Oral History Interview with Tom Anderson, February 3, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Tom Anderson, February 3, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tom Anderson. Anderson dropped out of college in 1941 and hitchhiked from Texas to San Diego. There he worked for Consolidated Aircraft, drafting plans for the B-32, B-36, and C-99. He then transferred to the Fort Worth plant, where he stayed until 1944, when he enlisted in the Navy. He was selected for radar technician training, and after boot camp he studied electronics in Chicago, followed by airborne radar training in Corpus Christi. He had a lifelong interest in flying and looked forward to his first duty assignment. But when the war ended in Japan, his radar conning class was cancelled and he was reassigned to the radar shop of CASU-5 at the Naval Air Station in San Diego. Anderson was discharged into the Armed Guard in March 1946, taking up work at the Fiscal and Disbursement Office of the Adjutant General at Camp Mabry. In 1950 he returned to school and joined the Army Reserves, retiring in 1966 as a lieutenant colonel.
Date: February 3, 2004
Creator: Anderson, Tom
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Tom Anderson, February 3, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Tom Anderson, February 3, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tom Anderson. Anderson dropped out of college in 1941 and hitchhiked from Texas to San Diego. There he worked for Consolidated Aircraft, drafting plans for the B-32, B-36, and C-99. He then transferred to the Fort Worth plant, where he stayed until 1944, when he enlisted in the Navy. He was selected for radar technician training, and after boot camp he studied electronics in Chicago, followed by airborne radar training in Corpus Christi. He had a lifelong interest in flying and looked forward to his first duty assignment. But when the war ended in Japan, his radar conning class was cancelled and he was reassigned to the radar shop of CASU-5 at the Naval Air Station in San Diego. Anderson was discharged into the Armed Guard in March 1946, taking up work at the Fiscal and Disbursement Office of the Adjutant General at Camp Mabry. In 1950 he returned to school and joined the Army Reserves, retiring in 1966 as a lieutenant colonel.
Date: February 3, 2004
Creator: Anderson, Tom
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Irving Cumbie, June 18, 2008 transcript

Oral History Interview with Irving Cumbie, June 18, 2008

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Irving Cumbie. Cumbie joined the Coast Guard in mid-1942 and was commissioned as ensign that December. He completed Quartermaster school. Cumbie was assigned to Key West, Florida to patrol the harbor and transport pilots out to merchant ships. In the summer of 1944 he completed amphibious school at Camp Bradford, Virginia. In October he served as communications officer aboard USS USS LST-886. In January of 1945 they began a 5-week trip for Ulithi to deliver a load of ammo and black powder. They restocked their ship with more ammunition in Guam, which they delivered to Iwo Jima. They continued traveling to Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa moving Seabee equipment, fog oil, and other supplies. Cumbie provides vivid details of their travels and his experiences. In September of 1945 they transported part of the Occupation Force to Japan. He was discharged in March of 1946.
Date: June 18, 2008
Creator: Cumbie, Irving
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History