The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert J Gettelfinger. Gettelfinger joined the Army Air Forces in June of 1942. He completed Cadet School in San Antonio. He served as a C-46 pilot and was deployed to Chabua, India in 1943. He recalls flying the Hump, transporting fuel, munitions and supervisory staff to Kunming, China. Gettelfinger also completed missions to Burma. He returned to the US in November of 1944 and received the Distinguished Flying Cross. He continued his service in the Air Force as a career officer for 27 years, retiring as a colonel in the Strategic Air Command.

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 Paul Silber. Silber was born in 1925 and recalls life during the depression years. In June 1943, he was drafted into the Army and sent to Fort Hood, Texas for basic training. While there, he was accepted into air cadet training. The program was cancelled before he got started and he was sent to the 13th Armored Division at Camp Bowie, Texas. While there, he applied for Officer Candidate School and was accepted. After being commissioned, he was sent to Tacloban, where he was assigned as a platoon leader in G Company, 2nd Battalion, 34th Infantry. He recalls landing on Mindoro and describes some of the action that followed where he was severely wounded. Following a hospital stay in the Philippines he was put aboard USS Hope (AH-7) and then spent time in several Army hospitals, including Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center.

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 James Keeffe. Keeffe joined the Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet in July 1942. He describes his flight training and the planes he flew. Keeffe was then sent to England to become a co-pilot on a B-24. He discusses in detail how he was forced to bail out on his fourth mission over Germany. Keeffe managed to elude capture with the help of the Dutch underground for over four months. He was eventually captured by German counter-intelligence and sent to Stalag Luft III. Keeffe describes how he and his fellow POWs were forced to evacuate due to the Soviet advance and his eventual release and repatriation. He left the service after the war, but soon returned and retired from the Air Force in 1966.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Allen Pang. Pang was born to Chinese rice farmers on Oahu. The students at his high school were predominantly of Japanese descent, and he served alongside them in the ROTC upon entering college at the University of Hawaii. Hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, his group volunteered for the Territorial Guard. The Japanese-American students were sent to a labor battalion, while Pang enjoyed guard duty. He laments on the unfairness of this arrangement, as the Japanese-Americans were loyal to the United States. When the Territorial Guard was dissolved, Pang entered the Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet. Upon completion of flight training, he was assigned to the 17th Bombardment Group, 432nd Bombardment Squadron, in Algeria. The unit moved to a base in Sardinia from which Pang bombed Southern Italy as a B-26 bombardier navigator. Pang details mission procedure, from briefing to debriefing, and describes the method by which a bomber would signal their fighter escort to intervene. After moving to Corsica he expanded targets across Italy and into Southern France, flying a total of 68 missions. Pang returned home and was stationed in Hawaii when the …

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 Roland Fisher. Fisher was born in Ainsworth, Nebraska 19 January 1921. He reflects on the depression’s effects in his formative years. After graduating from high school in 1939 he applied for the aviation cadet training program but was rejected for colorblindness. Undaunted, he took private flying lessons, becoming certified in 1940. Upon applying, he was accepted into the Royal Air Force in May 1941 and was sent to Tulsa for four months of training. Upon completion of flight training he went to England where, in January 1942, he was commissioned as a flight officer and began flying AS-10 Oxfords. In the summer of 1942 he went to RAF Instructor School in Scotland and spent several months giving instruction in night flying. He was then transferred into the 8th Air Force. After flying B-17s for a time, he was selected to set up a night fighter training school in Orlando, Florida. During September 1943, the 418th Night Fighter Squadron was formed with Fisher designated as the operations officer. He was sent to New Guinea to assist in setting up a 5th Air Force night fighter squadron. The squadron suffered …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Allen Pang. Pang was born to Chinese rice farmers on Oahu. The students at his high school were predominantly of Japanese descent, and he served alongside them in the ROTC upon entering college at the University of Hawaii. Hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, his group volunteered for the Territorial Guard. The Japanese-American students were sent to a labor battalion, while Pang enjoyed guard duty. He laments on the unfairness of this arrangement, as the Japanese-Americans were loyal to the United States. When the Territorial Guard was dissolved, Pang entered the Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet. Upon completion of flight training, he was assigned to the 17th Bombardment Group, 432nd Bombardment Squadron, in Algeria. The unit moved to a base in Sardinia from which Pang bombed Southern Italy as a B-26 bombardier navigator. Pang details mission procedure, from briefing to debriefing, and describes the method by which a bomber would signal their fighter escort to intervene. After moving to Corsica he expanded targets across Italy and into Southern France, flying a total of 68 missions. Pang returned home and was stationed in Hawaii when the …

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 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 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 Roland Fisher. Fisher was born in Ainsworth, Nebraska 19 January 1921. He reflects on the depression’s effects in his formative years. After graduating from high school in 1939 he applied for the aviation cadet training program but was rejected for colorblindness. Undaunted, he took private flying lessons, becoming certified in 1940. Upon applying, he was accepted into the Royal Air Force in May 1941 and was sent to Tulsa for four months of training. Upon completion of flight training he went to England where, in January 1942, he was commissioned as a flight officer and began flying AS-10 Oxfords. In the summer of 1942 he went to RAF Instructor School in Scotland and spent several months giving instruction in night flying. He was then transferred into the 8th Air Force. After flying B-17s for a time, he was selected to set up a night fighter training school in Orlando, Florida. During September 1943, the 418th Night Fighter Squadron was formed with Fisher designated as the operations officer. He was sent to New Guinea to assist in setting up a 5th Air Force night fighter squadron. The squadron suffered …

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 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 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 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 …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Vernon Oates. He discusses his childhood, education and growing up during the great depression. He talks about joining the US Army Air Corps, now called the Air Force, and the experiences he had at various different training camps around the country.

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 …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Leslie Bray. Bray joined the Army Air Forces in January of 1942. He received his wings and commission as second lieutenant in October. He served as Operations Officer in the 10th Troop Carrier Group at various locations in the US. Bray additionally served as Commander of the 16th Combat Cargo Squadron, 4th Combat Cargo Group, beginning June of 1944 and participated in the China-Burma-India Theater. They transported airport construction materials, men, mules, supplies, and provided logistic support throughout China, Burma and India until the war’s end. Bray returned to the US and continued his service, retiring in 1973.

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 Richard Ford. Ford joined the Army Air Forces in October of 1942. He served as a pilot with the 315th Troop Carrier Group, 310th Troop Carrier Squadron. They participated in the Battle of Normandy, Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge, Operation Varsity across the Rhine and transported cargo and evacuated released allied prisoners of war until after V-E Day. Ford returned to the US after the end of the war.