Transcript of an oral interview with Kenneth J. Ruff. Ruff joined the Army Air Forces while attending college in Missouri in 1942. He describes all the places he trained as a pilot, from Texas to Wisconsin and Oklahoma. He eventually was selected to be a flight instructor. He ferried one aircraft to Australia and when he returned, he went to Reno, Nevada for more flight training. Upon completion, Ruff ferried an airplane to India via Brazil and Africa. Once he arrived in India, his job then consisted of flying material in C-46 transport planes over "the Hump" to China. He flew 72 missions from India to China over the Himilaya Mountains. Ruff shares several experiences of his while flying in China and India. After the war, while Ruff was in the Reserves, he was recalled to fly supplies to German citizens in the Berlin Airlift (1948-1949). Ruff spent 20 years in the Air Force after WWII.

Transcript of an oral interview with John Hamilton. Hamilton was drafted into the Army in early 1943. After training, Hamilton was assigned to the 87th Infantry Division at Fort McCain, Mississippi. In the fall of 1944, Hamilton was shipped overseas with the 87th to England. From there, his unit went to the continent and was on the line in Belgium when the Battle of the Bulge began in December, 1944. Hamilton speaks of the conditions he faced during the battle.

Transcript of an oral interview with Kenneth J. Ruff. Ruff joined the Army Air Forces while attending college in Missouri in 1942. He describes all the places he trained as a pilot, from Texas to Wisconsin and Oklahoma. He eventually was selected to be a flight instructor. He ferried one aircraft to Australia and when he returned, he went to Reno, Nevada for more flight training. Upon completion, Ruff ferried an airplane to India via Brazil and Africa. Once he arrived in India, his job then consisted of flying material in C-46 transport planes over "the Hump" to China. He flew 72 missions from India to China over the Himilaya Mountains. Ruff shares several experiences of his while flying in China and India. After the war, while Ruff was in the Reserves, he was recalled to fly supplies to German citizens in the Berlin Airlift (1948-1949). Ruff spent 20 years in the Air Force after WWII.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Pete Rocha. Rocha joined the Navy and trained at Great Lakes. He served as a storekeeper in Florida and Texas for a while before receiving amphibious training in Virginia. Rocha was assigned to LSM-262 as a storekeeper. Rocha recalls combat experiences at Okinawa and the Philippines. His battle station was on a 40mm gun at the bow. After the war, while ashore at Yokahama, Rocha encountered his brother.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kenneth Carpenter. Carpenter joined the Army in March of 1942. He joined the Fort Benjamin Harrison Band and completed a war bond sales tour around Indiana. Carpenter served as a warrant officer for four years. During this time, he directed Army Air Forces concerts, marching and dance bands from Pampa, Texas, to Calcutta, India, and Shanghai, China. He was the commander of the 685th Army Air Forces Band and was attached to the 14th Air Force. Carpenter returned to the US and was discharged in January of 1946.

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.

Transcript of an oral interview with Peter Lanchak. Lanchak joined the Army in 1939 and was sent to Panama to serve in a coastal artillery battery. He enjoyed riding in airplanes and volunteered for duty as a crewman or as a gunner on the various aircraft stationed where he was. Eventually, after the war started, he was shipped to India in 1942. Once he arrived in India, Lanchak began participating in missions over Rangoon and eventually flew over the Himalaya Mountains to China. After 47 missions, Lanchack was shipped back to the US in late 1943. When he returned, he served as an aerial gunnery trainer at Colorado Springs and in Idaho.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Nicholas Erdely. Erdely was born in Tolick, West Virginia. He lived in a coal mining town where everything was controlled by the mining company. He joined the Army Air Corps in September 1940 and took basic training at Chanute field, Illinois. After completing radio operator school he boarded a ship bound for Bombay, India. Upon his arrival he went to Assam, where he was assigned to the 759t9h Signal Aircraft Warning Company. He walked three days to get to a signal aircraft warning site. The site was so remote, all supplies had to be dropped by airplanes. Erdely describes the living conditions they endured. The purpose of the eleven man team at the site was to observe and report by radio any aircraft in the vicinity. After seven months the team was relieved and went to Lahore, India. Then they traveled to a remote location in the mountains of northern Burma where they stayed another seven months. The team traveled to Calcutta where they boarded C-46 to fly to Fort Meade, Maryland. Soon after arriving, in the United States, Erderly was discharged.

