Today Erskine marks the 76^th Anniversary of the surrender of Japan. Events leading up to the surrender reverberated around the world.  On August 6, 1945 the first atomic bomb, was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.  As a direct result of the bombings on August 15 the Japanese surrendered.

It is a day Erskine Veteran Robert Whitson Johnson will never forget.  As a RAF codes and ciphers operator Robert was responsible for deciphering the signal that arrived on August 15, 1945 announcing the surrender of Japan.

“I was regularly dealing with top-secret information, things I still can’t talk about. But on this day a signal came in that I personally deciphered, which told us the Japanese had surrendered,”

The war which had raged on for over six years was finally over.  It is a war the world will not forget and today we take time to remember those who sacrificed so much for the freedom we enjoy today.

Mr Johnson (97) is pictured on the 75^th anniversary commemorations of Victory in Japan day at Prestwick Airport chatting to Red Arrow pilots.