The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Micki and Jim George. Micki George completed Cadet Nurse Corps training in 1948. She traveled with a USO Unit out of Dallas and worked with the Nurse Corps in California and with Special Services as a chauffeur, chaperone and pianist for performances. She was stationed in the US and did not travel overseas. Micki was discharged from military service in 1950. She and Jim met at the University of Texas at Austin, while completing their medical degrees. Jim joined the Army in December of 1945. He served in the Korean War as a combat medic in a field MASH Unit, and was discharged in 1950.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bernice Shafer. Shafer was born in Ackley, Iowa 26 December 1926. She began nurse training at Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Des Moines in 1941. Upon graduating in 1944, she entered the US Army Nurse Corps and began basic training at Camp Carson, Colorado. When she completed basic, she was assigned to Leonard General Hospital, Topeka, Kansas. After a period of time, she was shipped to Camp Pendleton, California in preparation for an overseas assignment. Shafer was assigned to the 311th Hospital Unit and boarded the USS Monterey (CVL-26), bound for Manila. She tells of the primitive conditions encountered in setting up the hospital. Designated as an operating room nurse, she describes working up to forty hours straight and the various types of battle casualties that were treated. She recalls that patients were transported to the hospital by ambulance, jeep and helicopter. In February 1946, Shafer returned to the United States aboard the USS West Point (AP-23), arriving at New York City after passage through the Panama Canal.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eugene Leonard. Leonard grew up during the Great Depression and shares details of his family’s experiences during that economic downturn. He joined the Marine Corps in November of 1939. By 1940 he was in Bremerton, Washington and assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 2. They were stationed 10 miles from Pearl Harbor in Hawaii by 1941. Leonard completed gunnery school. He also grew up learning much about mechanics and pursued that skill set on the island. Leonard was at Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941, and provides vivid details of his experiences through that fateful event. In March of 1942 he joined Marine Aircraft Group 25. They initially operated from New Caledonia, flying missions in support of the Marines at Guadalcanal in September of 1942. In March of 1943 he took a job in the US delivering planes to factories, and sharing design changes with engineers for optimal flight performance. He was discharged in November of 1945.

Transcript of an oral interview with Garvin Kowalke. He discusses joining the Army Air Corps, going to Air Cadet training to become a pilot, training on various aircraft (AT-17, UC-78, P-36, P-33, T-6, BT-13, B-17, B-29) before becoming a B-29 pilot. He shipped out to Guam and flew standard and fire bombing runs over Japan. He discusses having to ditch the plane on the way back to Guam once when the engines failed, seeing another B-29 crew have to bail out over Toyko Bay and get picked up by a US submarine that was in the Bay, getting pulled down to the fires when they were trying to hide in the smoke to avoid Japanese fighter planes, getting caught in a storm by Mount Fujiyama, collecting data such wind direction, speed and temperature over Hiroshima for future bombing runs, which turned out to be for the bombers who dropped the atomic bomb, then flying over the city two days after the bombing and gauging how high the radiation levels were at different altitudes. He also talks about being in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, becoming a B-57 pilot, and adopting a baby boy from Germany after the war, then a …

Transcript of an oral interview with Dr. Adanto D'Amore. D'Amore describes his education briefly at Ohio State University where he graduated from medical school. Shortly thereafter, he joined the US Army Air Corps, where he examined candidates for jump school. He eventually was assigned as flight surgeon to the 19th Bomb Group and sent with them to Clark Field in the Philippines in October, 1941. After the Japanese invaded, D'Amore and elements of the 19th Bomb Group moved to Mindanao. After the surrender, D'Amore went with fellow prisoners of war to the Davao Internment Camp. Eventually, he was relocated to Cabanatuan where he spent 12 months before leaving aboard a hell ship for Omori Prison Camp in Japan. Upon being liberated after the war, D'Amore was sent to Okinawa, Manila and finally San Francisco. D'Amore also discusses the condition of the returning POWs.