did VJ Day, how did that go over for you guys? It, it, it really didn't, it didn't make, it didn't seem to, we didn't celebrate or, or the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that registered, but VE, it was just another day, it, it, it didn't make any difference to us because it didn't affect us. There was, there was no, there was, there was no reason for us to celebrate it because we were, we were still bloody well bound to fly, so it didn't make any difference to us. Interviewer: So how did, you mentioned the atom bombs. How did they register? What did you guys think? That it's unfortunate that these people are killed and so on, but the bloody war's gonna be over and we can go home, but, but we did, we did have some, some concern about the number of people that lost their lives and, and not only that but the disfiguring of people, that they show, that was of concern. Even, even at that young age that we were, that, that was a concern that they had to go through their life disfigured they way they are. But then when we looked at how many American soldiers would have lost their lives attacking the mainland of Japan, you know, so, being selfish again, we were, we were happy that this would bring closure and we can go home.

Description

Mr. Fitzmaurice talks about why VJ Day didn’t have much of an effect on them.

Anthony Fitzmaurice

Mr. Fitzmaurice was born on a farm in Mount Carmel, Ontario. He grew up in London, Ontario, where he attended school. After graduating from college in 1943 he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and received his training in Mitchells and then Liberators in Calgary, Alberta. After training he flew from Dorval, Quebec, to Algiers. Mr. Fitzmaurice flew in a Liberator with 357 squadron flying guerillas in to Burma, China and Thailand. He returned to Canada on the Aquitania in March of 1946.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 02:21
Person Interviewed:: Anthony Fitzmaurice
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Location/Theatre:: Southeast Asia
Battle/Campaign:: Burma
Branch:: Air Force
Units/Ship:: 357 Squadron
Occupation:: Wireless Navigator

Related Videos

Seeing The World

Mr. Fitzmaurice talks about his trip from Canada to Southeast Asia and getting a chance to see the world.

Runway Accident

Shortly after reaching Southeast Asia Mr. Fitzmaurice was involved in an accident on the runway. A couple of airmen lost their lives in the accident. Mr. Fitzmaurice speaks about the impact this had on him.

Feeling Naked

The Liberator that Mr. Fitzmaurice was flying in had been stripped of all it guns except one. Mr. Fitzmaurice talks about how vulnerable this made them feel.

Guerillas

Mr. Fitzmaurice talks about the guerillas that they were dropping in to the jungles of Burma.

Good Luck Charm

Mr. Fitzmaurice had a good luck charm with him during the war. He tells us what it was and how he felt it got him home safely.

Shoot Yourself!

Mr. Fitzmaurice talks about the instructions they were given if they were ever shot down over enemy territory.

Proud of His Service

Mr. Fitzmaurice explains why he was proud of his service to Canada.

Date modified:: 2019-04-03