Transcript of an oral interview with Harold Tatsch. Prior to enlisting in the Navy, Tatsch worked as a bellhop in the Nimitz Hotel in Fredericksburg, Texas. In November, 1944, Tatsch joined the Navy. After completing training, Tatsch went aboard the USS Drexler (DD-741) where he served as an ammunition handler for a 40mm antiaircraft gun. Eventually, the Drexler made its way to Ulithi where it joined the armada headed for Okinawa. Tatsch also describes being on picket duty off Okinawa and being attacked by Japanese aircraft. On 28 May 1945, the Drexler was hit by two kamikazes and Tatsch describes the impacts and aftermath. He abandoned ship and spent about three hours in the water before being rescued. He was sent back to the US on a 40-day survivor leave. At the end of it, Tatsch re-enlisted, requesting more duty aboard destoryers. In the meantime, the war ended and he was shipped to Guam where he spent 18 months as a shore patrolman. When that was complete, Tatsch was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Leroy Fisher. Fisher enlisted in the Army Air Forces in 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In Long Beach, California he studied the workings of a C-47, then trained in towing gliders with the C-47, and then worked with paratroopers. He served as a flying crew chief and his job was to pre-flight the airplane every morning. In 1943 he flew over India and Burma dropping off supplies to the troops. He was a part of the 10th Army, and in the Air Forces 1st Combat Cargo Group, 3rd Squadron. His squadron supported the British 14th Army by dropping supplies. He also went into Kunming, China, transporting supplies to Foochow. He discusses how the British operated and how they utilized their troops. He shares some stories of working with Merrill’s Marauders, and dropping supplies to them. After the war he studied chemical engineering.

Transcript of an oral interview with John Hamilton. Hamilton was drafted into the Army in early 1943. After training, Hamilton was assigned to the 87th Infantry Division at Fort McCain, Mississippi. In the fall of 1944, Hamilton was shipped overseas with the 87th to England. From there, his unit went to the continent and was on the line in Belgium when the Battle of the Bulge began in December, 1944. Hamilton speaks of the conditions he faced during the battle.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Fred L DiDomenico. DiDomenico joined the Marine Corps in September of 1942. In November, he deployed to Samoa. DiDomenico served as a machine gunner with the 3rd Marine Division, and participated in the battles of Bougainville and Guam. He returned to the US and was discharged in October of 1944.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Nicholas Erdely. Erdely was born in Tolick, West Virginia. He lived in a coal mining town where everything was controlled by the mining company. He joined the Army Air Corps in September 1940 and took basic training at Chanute field, Illinois. After completing radio operator school he boarded a ship bound for Bombay, India. Upon his arrival he went to Assam, where he was assigned to the 759t9h Signal Aircraft Warning Company. He walked three days to get to a signal aircraft warning site. The site was so remote, all supplies had to be dropped by airplanes. Erdely describes the living conditions they endured. The purpose of the eleven man team at the site was to observe and report by radio any aircraft in the vicinity. After seven months the team was relieved and went to Lahore, India. Then they traveled to a remote location in the mountains of northern Burma where they stayed another seven months. The team traveled to Calcutta where they boarded C-46 to fly to Fort Meade, Maryland. Soon after arriving, in the United States, Erderly was discharged.

