Oral History Interview with Goldie Conley, January 8, 2016 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Goldie Conley, January 8, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Goldie Conley. Conley was born in San Saba County, Texas in 1922. She describes living conditions in the small town of Cherokee during the Depression years. She married Wilbur Conley in May 1942, one month after he was inducted into the Army Air Forces. In October 1942, Wilbur was sent overseas and she briefly discusses his various assignments. She went to work as a welder with the Bethlehem Pennsylvania Shipyards in Beaumont, Texas and describes some of the hazards of the job. She also reflects upon the loneliness of being separated from her husband for over three years and the elation felt upon his return in 1945.
Date: January 8, 2016
Creator: Conley, Goldie
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Lee Young, January 8, 2008 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Lee Young, January 8, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lee Young. Young joined the Army Air Forces in March 1943. Upon completion of pilot training he was assigned to the 95th Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force. Stationed in England, he enjoyed good relations with the British. As pilot of a B-17, he felt vulnerable in combat, yet he carries great remorse for the civilian casualties he caused in Dresden. In Berlin, he faced a barrage of antiaircraft fire and was hit in the wing by a shell that missed the supercharger. Young managed to land in England despite the resulting fuel leak. On his next mission, a raid on Nuremberg, engine damage from antiaircraft fire caused him to crash-land in Belgium. The crew received assistance from the local mayor to reach American forces. Young endured 28 combat missions, earning multiple medals. He continued his military career to become highly decorated for his service in the Korean War. He retired from the Air Force as a colonel, having been awarded the Legion of Merit.
Date: January 8, 2008
Creator: Young, Lee
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Goldie Conley, January 8, 2016 transcript

Oral History Interview with Goldie Conley, January 8, 2016

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Goldie Conley. Conley was born in San Saba County, Texas in 1922. She describes living conditions in the small town of Cherokee during the Depression years. She married Wilbur Conley in May 1942, one month after he was inducted into the Army Air Forces. In October 1942, Wilbur was sent overseas and she briefly discusses his various assignments. She went to work as a welder with the Bethlehem Pennsylvania Shipyards in Beaumont, Texas and describes some of the hazards of the job. She also reflects upon the loneliness of being separated from her husband for over three years and the elation felt upon his return in 1945.
Date: January 8, 2016
Creator: Conley, Goldie
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Lee Young, January 8, 2008 transcript

Oral History Interview with Lee Young, January 8, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lee Young. Young joined the Army Air Forces in March 1943. Upon completion of pilot training he was assigned to the 95th Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force. Stationed in England, he enjoyed good relations with the British. As pilot of a B-17, he felt vulnerable in combat, yet he carries great remorse for the civilian casualties he caused in Dresden. In Berlin, he faced a barrage of antiaircraft fire and was hit in the wing by a shell that missed the supercharger. Young managed to land in England despite the resulting fuel leak. On his next mission, a raid on Nuremberg, engine damage from antiaircraft fire caused him to crash-land in Belgium. The crew received assistance from the local mayor to reach American forces. Young endured 28 combat missions, earning multiple medals. He continued his military career to become highly decorated for his service in the Korean War. He retired from the Air Force as a colonel, having been awarded the Legion of Merit.
Date: January 8, 2008
Creator: Young, Lee
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Francis Blake, January 8, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Francis Blake, January 8, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Francis Blake. Blake was born in Idaho and finished high school in Portland, Oregon. He then went to California for some college and worked in the mining industry in Arizona before joining the Marine Corps in August 1938. He trained at San Diego, then went to Sea School. Afterward, he was assigned to the USS Idaho (BB-42). He eventually became the captain's orderly and then an admiral's orderly while aboard the Idaho. Blake also served on Admiral Ernest King's flag allowance while King was Commander in Chief, US Fleet. Admiral King recommended Blake for a commission in the Marine Corps in June, 1943. When he got overseas, he was attached to the 3rd Marine Regiment prior to the invasion of Bougainville in an administrative support role. He performed similar duties on Guam during that invasion. When the 3rd MARDIV invaded Iwo Jima, Blake was an assistant to the G-1. When the war ended, he was back on Guam. He soon returned to the US and went to work discharging Marines. Blake retained his commission and stayed in the Corps. He served as marine detachment commanding officer aboard the …
Date: January 8, 2004
Creator: Blake, Francis E.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History