The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hamilton McWhorter. McWhorter was born in Athens, Georgia on 8 February 1921 and enrolled in a Civilian Pilot Training Program while in college. He enlisted in the Navy in June 1941 with a pilot’s license. He received his Aviator wings at Pensacola in February 1942. His first assignment was to Fighter Squadron Nine (VF-9) at Norfolk, Virginia. He was flying the much-maligned Brewster Buffalo (F2A-3) trainer when he had the only flight accident of his career at an airfield in Miami, Florida. His first combat flight was off the USS Ranger (CV-4) just off Morocco in support of the invasion of North Africa in November 1942. He was transferred to the USS Yorktown (CV-10) in August 1943. His combat missions in the Pacific consisted of strafing runs on islands and escorting bombers and torpedo planes over Wake Island during which he encountered his first Japanese Mitsubishi A6M (Zero). He shot down another Zero while making a strafing run on Wake Island. He also attacked Rabaul on 11 November 1943 while escorting American bombers. He remembers a strafing run on the Japanese heavy cruiser Mogami, and he shot down …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Ide. Ide???s father completed the Naval ROTC program at the University of California at Berkley while Admiral Chester Nimitz was there. His father was among Nimitz???s first students. His father joined the Naval Reserve and became a Lieutenant in1940. His father was assigned as skipper of a net tender and he and his family of six headed to Pearl Harbor. They lived at the officer???s quarters. Charles provides some details of life in Hawaii growing up, going to school and checking on the ship with his father. They were there on 7 December 1941, and Charles describes what he witnessed that fateful day, and how his family reacted. He talks about his father???s response in providing generators to the hospital and using his station wagon for a temporary ambulance. After living in Hawaii for one year, the family traveled back to California aboard the SS Lurline. His father participated in Saipan and Okinawa and retired later as a Captain. Charles himself served in the Army.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edwin Schuler. Schuler joined the Navy and in early 1940 was assigned to the USS Phoenix (CL-46) as a fire controlman. During the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was at the gun director, preparing the ship’s artillery, which required the coordination of several hundred men. He describes the happenings at East Loch that morning, including a moment when he stopped to help a wounded Army man. After the ship got underway, they chased what they thought to be a Japanese ship, going so far as to train all of their guns on it, only to receive a signal at the last minute that it was actually the USS Minneapolis (CA-36). Still, Marines cheered them for their bravery upon return to the harbor. He recounts several escort missions in the Indian Ocean, including one in which the USS Langley (CV-1) was sunk off Java. He remembers that General MacArthur spent several weeks aboard their ship, and it was evident that he and the crew did not like each other. When the ship went back to the States for repair, Schuler returned home. He celebrated V-J Day on the lawn …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al Kiracofe. Kiracofe joined the Navy in 1942 and received yeoman training at Great Lakes. Upon completion, he was assigned to CASU-22 at Quonset Point, helping to prepare squadrons for overseas deployment. He was then assigned to Carrier Air Group 41, which was just beginning to use radar for night flying. One of his duties as yeoman was to send letters of regret to the parents of soldiers who were killed in action. The experience upset him to the point that he remembered the date of each letter for the rest of his life. He was transferred to Carrier Air Group 10 aboard the USS Intrepid (CV-11) and helped to set up squadrons in Alameda from January 1943 to September 1944. At Okinawa, a kamikaze hit caused the deaths of eight men on the Intrepid. When the ship returned to Alameda for repairs, Kiracofe was so shaken up that he was ordered to a US Naval hospital for treatment and received a medical discharge in July 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Cunningham. Cunningham joined the Navy in 1940 and, after training, was assigned to the USS West Virginia (BB-48) at Bremerton, Washington. At tehe time, the ship was in drydock being updated with armor plating and more guns. Cunningham was aboard when the fleet was moved from California to Hawaii. He shares his experiences he had during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Cunningham was in a captain's gig headed for the landing in the Southeast Lock when the attack commenced. He describes seeing torpedo bombers just above his head as they attacked. Cunningham and crew soon began picking up survivors from the water in their boat. For the next two days, Cunningham assisted infighting fires aboard the USS Arizona (BB-39). Later, Cunningham was assigned to the USS APc-35 that went to Guadalcanal. En route, they picked up a unit of Fiji Islanders and dropped them off on Guadalcanal for a covert mission. His vessel became grounded on a reef and was abandoned. He was then assigned to another inter-island transport vessel, the USS APc-33.