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V-J Day Collection (Victory Over Japan)

Japan officially surrendered from WWII on the deck of the USS Missouri (BB-63) on September 2, 1945.

VJ Day

54 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 13 hours, 3022 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
14 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from August 14, 1945:

"VJ Celebration Live on the Streets of Hollywood"



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SurrenderDecember 7, 1941, the date which lives in infamy, was a mistake, and everyone who knew anything knew it was a mistake. The architect of the Pearl Harbor Attack, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, had hoped that the attack would be a decisive and crippling blow against the American military presence in the Pacific, it was not to be. Yamamoto has been quoted: "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." Hitler knew it was a mistake, the War in Europe to that point had mostly gone his way but drawing the United States into the conflict was more than the Nazis would be able to handle.

Pearl Harbor was far from the beginning of the Second World War. For Europeans, the conflict officially began on September 1, 1939, when German forces crossed the border with Poland. In Asia, the War was an extension of the Second Sino-Japanese War which began on July 7, 1937, although some historians say the conflict began with the Japanese Invasion of Manchuria on September 19, 1931.

Officially, the United States was desperate not to be drawn into either the Asian or the European conflicts, although She had already 'chosen sides' in both conflicts. Hitler was the enemy of our friends, and the US had thrown her diplomatic weight in support of the Republic of China. That America would be drawn into the War seemed inevitable, but delaying her entry was in the best interest of the Axis forces.  After Pearl Harbor, America with all her industrial and economic might was forced into the fight.

In spite of that might, things did not go America's way at first, especially in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Our strongest allies in Asia were the Dutch and the British Empire who were both fighting for their lives against Hitler. If the Empire of Japan had bloodied Uncle Sam's nose in the early days of the War, it had absolutely wiped the floor with the British. The oil resources of the Dutch East Indies were an easy target for the Japanese, and the English bastions of Hong Kong and Singapore soon fell.

Although America was virtually alone in the Pacific Theater, she supported her allies with a "Defeat Hitler first" strategy. The American forces in the Pacific managed to fight the Japanese to a draw in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942. The Japanese response was an attempt to seize Midway and draw the American aircraft carriers into a decisive final battle. With a combination of military intelligence and just plain luck, Midway held and the Imperial Japanese Carrier force was routed. The Americans began an island-hopping campaign at Guadalcanal which led to bloody battles in the Solomon, Gilbert, Marshall, and Caroline Islands.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who had led the United States for more than a decade and oversaw the sensitive preparations for the War, passed away on April 12, 1945, with Victory in Europe just days away. Hitler committed suicide on April 30, and on May 8 (VE Day) the Allies accepted Germany's unconditional surrender.

The American island-hopping campaign had taken Iwo Jima, which put Tokyo in range of incendiary bombs dropped from B-29s. The Army and Marines were struggling across Okinawa and the invasion of the Japanese home islands was the next logical step. The experience of Okinawa, however, demonstrated that invading the home islands would have a terrific cost in American lives.

When Harry Truman moved from the Vice Presidency to the Oval Office he was briefed on the development of a horrific new weapon which had been secretly created by the Manhattan Project, the Atomic Bomb. Victory over Japan without the bomb was without a doubt, but the cost in American lives was incalculable. Truman ordered the Bomb to be dropped.

After devastating Atomic attacks on Hiroshima on August 6 and on Nagasaki on August 9, the Japanese government communicated its intention to surrender under the terms the Allies had outlined in the Potsdam Declaration. Just after noon on August 15, Emperor Hirohito's announcement of the surrender was broadcast to the Japanese people (it was the first time Japanese citizens outside the Imperial Court had heard their Emperor's voice). The Instrument of Surrender was signed on the deck of the USS Missouri (BB-63) on September 2. 

Broadcasts included in this collection are from 12-hour broadcasts of WEAF on August 10, 1945 and VJ news broadcasts from August 14, 1945.

Officially, V-J Day (for "Victory over Japan) was not celebrated in the U.S. until the signing of the Instrument on September 2, but in Great Britain, V-J Day was celebrated with the surrender announcement on August 15. Indeed, the American people began celebrating on the 15th. American servicemen were "kissing anything in skirts who came near enough". Several of these kisses were memorialized in photographs, but in many cases, the participants went unnamed in the exuberance of the moment.

The identity of the kissers is probably not that important. A hard-won peace was at hand, and America needed a kiss.

See also: Victory in Europe recordings

VJ Day

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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    We know it well! It’s a state holiday in Rhode Island; We’re the only state in the union that still celebrates it.

