The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George T. Chandler. Chandler was born in Wichita, Kansas on 1 February 1921. Attending Wichita State University, he joined the US Army Aviation Cadet Program November, 1941. He describes his training in various aircraft and graduation from fighter training. In July 1943 he reported to the 347th fighter group on Guadalcanal flying P-38 fighters. In a well narrated tale, he describes various incidents of individual aerial combat missions during which he shot down five enemy aircraft thus qualifying him as a Fighter Ace.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with C F Bednorz. Bednorz worked for Douglas Aircraft in mid-1941 assembling C-47s. He joined the Aviation Cadet Program and provides some details of his flight training and the planes he flew, including the BT-13, B-17, B-24 and UC-78. He completed training in May of 1944. Bednorz was assigned to the 7th Air Force, 11th Bomb Group, 42nd Bomb Squadron and served as a B-24 pilot. In January of 1945 he traveled to Harmon Field in Guam, where he began his combat flying. In April they were transferred to Yontan Field in Okinawa. He provides details of his 33 missions, including witnessing the mushroom cloud over Nagasaki after the second atomic bomb was dropped, and effects of radiation from the blast. He was discharged in early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Hanger. Hanger was born 15 May 1919 and enlisted in 1942. He was ordered to Lowery Field, Colorado to attend armament school. Upon completion of his training, he went aboard the USS Rochambeau (AP-63) and sailed to New Caledonia where he was assigned to the 339th Fighter Squadron. Operation Vengeance occurred while he was with the squadron and he recalls the success of the mission and of personally knowing some of those who participated. One of his duties was assistant mess officer. During his time on New Caledonia he underwent navigator training. Returning to the United States in November 1943 he began pilot training. He tells of the various bases to which he was assigned and of piloting B-24’s in conjunction with the training of radar students. He was discharged September 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Hanger. Hanger was born 15 May 1919 and enlisted in 1942. He was ordered to Lowery Field, Colorado to attend armament school. Upon completion of his training, he went aboard the USS Rochambeau (AP-63) and sailed to New Caledonia where he was assigned to the 339th Fighter Squadron. Operation Vengeance occurred while he was with the squadron and he recalls the success of the mission and of personally knowing some of those who participated. One of his duties was assistant mess officer. During his time on New Caledonia he underwent navigator training. Returning to the United States in November 1943 he began pilot training. He tells of the various bases to which he was assigned and of piloting B-24’s in conjunction with the training of radar students. He was discharged September 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eleanor Brown. From early 1942 through 1944, Brown served as a general mechanics helper at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, and had completed flight training. In April, she joined the Women’s Air Service Pilots (WASPs) in Sweetwater, Texas. Brown graduated, though WASP was disbanded in December of that same year. She returned to Kelly Field and continued to work as the first woman mechanic at the Air Force Base.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eleanor Brown. From early 1942 through 1944, Brown served as a general mechanics helper at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, and had completed flight training. In April, she joined the Women’s Air Service Pilots (WASPs) in Sweetwater, Texas. Brown graduated, though WASP was disbanded in December of that same year. She returned to Kelly Field and continued to work as the first woman mechanic at the Air Force Base.