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Douglas Harper. Harper joined the Navy in July of 1941. He was transferred to the Naval Receiving Station at Pearl Harbor, and served as 2nd Class Carpenter’s Mate aboard the USS Kingfisher (AM-25). They were on station, and Harper was located at Bishop’s Point base at the entrance of the Harbor when then Japanese attacked. Harper remained at Pearl Harbor through October of 1943. He later served at a motor torpedo boat base at Toguchi, Okinawa.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rufus Dye. Dye joined the Army Air Corps in 1940 after finishing high school in Illinois. Dye finished radio operator school in Chicago before heading for flight training in California. Upon completion of flight training and earning his commission, Dye reported for duty with the 392nd Fighter Squadron, 367th Fighter Group in England where he flew combat missions in France prior to the Normandy landing. He flew a P-38 Lightning. He was in Frankfurt when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Travis Budlong. Budlong was born in Gainesville, Texas on 9 September 1922. After high school he entered Gainesville Junior College and earned an associate’s degree in one and a half years. Since his dad would not let him join the Royal Canadian Air Force Budlong took advantage of the CPT (civilian pilot training) program during his time at college and entered the Army Air Corps on 9 May 1942. After 1000 hours of instructing and 120 hours flying a B-24, Budlong was assigned to the 330th Bomb Group training in Cuba in B-29s. Budlong eventually made his way to Guam, via Hawaii and Kwajalein. Budlong flew 23 missions out of North Field with more than one harrowing landing on Iwo Jima with less than four engines. Budlong’s was among the last B-29s to drop bombs on Japan.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with J.C. Alston. Alston joined the Navy in August, 1941. He eventually reported aboard the USS California (BB-44) and served in the number 2 turret. Alston describes being present aboard the California when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Afterwards, Alston stayed with the California repairing and refurbishing her. Alston was aboard for the in Leyte invasion in the Philippines and describes watching some of the action at Iwo Jima. Alston also speaks about life aboard the California during the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Warren Kimzey. Kimzey joined the Coast Guard in September of 1939. He provides details of his training in Alameda, California, and service aboard a 75-foot patrol boat. He served as a gunnery pointer and gun captain. In 1940 he was assigned to the USCGC Taney (WHEC-37), where he remained for one year, patrolling at sea and completing search and rescue operations. They traveled to Hollandia, Johnston, Palmyra, Wake, Canton Island and others. Kimzey was then transferred to the buoy tender, USCGC Kukui (WAGL-225), serving as the ship’s cook, commissary chief and more. They maintained and replaced navigational buoys in the Hawaiian archipelago. They were at Sand Island on 7 December 1941, and Kimzey provides vivid details of what he witnessed and how he participated through that fateful day. He returned to the US in 1944 and was promoted to Chief Commissary Man. He was discharged in 1945 and joined the Coast Guard Reserves.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Burdell Cobb. Cobb joined the Navy after graduating high school in 1940. Upon completion of basic training, he was assigned to USS Concord (CL-10) and then transferred to an aviation squadron on Ford Island. On 7 December 1941, Cobb was on the flight line when he heard an explosion and saw smoke rising from his hangar, prompting him to sound the fire alarm. Soon, a plane emerged from the smoke and flew towards Cobb, strafing. Without hesitation, Cobb returned fire with a forty-five. He attempted to flee in a plane that was in need of repair, but he could not find a pilot and instead took cover until the raid ended. The squadron eventually relocated to New Hebrides and New Caledonia, where Cobb maintained reconnaissance seaplanes. He was briefed by intelligence personnel on the atomic bomb, shocked to hear that they could not predict what the bomb’s impact would be like. After the war, Cobb returned to the States and spent two decades as a military recruiter in Dodge City.