The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Roger Anderson. Anderson joined the Army Air Forces in mid-1943. He served as a B-24 gunner. Anderson deployed in June of 1944 to Australia. He completed 42 missions, including over the Palau Islands, the Philippines and throughout the Pacific. He describes his work aboard a B-24. Anderson was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Brosius. Brosius joined the Army Air Forces after graduating from college and working as an agricultural supply manager. He washed out of cadet training when it was determined he was at risk for asthma. He was then sent to Harvard Business School and trained in statistical control, a new military discipline. Upon completion, he was assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group in Australia and designed his own method of surveying operations. He also received permission to travel to Sydney to arrange for the publication of a yearbook depicting his unit’s wartime experiences. In 1943 Brosius was sent to Monterey to study military government in anticipation of the occupation of Japan. At the end of 1945 however, he seized an opportunity to return home and retired as a major. Despite being invited to join an elite group of military veteran statisticians known as the Whiz Kids, who would go on to run Ford Motor Company, Brosius chose instead a career in land development and construction.

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 Caryl Pingrey. Pingrey joined the Navy around 1942. He served as a pilot aboard the carriers USS Franklin (CV-13), USS Oriskany (CV-34) and the USS Midway (CV-41). He completed missions over Palau, Guam, and the Philippines. Pingrey continued his service after the war ended, completing 28 years in the Navy.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lewis A. Smith. Born in 1924, he joined the Army Air Force in 1942. After twenty-two months of flight training at various locations, he flew a B-17 aircraft to Scotland. He was sent to England and assigned to the 385th Bombardment Group at Great Ashfield station 155. He describes a mission to bomb the airfield at Grossostheim, Germany during the Battle of the Bulge as well as a mission to bomb Berlin. He tells a story about a mid-air collision involving two other planes that occurred during a mission to bomb a tank factory in Ulm, Germany. Only the tail gunner, Joe Jones, survived the collision. He also describes engine problems and an emergency crash landing when he was returning from a mission to Frankfurt, Germany. He discusses flak; flak suits; the experience of flying a B-17 airplane on a bombing mission; some of the specific planes that he flew; USO entertainment; and buzz bombs. He shares an anecdote about his tail gunner and the relief tube on a mission to bomb an oil refinery in Hamburg, Germany. He left the Air Force in 1945 after flying thirty-five …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Perry Kerr. Kerr enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves in 1943. He completed gunnery school in Denver, Colorado, graduating as corporal. In 1945 he was assigned to the 466th Bomb Group, crew number 792 in Attlebridge, England. Aboard a B-24 Kerr served as a gunner in the forward turret directly behind the pilot and copilot. He also toggled bombs, as they did not have a bombardier. They completed 12 missions. Kerr provides some details of his missions. He was discharged in 1946.

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 John Glaze. Glaze was born on 2 January 1925. He joined the Army Air Forces Cadet Program in January 1943. He was commissioned as a B-17 Aerial Navigator and joined the 483rd Bomb Group, 860th Bomb Squadron in Debach, England. Glaze flew 28 bombing missions over Germany and Normandy. He returned to the US and received his discharge in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ralph Lynn. Lynn joined the Army Air Forces in December of 1942. He completed flight training and multi-engine schooling by October of 1943. He served as a B-24 co-pilot with the 784th Bombardment Squadron, 466th Bombardment Group in England. From April of 1944 through July of 1944, they completed 32 missions over France, including Normandy during D-Day, Germany, and Belgium. In July, Lynn returned to the US, and assigned to serve as a B-24 flight instructor in Smyrna, Tennessee through the end of the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ralph Peterson. Peterson joined the Army Air Forces in January of 1944. Beginning in late 1944, he served as a B-17 ball turret gunner with the 18th Bombardment Squadron, 34th Bombardment Group in England. He completed 30 missions over Germany and German-controlled targets. Peterson returned to the US and was discharged in October of 1945.

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 Warren Vickers. Vickers was born in 1923. He joined the Army in 1942, and served as a rifleman and a scout with the 36th Infantry Division. The Division landed in North Africa on 13 April 1943. They participated in operations in Italy, the south of France and Germany. Vickers was discharged around late 1945.

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 Russell Chase. Chase joined the Army Air Forces around 1942. He served as a radio operator and gunner with the 447th Bombardment Group. He participated in 30 bombing missions over France and Germany. They supported the invasion of Normandy in 1944. Chase returned to the US.

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 interview with Harold Dietz. Dietz joined the Army Air Forces in 1943. He served as a gunner aboard a B-24 with the 785th Bombardment Squadron, 466th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force in England. He completed 26 missions over Germany, Holland and France. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge, bombing bridges and railroad yards. Dietz returned to the US and received his discharge in November of 1945. In 2014, he received the French Medal of Honor for his assistance in driving the Germans out of France during World War II.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with LeRoy Faulkner. Faulkner joined the Army Air Forces in January of 1943. He completed armament school and gunnery school by late 1944. Faulkner joined the 303rd Bombardment Group, 360th Bombardment Squadron in England. He completed 15 bomb missions as a B-17 nose gunner over Czechoslovakia and Germany. He was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with David Greene. Greene joined the Army Air Forces in late 1942. Beginning in 1944, he served as B-24 navigator with the 392nd Bombardment Group. He completed 30 missions over Germany and France. Greene returned to the US in 1945, and remained in the Reserves through 1970.

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 John Killpack. Killpack joined the Army Air Forces, completed Gunnery School, and served as a B-29 ball turret gunner with the 447th Bomb Group, 708th Bomb Squadron. Killpack completed 30 missions, including air assaults over Germany, Belgium, and in support of the Battle of the Bulge. He was discharged around late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lloyd Mitchell. Mitchell joined the Army Air Corps in November of 1941. Beginning in July of 1942, he served as a B-17 navigator with the 96th Bomb Group, 413th Bomb Squadron, completing 25 missions over Africa, Germany and France. He returned to the US and received a discharge in the fall of 1945.

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 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 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.