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    54 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 13 hours, 3022 min
    54 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 13 hours, 3022 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 54 shows – total playtime 13 hours, 50 minutes
    2. Columbia Presents Corwin 450814 Fourteen August.mp3
    3. Command Performance 450814 Victory Extra.mp3
    4. News 450814 Abc Japanese Surrender 452000.mp3
    5. News 450814 Afrs Command Performance 187a Victory Extra.mp3
    6. News 450814 Cbs Live Streets Of Hollywood.mp3
    7. News 450814 Cbs Owi Hirohito Speech Surrender.mp3
    8. News 450814 Cbs Reports Truman Accepts Japanese Surrender.mp3
    9. News 450814 Cbs Reports Vj Day Celebrations In Cinncinati.mp3
    10. News 450814 Cbs Robert Trout Reports End Of World War Ii.mp3
    11. News 450814 First Japanese Surrender Flash.mp3
    12. News 450814 Kaltenborn Comments.mp3
    13. News 450814 Kmbc Live From Independence Missouri.mp3
    14. News 450814 Mbs Bulletin Japan Surrenders.mp3
    15. News 450814 Mbs Japanese Surrender News Nyc Crowds.mp3
    16. News 450814 Nbc Ben Grauer On Vj Day Times Square.mp3
    17. News 450814 Nbc Don Oder Reporting From Chicago.mp3
    18. News 450814 Public Announcement Vj Day Services.mp3
    19. News 450814 Reaction In Washington.mp3
    20. News 450814 Vj Day Report From White House.mp3
    21. News 450814 Wisn Japan Surrender Celebration Milwaukee 1.mp3
    22. News 450814 Wisn Japan Surrender Celebration Milwaukee 2.mp3
    23. News 450814 Woman Describes Vj Day Announcement.mp3
    24. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1100 News Japan Surrender Offer.mp3
    25. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1115 News announced as 1145.mp3
    26. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1130 Barry Cameron.mp3
    27. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1145 David Harum.mp3
    28. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1200 News At Noon.mp3
    29. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1215 Maggie's Private Wire.mp3
    30. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1230 News From The Pacific.mp3
    31. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1245 The Music Room.mp3
    32. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1300 Mary Margaret McBride.mp3
    33. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1345 News Of The World.mp3
    34. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1400 The Guiding Light.mp3
    35. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1415 Today's Children.mp3
    36. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1430 Woman In White.mp3
    37. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1445 Betty Crocker.mp3
    38. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1500 A Woman In America.mp3
    39. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1515 Ma Perkins.mp3
    40. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1530 Pepper Young's Family.mp3
    41. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1545 The Right To Happiness.mp3
    42. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1600 Mary Noble Backstage Wife.mp3
    43. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1615 Stella Dallas.mp3
    44. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1630 Lorenzo Jones.mp3
    45. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1645 Young Widder Brown.mp3
    46. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1700 When A Girl Marries.mp3
    47. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1715 Portia Faces Life.mp3
    48. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1730 Just Plain Bill.mp3
    49. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1745 Front Page Farrell.mp3
    50. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1800 NBC News With Lyle Van.mp3
    51. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1815 Serenade To America.mp3
    52. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1840 MGM Sports With Bill Stern.mp3
    53. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1845 Lowell Thomas And The News.mp3
    54. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 2000 Highways Of Melody.mp3
    55. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 2130 Correction Please.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    54 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 13 hours, 3022 min
    54 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    380 MB – total playtime 13 hours, 50 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 54 shows – 380 MB – total playtime 13 hours, 50 minutes
    2. Columbia Presents Corwin 450814 Fourteen August.mp3
    3. Command Performance 450814 Victory Extra.mp3
    4. News 450814 Abc Japanese Surrender 452000.mp3
    5. News 450814 Afrs Command Performance 187a Victory Extra.mp3
    6. News 450814 Cbs Live Streets Of Hollywood.mp3
    7. News 450814 Cbs Owi Hirohito Speech Surrender.mp3
    8. News 450814 Cbs Reports Truman Accepts Japanese Surrender.mp3
    9. News 450814 Cbs Reports Vj Day Celebrations In Cinncinati.mp3
    10. News 450814 Cbs Robert Trout Reports End Of World War Ii.mp3
    11. News 450814 First Japanese Surrender Flash.mp3
    12. News 450814 Kaltenborn Comments.mp3
    13. News 450814 Kmbc Live From Independence Missouri.mp3
    14. News 450814 Mbs Bulletin Japan Surrenders.mp3
    15. News 450814 Mbs Japanese Surrender News Nyc Crowds.mp3
    16. News 450814 Nbc Ben Grauer On Vj Day Times Square.mp3
    17. News 450814 Nbc Don Oder Reporting From Chicago.mp3
    18. News 450814 Public Announcement Vj Day Services.mp3
    19. News 450814 Reaction In Washington.mp3
    20. News 450814 Vj Day Report From White House.mp3
    21. News 450814 Wisn Japan Surrender Celebration Milwaukee 1.mp3
    22. News 450814 Wisn Japan Surrender Celebration Milwaukee 2.mp3
    23. News 450814 Woman Describes Vj Day Announcement.mp3
    24. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1100 News Japan Surrender Offer.mp3
    25. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1115 News announced as 1145.mp3
    26. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1130 Barry Cameron.mp3
    27. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1145 David Harum.mp3
    28. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1200 News At Noon.mp3
    29. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1215 Maggie's Private Wire.mp3
    30. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1230 News From The Pacific.mp3
    31. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1245 The Music Room.mp3
    32. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1300 Mary Margaret McBride.mp3
    33. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1345 News Of The World.mp3
    34. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1400 The Guiding Light.mp3
    35. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1415 Today's Children.mp3
    36. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1430 Woman In White.mp3
    37. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1445 Betty Crocker.mp3
    38. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1500 A Woman In America.mp3
    39. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1515 Ma Perkins.mp3
    40. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1530 Pepper Young's Family.mp3
    41. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1545 The Right To Happiness.mp3
    42. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1600 Mary Noble Backstage Wife.mp3
    43. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1615 Stella Dallas.mp3
    44. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1630 Lorenzo Jones.mp3
    45. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1645 Young Widder Brown.mp3
    46. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1700 When A Girl Marries.mp3
    47. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1715 Portia Faces Life.mp3
    48. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1730 Just Plain Bill.mp3
    49. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1745 Front Page Farrell.mp3
    50. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1800 NBC News With Lyle Van.mp3
    51. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1815 Serenade To America.mp3
    52. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1840 MGM Sports With Bill Stern.mp3
    53. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1845 Lowell Thomas And The News.mp3
    54. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 2000 Highways Of Melody.mp3
    55. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 2130 Correction Please.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    54 recordings on 14 Audio CDs. Total playtime 12 hours, 11 min
    54 recordings on 14 Audio CDs
    total playtime 12 hours, 11 min