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald K Cradit. Cradit joined the Navy in November of 1939. He served as Boatswain’s Mate aboard the USS McCook (DD-496), participating in the Normandy invasions. Cradit later served aboard the USS Rogers (DD-876), where he witnessed the signing of the Peace Treaty in Tokyo Harbor. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Oliver. Oliver was born in Weleetka, Oklahoma on 29 June 1920. After graduating from high school in 1939, he joined the US Army Air Corps and was assigned to the 11th Squadron, 7th Bomb Group as a bombardier. On a January 1943 flight to Canton Island the B-24 in which he was flying crash landed in the sea. Oliver tells of his recovery from the injuries he sustained and his subsequent assignment to a B-17 crew. In February 1943, on a mission over Rabaul the plane was damaged due to fighter intercept and anti-aircraft fire leading to a forced crash landing in a New Guinea swamp. He tells a riveting tale of the harrowing journey through the leech infested swamp and eventual arrival at a native village. The crew was then rescued and hospitalized. The plane was discovered in the New Guinea swamp in 1972. Given the name “Swamp Ghost” it was reclaimed and taken to Honolulu, Hawaii in 2013.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert White. White finished high school in 1934 and shares several anecdotes about making a living during the Great Depression. During most of the war, White was working in an essential oil and gas industry job and was deferred from military service, until he was drafted into the Army in early 1945. He shipped out for occupation duty in Japan, arriving in November, 1945. WHite eventually received a hardship discharge because hi wife was going to have a surgery.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Howard Luckham. Luckham joined the Navy in 1939. He served as a deck hand aboard the USS Helena (CL-50). He completed Machine Gun School in the fall of 1941. Luckham was aboard the Helena, moored at 1010 Dock, Navy Yard on the base (southeast) side of Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese attacked. In late 1942 Luckham was transferred to USS Feland (APA-11) and served as a 20mm gunner. They transported Marines for the invasions of Tarawa, Saipan and Guam. He remained in the Navy for a total of 20 years, retiring in 1958.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Albert Barton. Barton joined the Navy and was trained as a radioman. He became a crewman on an Avenger torpedo bomber in October 1943. Barton flew off of the USS Mission Bay (CVE-59) and the USS Tripoli (CVE-64) and performed anti-submarine patrols in the North Atlantic. He describes how depth charges were dropped, the armament of the plane, and how they were trained to skip-bomb. Barton was then sent to the Pacific where he flew off of the USS Anzio (CVE-57) for the remainder of the war. He describes an incident where his plane had a failed landing and ended upside-down in the water. Barton had to break some glass in the cockpit to escape. He flew ground support missions over Okinawa. Barton discusses how the radio and radar functioned on his plane. He was discharged several months after the surrender.

Transcript of an oral interview with Loyd Jensen. After moving to Los Angeles from Kansas, Jensen was drafted into the Army in October, 1940. While serving in California, Jenses went to glider pilot school, but the program got cut. He ended up in flight school in Marfa, Texas, earned his wings and was commissioned an officer in January, 1944. He elected to fly B-25s and began training in them. With training complete, Jensen and his crew shipped to India. He flew 67 combat missions supporting the British 14th Army in Burma. Jensen also describes his living conditions and the various Indian servants he and his fellow servicemen employed. He also describes a typical mission briefing; the time he went on R&R; the food avaialble at his base; what the crews did for entertainment. When the war ended, Jensen rotated home and trined pilots before heading for occupation duty in Japan. He was there when the Korean War started. He also mentions being part of hte Military Advisory Group in Vietnam. His job was to advise the small South Vietnamese Air Forces and he flew guys to Hong Kong for R&R on occasion.