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James White. After he graduated from Purdue University in 1940, White pursued a pilot’s license, receiving his training at Purdue Airport. After working for a few months and being evaluated by the Aviation Cadet Evaluation Team, he was accepted into the program and was sworn in at Fort Des Moines, Iowa on 31 October 1941. At that time he was part of the Army Air Corps and took primary flight training in Stamford, Texas. White states that in the weeks after the Pearl Harbor attack about half the class washed out rather than continue training. They were transferred to bombardier and navigator schools. After primary he was transferred to Goodfellow Field in San Angelo, Texas for basic training. From there he went to Lubbock for more training. He received his wings and a commission in May 1942. He became an instructor. White transitioned to B-26s and was transferred to Del Rio, Texas. After less than a year, he volunteered to go overseas, shipping out in January 1944 for England. White became a maintenance officer and chief test pilot of the Fourth Echelon Depot Group that did heavy repair …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Cantrell, where he discusses his childhood and education and what led to his decision to join the Marines. He describes his experiences flying airplanes and living on ships in the Pacific Theatre of World War Two.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James H. ""Herb"" Macia. He discusses being a navigator/bombardier on the 14th plane in the Doolittle Raid, including the training leading up to the raid, the trip on the USS Hornet, the raid itself, bailing out over China, the weeks spent there before making it out through India and Egypt and stories about other men in the Raiders. He also discusses meeting with Generalissimo and Madam Chiang Kai-Shek, seeing the Egyptian pyramids, crossing Africa then to Brazil before getting back to the US, landing in Miami, his later deployments in North Africa and Europe, his work after the war and reunions the Raiders have had since the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Combs. Combs was drafted into the Army Air Corps in 1940 and was in flight school in California when Pearl Harbor was attacked. After graduating and receiving his commission, he was assigned as a flight instructor at West Point in March, 1942. After transitioning from B-17s to B-29s, Combs joined a B-29 crew as a crew commander and headed overseas to Tinian in spring, 1945 and joined the 313th Bomb Wing. When the war ended, Combs returned home and was placed in the reserves. He was recalled for the Korean War and flew supplies from Japan and then VIPs around the theater.

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. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jim Slaughter. He was born in San Antonio 3 November 1923. He joined the Civilians’ Military Training Camp program in 1938 and remained in it until it was disbanded in 1940. After volunteering for the Army Air Corps, he was sent to Santa Ana, California for primary training. Upon graduating as a flight officer, he went to Kingman, Arizona for gunnery training. He was then sent to Roswell, New Mexico, in 1943, to attend bombardier’s school. He then went to Avon Park, Florida where he joined a B-17 crew and spent four months training with his crew. The crew then flew a B-17 to Foggia, Italy where they were assigned to the 464th Bomb Group. He flew missions daily until his aircraft was shot down by German fighter planes over Yugoslavia 7 July 1944. Slaughter and his crew were rescued by a partisan group who delivered them to a C-45 transport plane, which delivered them back to a US base. In august 1944, on his last of 39 missions, Slaughter was shot down again. He was injured during the bail out and his co-pilot administered first aid on …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wallace Pickard. Pickard was born in New York City on 2 August 1919. In 1940 he was accepted into the US Army Air Corps and tells of the various aircraft in which he trained and the different air fields to which he was assigned. In September 1941 he was assigned to Reconnaissance Squadron Four at Hickam Field, Hawaii. He was awakened by the sounds of explosions on 7 December 1941 as the Japanese launched their attack on Pearl Harbor. During the attack, Pickard received shell fragment wounds to his hand, back and hip. He was transported to Tripler Hospital for treatment. While preparations were being made to amputate his hand a visiting trauma surgeon took interest in his case and ultimately saved it. In February 1942 he was sent to Letterman General Hospital, then to Walter Reed Hospital for treatment. He underwent twenty-two operations for his injuries. In June 1942 he was assigned as aide to General George Marshall. He