    VJ Day Disc A001

    1. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1100 News Japan Surrender Offer
    2. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1115 News announced as 1145
    3. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1130 Barry Cameron
    4. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1145 David Harum

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    VJ Day Disc A002

    1. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1200 News At Noon
    2. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1215 Maggie's Private Wire
    3. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1230 News From The Pacific
    4. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1245 The Music Room

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    VJ Day Disc A003

    1. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1300 Mary Margaret McBride
    2. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1345 News Of The World

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    VJ Day Disc A004

    1. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1400 The Guiding Light
    2. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1415 Today's Children
    3. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1430 Woman In White
    4. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1445 Betty Crocker

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    VJ Day Disc A005

    1. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1500 A Woman In America
    2. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1515 Ma Perkins
    3. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1530 Pepper Young's Family
    4. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1545 The Right To Happiness

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    VJ Day Disc A006

    1. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1600 Mary Noble Backstage Wife
    2. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1615 Stella Dallas
    3. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1630 Lorenzo Jones
    4. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1645 Young Widder Brown

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    VJ Day Disc A007

    1. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1700 When A Girl Marries
    2. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1715 Portia Faces Life
    3. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1730 Just Plain Bill
    4. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1745 Front Page Farrell

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    VJ Day Disc A008

    1. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1800 NBC News With Lyle Van
    2. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1815 Serenade To America
    3. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1840 MGM Sports With Bill Stern
    4. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 1845 Lowell Thomas And The News

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    VJ Day Disc A009

    1. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 2000 Highways Of Melody
    2. 12Hr WEAF 660AM 450810 2130 Correction Please

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    VJ Day Disc A010

    1. Columbia Presents Corwin 450814 Fourteen August
    2. News 450814 Abc Japanese Surrender 452000

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    VJ Day Disc A011

    1. News 450814 Afrs Command Performance 187a Victory Extra
    2. News 450814 Cbs Live Streets Of Hollywood
    3. News 450814 Cbs Owi Hirohito Speech Surrender
    4. News 450814 Cbs Reports Truman Accepts Japanese Surrender
    5. News 450814 Cbs Reports Vj Day Celebrations In Cinncinati
    6. News 450814 Cbs Robert Trout Reports End Of World War Ii
    7. News 450814 First Japanese Surrender Flash

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    VJ Day Disc A012

    1. News 450814 Kaltenborn Comments
    2. News 450814 Kmbc Live From Independence Missouri
    3. News 450814 Mbs Bulletin Japan Surrenders
    4. News 450814 Mbs Japanese Surrender News Nyc Crowds
    5. News 450814 Nbc Ben Grauer On Vj Day Times Square
    6. News 450814 Nbc Don Oder Reporting From Chicago
    7. News 450814 Public Announcement Vj Day Services
    8. News 450814 Reaction In Washington
    9. News 450814 Vj Day Report From White House

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    VJ Day Disc A013

    1. News 450814 Wisn Japan Surrender Celebration Milwaukee 1

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    VJ Day Disc A014

    1. News 450814 Wisn Japan Surrender Celebration Milwaukee 2
    2. News 450814 Woman Describes Vj Day Announcement

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