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 oral interview with Leroy Fisher. Fisher enlisted in the Army Air Forces in 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In Long Beach, California he studied the workings of a C-47, then trained in towing gliders with the C-47, and then worked with paratroopers. He served as a flying crew chief and his job was to pre-flight the airplane every morning. In 1943 he flew over India and Burma dropping off supplies to the troops. He was a part of the 10th Army, and in the Air Forces 1st Combat Cargo Group, 3rd Squadron. His squadron supported the British 14th Army by dropping supplies. He also went into Kunming, China, transporting supplies to Foochow. He discusses how the British operated and how they utilized their troops. He shares some stories of working with Merrill’s Marauders, and dropping supplies to them. After the war he studied chemical engineering.

Transcript of an oral interview with Peter Lanchak. Lanchak joined the Army in 1939 and was sent to Panama to serve in a coastal artillery battery. He enjoyed riding in airplanes and volunteered for duty as a crewman or as a gunner on the various aircraft stationed where he was. Eventually, after the war started, he was shipped to India in 1942. Once he arrived in India, Lanchak began participating in missions over Rangoon and eventually flew over the Himalaya Mountains to China. After 47 missions, Lanchack was shipped back to the US in late 1943. When he returned, he served as an aerial gunnery trainer at Colorado Springs and in Idaho.

Transcript of an oral interview with Harold Tatsch. Prior to enlisting in the Navy, Tatsch worked as a bellhop in the Nimitz Hotel in Fredericksburg, Texas. In November, 1944, Tatsch joined the Navy. After completing training, Tatsch went aboard the USS Drexler (DD-741) where he served as an ammunition handler for a 40mm antiaircraft gun. Eventually, the Drexler made its way to Ulithi where it joined the armada headed for Okinawa. Tatsch also describes being on picket duty off Okinawa and being attacked by Japanese aircraft. On 28 May 1945, the Drexler was hit by two kamikazes and Tatsch describes the impacts and aftermath. He abandoned ship and spent about three hours in the water before being rescued. He was sent back to the US on a 40-day survivor leave. At the end of it, Tatsch re-enlisted, requesting more duty aboard destoryers. In the meantime, the war ended and he was shipped to Guam where he spent 18 months as a shore patrolman. When that was complete, Tatsch was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kenneth Carpenter. Carpenter joined the Army in March of 1942. He joined the Fort Benjamin Harrison Band and completed a war bond sales tour around Indiana. Carpenter served as a warrant officer for four years. During this time, he directed Army Air Forces concerts, marching and dance bands from Pampa, Texas, to Calcutta, India, and Shanghai, China. He was the commander of the 685th Army Air Forces Band and was attached to the 14th Air Force. Carpenter returned to the US and was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Fred L DiDomenico. DiDomenico joined the Marine Corps in September of 1942. In November, he deployed to Samoa. DiDomenico served as a machine gunner with the 3rd Marine Division, and participated in the battles of Bougainville and Guam. He returned to the US and was discharged in October of 1944.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas B. Dabney. Dabney wanted to go to the Naval Academy, but was denied entry as a second alternate. Undaunted, he enlisted in the Navy, working toward receiving an appointment to the Academy from the ranks, which he achieved in May 1932, after serving aboard the USS Texas (BB-35). He graduated from the Academy in 1936 and served aboard surface ships: USS New York (BB-34), USS Chester (CA-27), USS Indianapolis (CA-35). During this period, Dabney befriended Joe Rochefort. In May, 1940, he was transferred to the USS Bernadou (DD-153) and began escorting supplies across the Atlantic to Iceland. Dabney was assigned to submarine school in September, 1941 and was graduated early after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He joined the Pacific Fleet in January 1942. At first, he was assigned to the USS Pompano (SS-181), but was in the hospital when it sailed. He instead boarded the USS Plunger (SS-179) and describes some of its war patrols while he was aboard. In May, 1944, Dabney was assigned to the USS Becuna (SS-319) before being called to command the USS Guitarro (SS-363) in December in Fremantle, Australia. After the …