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Sturgill. Sturgill joined the Navy in July of 1940. He served as a machinist’s mate, operating steam driven equipment in the engine room aboard the USS Dale (DD-353). They were stationed in Hawaii and moored in Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. Sturgill provides vivid details of his experiences through the fateful attack, his work with the repair party and the immense damage done to a number of battleships in the harbor. In March of 1943 they participated in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands. In August they joined the pre-invasion bombardment of Kiska, Alaska. They returned to the States in the fall of 1945, and Sturgill was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Ernst. Ernst joined the Army and was assigned to an artillery unit in the 75th Infantry Division. He landed in France in October, 1944 and fought at the Battle of the Bulge attached to the 101st Airborne Division. He served briefly as a forward artillery observer. When the war ended, Ernst stayed in the Army and served in Korea and Vietnam.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Gus Seeley. Seeley joined the Navy in July of 1940. During his career, he completed schooling for Yeoman, Naval Intelligence, Stenography and the Portuguese Language. Seeley served as Yeoman Third-Class aboard USS Honolulu (CL-48). They were moored in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. Seeley was later transferred to USS LST-312, serving in the European Theater. He participated in the Sicily Campaign, the Salerno landings and the Invasion of Normandy. Seeley was transferred to another LST, and also served in the invasions of the Philippines and Okinawa, and served with occupation forces in China.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with M J Cotter. Cotter joined the Navy in March of 1941. After boot camp, he provided upkeep and maintenance of the 16-inch gun turret aboard the USS Maryland (BB-46). They traveled to Hawaii around July of 1941. The Maryland was present on Battleship Row during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Cotter was aboard the ship and describes his experiences through this fateful day, including their 50-caliber gunner taking down a Japanese plane. After repairs to their ship, they participated in the battles of Midway, Tarawa, Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. Cotter was discharged in July of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Davis. Davis entered the Army Air Corps in 1939. He was sent to Wheeler Field, Hawaii and spent a short time with the 19th Pursuit Squadron. He was transferred to the 58th Bomb Squadron. He recalls he was a crew chief on an A-20 (Havoc) bomber when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and Wheeler Field on 7 December 1941. Davis describes the actions he took on that day, which included two days of intense labor repairing aircraft to a flyable condition. He was assigned to flight training, but washed out. Davis was soon assigned to gunnery school at Las Vegas, Nevada. After completion, he went aboard RMS Queen Elizabeth. Upon arrival at Turleigh, England he was assigned to the 306th Bomb Group, 367th Bomb Squadron as a flight engineer and gunner on a B-17. He describes many of the 24 combat missions he flew and tells of several incidents involving members of the crew. After the surrender of Germany, he returned to the United States. He tells of reenlisting and of some of his experiences he had until his retirement in 1965.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Preston. After discovering that he was not the right size for the Army Air Corps, Preston joined the Marine Corps around the time the war began. He was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division as a rifleman. His first combat experience occurred on Tarawa, where he was one of the first ashore. After wading through waist-deep water, he crawled along a coconut log wall and had an uncomfortably close encounter with an enemy combatant who tossed grenades before retreating. Afterward, Preston enjoyed a brief R&R in New Zealand, where he tried to stay out of the brawls between New Zealander and American troops. On Saipan and Tinian, Preston saw civilian prisoners used for slave labor and put on the front line as false targets. He once found himself within 10 steps of an enemy tank while his antitank support was unable to fire. Fortunately, the tank was too close to lower its gun on him. Preston also survived a bullet that ricocheted off his canteen. After a brief stint on Saipan pulling guard duty, Preston returned to the States and was discharged a few months later.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Wolf. Wolf joined the Army in March, 1944 and went to basic training in Florida. After training, Wolf proceeded overseas to France in February, 1945 and was assigned as a rifleman in the 341st Infantry Regiment, 86th Infantry Division. They moved into Germany and fought at Hagen. When the war in Europe ended, Wolf was sent to the Philippines for garrison duty, arriving after the war was over. He returned to the US in April, 1946. He joined the Air Force in October, 1949 and stayed in for four years.