tells of the circumstances that precluded his assignment and describes his duties. In 1944 he was discharged for medical reasons but was recalled and became an executive officer …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Edward Kicklighter. Kicklighter attended Armstrong Jr. College in Savannah, Georgia and secured a pilot’s license through the Civilian Pilot Training Program. He had an appointment to the US Naval Academy, but joined the US Marine Corps instead. Selected for flight training, he became one of six marines in the aviation class of 106 at Jacksonville Naval Air Station, Florida. Upon graduation he was assigned to multi-engine training and sent to Meacham Field, Texas for transition instruction. Upon graduation, as a reserve officer, he was assigned to fly for United Airlines. In 1942 he received orders to report to the 9th Aircraft Wing at Cherry Point, North Carolina. He recalls several experiences while in this assignment. In 1944, he became the personal pilot for General Roy Geiger. One experience Kicklighter recalls is hearing a conversation between Ernie Pyle and the general shortly before Pyle’s death. He also tells of escorting the body of General Buckner after his death on Okinawa. Kicklighter stayed in the Marine Corps after World War II and he tells of his career prior to retirement including flying 100 combat missions over Korea, instructing midshipmen at …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Loftin. Loftin joined the Army Air Corps in early 1941. He had flight training at various bases all over Texas and earned his wings and commission in August, 1942. His first assignment was at New Orleans where he flew anti-submarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico with the 124th Observation Squadron. IN 1944, he became a flight instructor in Florida. In April, 1945, Loftin went overseas to England and was assigned to the 95th Bomb Group with whom he flew on one bomb mission before moving to operations. He returned home in July, 1945 and was training in B-29s when the war ended. Loftin stayed in the Reserves until 1972.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lawrence Barrett. Barrett joined the Marine Corps in December of 1943. He served as an aerial gunner, combat cameraman and ground and motion picture photographer. Barrett worked as a combat aircrewman with Marine Air Group 32 in the Pacific and the Philippines, completing 25 combat missions by 1945. After the war ended, he served with the occupation forces in Tsingtao, North China. He returned to the US and was discharged in May of 1946.

Interview with James "Herb" Macia of San Antonio, Texas, who is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces during World War Two. In the interview, Mr. Thomas recalls memories about growing up as well as his days as a mining engineer, the Doolittle Raid, North Africa, Normandy, and D-Day.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Clarence Petersen. Petersen joined the Marines in June of 1942. He completed radio school and served as a radio operator in D Battery, 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. He provides details of training. Beginning February of 1943, he traveled to New Zealand, completing maneuvers. They traveled to Guadalcanal in May of that same year and Bougainville in November. Petersen provides some detail of the Japanese and living in the jungle of Bougainville. He landed on Guam in July of 1944, by way of amphibious tractor. He was in the 13th wave and describes carrying his radio and an 85-pound roll of combat wire onto the island. He was discharged in August of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James Grumman. Grumman joined the Army Air Corps in 1940 and earned his wings and commission in March, 1942. On one of his first assignments, he met General Patton in California. He went overseas to England in 1944 and was assigned to the 401st Bomb Group, 614th Bomb Squadron where he flew combat mission from May to September. Grumman flew 30 missions over France and Germany before coming home in November 1944. Upon his return and after some leave, Grumman served as an instrument-flying instructor. Grumman stayed in the reserves after the war, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Kenneth O. Good. Good joined the Army Air Forces in December of 1942. He completed Radio Operator and Mechanics Technical School at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois and the Aviation Cadet Pilot Training Program in Texas. Good received his wings in August of 1944. He served with the 528th Fighter Squadron, 311th Fighter Group, 14th Air Force as a P-51 fighter pilot, under the director of General Claire Chenault. In May of 1945, Good was deployed overseas and completed missions over China and Burma, escorting bombers, flying interception missions, striking enemy communications, and supporting ground operations. He served in combat until the end of the war. Good returned to the US and received his discharge in January, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Moore. Moore entered the Army Air Force as an Aviation Cadet in March 1943. He was sent to Nashville, Tennessee for classification (pilot, navigator or bombardier training) and uniforms. Moore was selected for pilot training and was sent to Santa Ana, California for pre-flight training and Tulare, California for primary flight training. From there he went to Chico, California for basic flight training and to Stockton, California for advanced training. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in February 1944 at Stockton. Moore was selected for B-25 training (transition) and went to Mather Field. Afterwards, he was sent to Louisville, Kentucky where he was given minimal C-47 instruction. They were then flown to Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, Florida where he was issued a brand-new C-47, got a crew and received sealed orders. They were told they were going overseas but not told where...90 C-47s were going to India. They ended up in Sylhet (eastern India). It took them two weeks to get there. Moore's class had been picked out of B-25 training and thrown into C-47s because Churchill had asked Roosevelt for help; the Japanese had invaded …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edwin Bullian. Bullian joined the Army Air Corps in October of 1940. He served as a B-26 flight engineer and gunner with the 17th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force. He completed 45 missions over North Africa, the islands of Sardinia and Sicily and the Italian mainland. Bullian continued his service after the war ended, retiring as a Master Sergeant in 1960.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas DuPree. DuPree joined the Navy in March 1941 (accepted as a naval cadet), went to Pensacola in May 1942, went to fighter school in Miami (finishing there on December 6, 1941) and then reported to the USS Wasp (CV-7) in Norfolk, Virginia. DuPree tells the story (while he was on the Wasp) of Admiral Wilcox falling off the admiral's bridge on the USS Washington during a North Atlantic gale; he was never found. After a couple of runs ferrying Spitfires from Scapa Flow to Malta, the Wasp headed for the South Pacific in early May 1942. DuPree was part of Air Group 7, Scouting Squadron 72. They were headed at flank speed towards Midway but the battle came off early so the Wasp turned around and went to San Diego. After refueling and reloading, the Wasp supported the Marine landings on Guadalcanal, August 7, 1942. DuPree gives a good description of the three torpedo hits on the Wasp by submarine I-19, the damage to the ship and his rescue after getting off the ship. After the sinking, he was eventually put on a Dutch transport that sailed …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James T. Murphy. Murphy grew up in Montana and joined the Army Air Corps in May 1941. Once he finished training, he was assigned to the 43rd Bomb Group, 63rd Bomb Squadron. He then went to reconnaissance for the Battle of Midway. He then rejoined the Pacific Theater and pacticipated in skip bombing and flying B17s. He tells the story of receiving his Silver Star from General Douglas MacArthur. He mentions returning to the Air Force in 1949 and remaining in service for 20 years, until he left to join NASA as a civilian. He also mentions writing a book on Skip Bombing in the 1990s.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Max P. Shambaugh. Born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana 16 June 1922, Shambaugh joined the US Army Air Corps in February, 1941. After completing basic training at Keesler Field, Mississippi he was accepted into pilot training. He went to Dickerson College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania for preliminary training. He was then sent to Albany, Georgia where he began basic flight training under the leadership of civilian instructors. He tells of the various bases where he took training and of the type of aircraft he flew. Upon graduating from twin engine school at Columbus, Mississippi he received his wings, was commissioned a second lieutenant and sent to Columbus, Ohio for transition training in a B-17. Completing the advanced training he went to Lincoln, Nebraska to pick up a new B-17 and the assigned crew. They went to Pyote, Texas for crew training. In July 1944 they went by ship to Brighton, England where they were assigned to the 91st Bomb Group, 323nd Bomb Squadron. Shambaugh flew thirty-five before he was shot down. Encountering heavy flak and with the plane damaged, the crew, of which seven were wounded, bailed out. He crash …