The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Perez. Perez joined the Army Air Forces in 1943. He served as a B-17 ball turret gunner with the 8th Air Force, 401st Bomb Group, 613th Squadron, completing 32 missions over Germany, France and Poland. He returned to the US and received his discharge in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Perez. Perez joined the Army Air Forces in 1943. He served as a B-17 ball turret gunner with the 8th Air Force, 401st Bomb Group, 613th Squadron, completing 32 missions over Germany, France and Poland. He returned to the US and received his discharge in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Garber. Garber joined the Army in December of 1942. He completed Radio Operator and Gunnery schools. He served with the 338th Bombardment Squadron, 96th Bombardment Group in England. Garber completed 13 missions over Germany, Normandy and France. During a mission over Germany, his plane was shot down, and he and the crew were captured by German soldiers. Garber endured torture by his captors at Stalag Luft I and IV prison camps. Upon his liberation in May of 1945, he was returned to the US and honorably discharged in October.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Murray Codman. Codman joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1943. He served as an engineer and top turret gunner aboard a B-17 with the 447th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force. He completed 35 bombing and supply missions over Europe, including Germany and France. Codman was discharged as a technical sergeant October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Homer Piper. Piper joined the Army Air Forces with great difficulty because he lived in the Panama Canal Zone. During the war, the canal was so crowded with military transports that it was nearly impossible for civilians to travel. He finally managed to get to Las Vegas and into gunnery school. In 1945 he was sent to England with a replacement crew for the 493rd Bomb Group, 863rd Bomb Squadron. His crew was tasked with testing newly repaired B-17s, putting him in dangerous situations. He only flew one mission, which was to drop food in Holland. When the war ended, he was discharged in Sioux Falls, where he enjoyed a 40-year civilian career.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Peter Lecce. Lecce joined the Army Air Forces in December 1941 and received basic training in California. He washed out of flight training in Arizona. He volunteered for glider school and received training in Lubbock and Laurinburg-Maxton. Upon completion he was sent to England with the 310th Troop Carrier Squadron, 315th Troop Carrier Group. He was scheduled to participate in Operation Market Garden, but his mission was canceled due to poor weather. Lecce transported newly assembled CG-A4 gliders to Orleans and delivered supplies to stranded troops in Brussels. He was discharged just after V-E Day.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Norman Wilmeth. Wilmeth signed up for the Citizens’ Military Training Camp in 1937 and obtained his pilot’s license through the Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1940. He was called into active duty in 1942 and attended Officer Training School. He was transferred to the glider program and received CG-4A training in Lubbock. Upon completion, he joined the 91st Troop Carrier Squadron, 439th Troop Carrier Group. Wilmeth transported troops to the Normandy invasion in a Horsa glider and then returned to England. For his next mission, he brought a medical unit to the invasion of Southern France. He witnessed a beautiful candlelit parade in Casablanca on the day that Paris was liberated. In October he flew troops and heavy equipment to Holland amidst antiaircraft fire, relying on Dutch families to hide him after landings. He was transferred to a special combat control team and participated in Operation Varsity, communicating with the battlefield from General Ridgway’s headquarters. After the war he accepted the surrender of German flight crews and arranged for the evacuation of wounded GIs. He returned home and joined the Texas National Guard, later becoming a nuclear weapons …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ray Phillips. Phillips transferred to the Navy Department after working as a civilian stenographer in the Department of the Interior. He worked in Naval Intelligence for six months, focusing on Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Yugoslavia. He was transferred to ACORN-14, stationed on Tarawa. There he worked for Captain Tate, a rough character who would ride his Jeep from island to island during low tide, never revealing what he was searching for. After a year, Phillips was transferred to Kwajalein, where he took dictation from an admiral and taught shorthand to a captain. Phillips returned home and upon discharge he enrolled in college. He was hired by the school as a stenographer soon after graduating.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with S. Tom Morris. He discusses his childhood, education and what led him to join the US Navy Air force. He and interviewer Ken Fields discuss various different types of aircraft that were used during that time, and Mr. Morris tells of his experience on the USS Ticonderoga in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Hyatt. Hyatt joined the Army Air Forces in November of 1943. He served as a B-17 pilot with the 385th Bombardment Group, completing 35 bombing missions over Germany and France. Hyatt returned to the US in January of 1945. After the war ended, he transported troops from Okinawa back to the States.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Otto Lyons. Lyons joined the Army Air Forces around 1943. He served as a glider pilot and shares details of his flight training. In early 1944, he deployed to England, participating in Operation Market Garden. He completed additional missions over Paris, France, and participated with American ground troops in combat going into Germany. He returned to the US in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Leon Spencer. Spencer joined the Army Air Corps in October of 1940. He completed schooling in Aviation Medicine in 1941, working as a flight surgeon’s assistant through June of 1942. He graduated in mid-1943 from Advanced Glider Training in Lubbock, Texas and served as a Flight Officer. After surviving an aircraft accident in September, Spencer became a glider pilot instructor at Sedalia, Missouri and Blytheville, Arkansas. He continued his service after the war ended, retiring from the Air Force in 1964.