Oral History Interview with Bob McMahon, October 29, 2003 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Bob McMahon, October 29, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bob McMahon. He enrolled in the Flying Cadet program while in college. After completing initial training in San Antonio, he was transferred to the 21st Pursuit Squadron at Hamilton Field in California where he trained in P-36s and P-40s. In November 1941 he embarked on the troop ship, USS Republic (AP-33) which was underway in the South Pacific on December 7. He arrived in Australia on December 21. In February, 1942 his squadron took off from Darwin to Indonesia when they encountered heavy weather and returned to the airfield, where he was attacked by Japanese fighter planes. He shot down three Japanese fighters before being wounded and forced to bail out of his damaged plane. He landed in a mangrove swamp and was rescued. McMahon watched hundreds of Japanese bombers destroy the Darwin airport and the adjacent RAAF field. The Australians evacuated Darwin and he was flown to Brisbane to recover from his wounds. After recovering, he joined the 39th Fighter Squadron operating out of New Guinea. He recalls escorting a B-26 during a flight out of Port Moresby, New Guinea on which Congressman Lyndon Johnson was embarked. …
Date: October 29, 2003
Creator: McMahon, Bob
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Bob McMahon, October 29, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Bob McMahon, October 29, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bob McMahon. He enrolled in the Flying Cadet program while in college. After completing initial training in San Antonio, he was transferred to the 21st Pursuit Squadron at Hamilton Field in California where he trained in P-36s and P-40s. In November 1941 he embarked on the troop ship, USS Republic (AP-33) which was underway in the South Pacific on December 7. He arrived in Australia on December 21. In February, 1942 his squadron took off from Darwin to Indonesia when they encountered heavy weather and returned to the airfield, where he was attacked by Japanese fighter planes. He shot down three Japanese fighters before being wounded and forced to bail out of his damaged plane. He landed in a mangrove swamp and was rescued. McMahon watched hundreds of Japanese bombers destroy the Darwin airport and the adjacent RAAF field. The Australians evacuated Darwin and he was flown to Brisbane to recover from his wounds. After recovering, he joined the 39th Fighter Squadron operating out of New Guinea. He recalls escorting a B-26 during a flight out of Port Moresby, New Guinea on which Congressman Lyndon Johnson was embarked. …
Date: October 29, 2003
Creator: McMahon, Bob
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 121, No. 43, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 29, 2003 (open access)

Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 121, No. 43, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 29, 2003

Semi-weekly newspaper from Livingston, Texas that includes local, state and national news along with advertising.
Date: May 29, 2003
Creator: White, Barbara
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
The Express-Star (Chickasha, Okla.), Ed. 1 Sunday, June 29, 2003 (open access)

The Express-Star (Chickasha, Okla.), Ed. 1 Sunday, June 29, 2003

Daily newspaper from Chickasha, Oklahoma that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: June 29, 2003
Creator: Bush, Kent
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History
The Colony Courier-Leader (The Colony, Tex.), Vol. 21, No. 51, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 29, 2003 (open access)

The Colony Courier-Leader (The Colony, Tex.), Vol. 21, No. 51, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 29, 2003

Weekly newspaper from The Colony, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: January 29, 2003
Creator: Shafer, Leah
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hondo Anvil Herald (Hondo, Tex.), Vol. 117, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 29, 2003 (open access)

Hondo Anvil Herald (Hondo, Tex.), Vol. 117, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 29, 2003

Weekly newspaper from Hondo, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with extensive advertising.
Date: May 29, 2003
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 216, Ed. 1 Sunday, June 29, 2003 (open access)

The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 216, Ed. 1 Sunday, June 29, 2003

Daily newspaper from Baytown, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: June 29, 2003
Creator: Cash, Wanda Garner
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History