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Caruso. Caruso joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. He served as a radio operator and mechanic aboard a B-17 with the 385th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force. He traveled to England, bombarding industrial areas, air bases, oil refineries over Germany, France and pre-bombing before the Invasion of Normandy, completing 30 missions. In 1945, Caruso joined the Air Transport Command. He was discharged shortly after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Boyle. Boyle joined the Army Air Forces in June of 1942. He served as a glider pilot and C-47 flight officer, and shares details of his flight training. He was assigned to ferry gliders from Stout Field, Indiana throughout the US. Around early 1944, Boyle was transferred to Calcutta, India. He served as the first glider replacement for Operation Thursday. Boyle completed 11 missions throughout Pakistan, India and Burma. He returned to the US in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Powell. Powell joined the Army Air Forces in August of 1940. He served as a glider pilot and radio operator. In August of 1943, Powell deployed to North Africa, where he assembled CG-4A gliders. He participated in Operation Market Garden, where he served as sergeant in the 82nd Airborne Division. His plane went down during the Battle of the Bulge, and he sustained multiple injuries. He returned to the US in early 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Toombs. Toombs was born in 1924. He enlisted in the Army Air Forces in October of 1942. He completed Airplane Mechanics’ School, which included work on B-24s, then onto Gunnery School. In late 1943, Toombs was assigned as Flight Engineer/Gunner aboard a B-24 with the 493rd Bomb Group. They traveled to England, and he completed 24 missions over Normandy, France and Germany in both the B-24 and B-17. He recalls a story of their plane being shot down over Brussels. In October of 1944, Toombs was summoned to Squadron HQ and returned to the US. He opted to remain grounded at Langley Field, Virginia, on aircraft maintenance. Toombs was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Arthur Talmage. Talmage joined the Marine Corps around 1942. He served with the 4th Marine Division, 24th Marine Regiment, 3rd Battalion. Talmage worked as a runner and bodyguard for Alexander Vandegrift during each campaign. They participated in the battles of Kwajalein, Tinian, Saipan and Iwo Jima. Talmage was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Dan Judevine. Judevine joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1942. He served as a glider pilot and C-47 co-pilot, and shares details of his flight training. In 1943 he deployed to England, participating in the Allied invasion of southern France and in Operation Market Garden. Through the end of the war, Judevine conducted resupply missions for the American ground troops in Germany. He returned to the US in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Theis. Theis joined the Army Air Forces in 1942 and was placed in the reserves. While waiting to be called, he joined the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP). He graduated from advanced glider flight training in Lubbock, Texas on 15 September 1944. Theis served as a glider pilot with the 98th Troop Carrier Squadron, 440th Troop Carrier Group. They were shipped to England, and participated in re-supply missions during Operation VARSITY in March of 1945. After the war ended, he served in occupied Germany. Theis returned to the US in June of 1946 and received his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard K. Bentley. Bentley finished high school in Oklahoma nad joined the Navy in October, 1942. After boot camp, Bentley served with a Marine communications unit in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea before being assigned aboard the USS Kula Gulf (CVE-108).

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Jacobs. Jacobs joined the Army Air Forces in March of 1943. He was classified as pilot and gunner. He received his wings in January of 1944. He served as a flight officer aboard B-24s. He flew to Townsville, Australia and Nadzab, New Guinea. He was assigned to the 22nd Bomb Group, 408th Squadron, serving as both pilot and co-pilot. They flew to Noemfoor, New Guinea. He flew 37 missions overall. Jacobs discusses overall life in the military including comradery with fellow crew members, food, housing and more. His crew was on the first mission to bomb the Philippines and he provides information on this mission.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Merton Thurston. Thurston was born on 28 September 1924. He joined the Army Air Forces on 5 December 1942. In March of 1944, Thurston served as a B-17 radio operator and gunner with the 338th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group, 45th Combat Wing of the 3rd Air Division of the 8th Air Force, located in Snetterton Heath, England. Thurston and his crew flew 35 missions over Germany, Poland, France, Holland and Belgium. In early 1945, he was stationed at Casablanca, Morocco, serving with a ferry division in North Africa. He returned to the US and received his discharge on 3 November 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Toombs. Toombs was born in 1924. He enlisted in the Army Air Forces in October of 1942. He completed Airplane Mechanics’ School, which included work on B-24s, then onto Gunnery School. In late 1943, Toombs was assigned as Flight Engineer/Gunner aboard a B-24 with the 493rd Bomb Group. They traveled to England, and he completed 24 missions over Normandy, France and Germany in both the B-24 and B-17. He recalls a story of their plane being shot down over Brussels. In October of 1944, Toombs was summoned to Squadron HQ and returned to the US. He opted to remain grounded at Langley Field, Virginia, on aircraft maintenance. Toombs was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Roche. Roche was born on 24 November 1924. He enlisted in the Army Air Forces Aviation Cadet Program in June 1943. He completed basic training, armament and gunnery school, and was deployed to England in November 1944 as a B-17 waist gunner with the 452nd Bomb Group. During this combat tour, he was shot down twice, crash landing in France once and behind Russian lines in Poland following a February 1945 mission to Berlin. He spent several months interned with the Soviet Army in Poland until the war ended. Roche returned to the US and served a distinguished 32-year career in the military including assignments in intelligence, as a faculty member at the US Air Force Academy and Air Attaché postings in the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia.