Oral History Interview with Clinton L. Henderson, February 11, 2015 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Clinton L. Henderson, February 11, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clinton Henderson. Henderson joined the Army Air Force before graduating high school and received basic training in Wichita Falls, aerial gunnery training in Las Vegas, and combat crew training in Ardmore. Upon completion, he was assigned as a ball turret gunner for the 384th Bombardment Group, stationed in England. Toward the end of his 36-mission tour, his plane was hit by antiaircraft fire above Germany. His crew aborted the mission and landed safely at a British airfield. Henderson returned to the States and trained to become a B-29 gunnery instructor. The work was dangerous, as the planes flew at twice the speed bomber pilots were accustomed to. Henderson transferred to Randolph Field and finished his time in the service as a supply clerk. He was discharged in October 1945.
Date: February 11, 2015
Creator: Henderson, Clinton L
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Clinton L. Henderson, February 11, 2015 transcript

Oral History Interview with Clinton L. Henderson, February 11, 2015

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clinton Henderson. Henderson joined the Army Air Force before graduating high school and received basic training in Wichita Falls, aerial gunnery training in Las Vegas, and combat crew training in Ardmore. Upon completion, he was assigned as a ball turret gunner for the 384th Bombardment Group, stationed in England. Toward the end of his 36-mission tour, his plane was hit by antiaircraft fire above Germany. His crew aborted the mission and landed safely at a British airfield. Henderson returned to the States and trained to become a B-29 gunnery instructor. The work was dangerous, as the planes flew at twice the speed bomber pilots were accustomed to. Henderson transferred to Randolph Field and finished his time in the service as a supply clerk. He was discharged in October 1945.
Date: February 11, 2015
Creator: Henderson, Clinton L
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Lee Osterloh, May 11, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Lee Osterloh, May 11, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lee Osterloh. Osterloh joined the Army Air Forces in March of 1942. He completed Technical School and served as a Tech Sergeant. He worked in Greensboro, North Carolina for two years. He additionally completed Machine Records School, utilizing an IBM machine with punch cards. In November of 1944, Osterloh deployed to Calcutta, India, maintaining records of planes and cargo flying over the Himalaya Mountains. He returned to the US and was discharged in March of 1946.
Date: May 11, 2004
Creator: Osterloh, Lee
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Hearol Veteto, January 11, 2005 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Hearol Veteto, January 11, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hearol Veteto. Veteto joined the Enlisted Reserve Corps until he was called to active duty in early 1943. He then joined the Army Air Forces and trained as an aerial gunner in Kingman, Arizona. He also trained as a bombardier and was commissioned. Veteto went overseas in December 1944 to England. On a mission over Berlin in February, Veteto’s plane was shot down and he bailed out. On the ground, he met another crewman and they walked out, eventually reaching Poland and contacting the Russians. The Russians took them to Odessa where they boarded a ship and were repatriated in Italy. Upon returning to the US, the war ended and Veteto took his discharge.
Date: January 11, 2005
Creator: Veteto, Hearol
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Lee Osterloh, May 11, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Lee Osterloh, May 11, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lee Osterloh. Osterloh joined the Army Air Forces in March of 1942. He completed Technical School and served as a Tech Sergeant. He worked in Greensboro, North Carolina for two years. He additionally completed Machine Records School, utilizing an IBM machine with punch cards. In November of 1944, Osterloh deployed to Calcutta, India, maintaining records of planes and cargo flying over the Himalaya Mountains. He returned to the US and was discharged in March of 1946.
Date: May 11, 2004
Creator: Osterloh, Lee
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Clyde Harding, November 11, 2002 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Clyde Harding, November 11, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clyde Harding. Born in 1919, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940. He describes his time in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). He was attached to the British Royal Air Force (RAF) as part of the Lend-Lease Program. He trained RAF pilots to fly B-25 Mitchell bombers. He recounts his capture and escape from German soldiers while serving in Egypt. He also trained Russian pilots to fly Bell P-39 Airacobras in Russia. In 1943 he was assigned to the 9th Tactical Air Command, 9th Air Force in England. In spring 1944, he flew aerial photography missions over the Normandy coastline. Additionally, he flew celebrities, such as Spike Jones and Joe Louis, to entertain the troops. Prior to the war?s end, he was employed as a civil servant.
Date: November 11, 2002
Creator: Harding, Clyde
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George Gerards, August 11, 2006 (open access)

Oral History Interview with George Gerards, August 11, 2006

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Gerards. Gerards joined the Army Air Forces in April of 1943. He completed pilot training and aerial gunnery school in June of 1944. He served as first lieutenant B-24 bombardier in the 380th Bomb Group, 531st Bomb Squadron, 5th Air Force. They traveled to Hawaii, Tarawa, Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Leyte and Murtha Field on Mindoro Island. He completed 33 missions over the Philippines, Okinawa, Balikpapan, French Indochina and Japan. They completed combat, weather reconnaissance and POW rescue missions. He was discharged in February of 1946.
Date: August 11, 2006
Creator: Gerards, George
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Tom Sledge, July 11, 2001 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Tom Sledge, July 11, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tom Sledge. Sledge volunteered for service as a bombadier and anvigator in the Army Air Corps and earned a commission. In November, 1942, Sledge received orders to go to India. Once there, his crew was attached to the 10th Air Force and flew bombing missions mainly into Burma. Sledge recalls an incident in which he bombed Japanese ships. Unbeknownst to him, the ships contained Allied prisoners of war. Sledge recalls years later making contact with POWs aboard the ships he bombed. He also mentions briefing General LeMay later in his career. He also participated in the atmoic tests at Bikini with an aerial photography unit. During the Korean War, Sledge flew a few combat missions using guided bombs. For the remainder of his career, Sledge worked with guided missiles.
Date: July 11, 2001
Creator: Sledge, Tom
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Elvin Moore, April 11, 2011 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Elvin Moore, April 11, 2011

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Elvin Moore. Moore served as an Army Medic on Guam. He was drafted in 1943 and after training was sent to Guam to work at an Army hospital camp. His father knew Lyndon B. Johnson and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. One of his father's letters led to an invitation to visit Nimitz at CINCPAC headquarters. He remained on Guam until the end of the war. He was discharged January 1945.
Date: April 11, 2011
Creator: Moore, Elvin
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with George Gerards, August 11, 2006 transcript

Oral History Interview with George Gerards, August 11, 2006

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Gerards. Gerards joined the Army Air Forces in April of 1943. He completed pilot training and aerial gunnery school in June of 1944. He served as first lieutenant B-24 bombardier in the 380th Bomb Group, 531st Bomb Squadron, 5th Air Force. They traveled to Hawaii, Tarawa, Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Leyte and Murtha Field on Mindoro Island. He completed 33 missions over the Philippines, Okinawa, Balikpapan, French Indochina and Japan. They completed combat, weather reconnaissance and POW rescue missions. He was discharged in February of 1946.
Date: August 11, 2006
Creator: Gerards, George
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Richard Wilshusen, March 11, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Richard Wilshusen, March 11, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Wilshusen. Wilshusen joined the Army Air Forces in January of 1943. He served as a B-29 Navigator with the 316th Bombardment Wing, 333rd Bombardment Group, 460th Bombardment Squadron. He traveled to Tinian, Kwajalein, Guam and Okinawa, ferrying allied prisoners of war from Japan to the Philippines. Wilshusen continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge around August of 1946.
Date: March 11, 2004
Creator: Wilshusen, Richard
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Clyde Harding, November 11, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Clyde Harding, November 11, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Clyde Harding. Born in 1919, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940. He describes his time in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). He was attached to the British Royal Air Force (RAF) as part of the Lend-Lease Program. He trained RAF pilots to fly B-25 Mitchell bombers. He recounts his capture and escape from German soldiers while serving in Egypt. He also trained Russian pilots to fly Bell P-39 Airacobras in Russia. In 1943 he was assigned to the 9th Tactical Air Command, 9th Air Force in England. In spring 1944, he flew aerial photography missions over the Normandy coastline. Additionally, he flew celebrities, such as Spike Jones and Joe Louis, to entertain the troops. Prior to the war?s end, he was employed as a civil servant.
Date: November 11, 2002
Creator: Harding, Clyde
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Chris Walker, February 11, 2003 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Chris Walker, February 11, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Chris Walker. He discusses working as a carpenter in the Marines at Camp Pendleton and on Tinian and Saipan and being on Okinawa and in Nagasaki after Japan surrendered. He also ancedotes on Generals and his Colonel, rations, friendly fire and describes some of the memoriabilia he kept.
Date: February 11, 2003
Creator: Walker, Chris
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Tom Sledge, July 11, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Tom Sledge, July 11, 2001

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tom Sledge. Sledge volunteered for service as a bombadier and anvigator in the Army Air Corps and earned a commission. In November, 1942, Sledge received orders to go to India. Once there, his crew was attached to the 10th Air Force and flew bombing missions mainly into Burma. Sledge recalls an incident in which he bombed Japanese ships. Unbeknownst to him, the ships contained Allied prisoners of war. Sledge recalls years later making contact with POWs aboard the ships he bombed. He also mentions briefing General LeMay later in his career. He also participated in the atmoic tests at Bikini with an aerial photography unit. During the Korean War, Sledge flew a few combat missions using guided bombs. For the remainder of his career, Sledge worked with guided missiles.
Date: July 11, 2001
Creator: Sledge, Tom
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Elvin Moore, April 11, 2011 transcript

Oral History Interview with Elvin Moore, April 11, 2011

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Elvin Moore. Moore served as an Army Medic on Guam. He was drafted in 1943 and after training was sent to Guam to work at an Army hospital camp. His father knew Lyndon B. Johnson and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. One of his father's letters led to an invitation to visit Nimitz at CINCPAC headquarters. He remained on Guam until the end of the war. He was discharged January 1945.
Date: April 11, 2011
Creator: Moore, Elvin
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Richard Wilshusen, March 11, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Richard Wilshusen, March 11, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Wilshusen. Wilshusen joined the Army Air Forces in January of 1943. He served as a B-29 Navigator with the 316th Bombardment Wing, 333rd Bombardment Group, 460th Bombardment Squadron. He traveled to Tinian, Kwajalein, Guam and Okinawa, ferrying allied prisoners of war from Japan to the Philippines. Wilshusen continued his service after the war ended, receiving his discharge around August of 1946.
Date: March 11, 2004
Creator: Wilshusen, Richard
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Hearol Veteto, January 11, 2005 transcript

Oral History Interview with Hearol Veteto, January 11, 2005

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Hearol Veteto. Veteto joined the Enlisted Reserve Corps until he was called to active duty in early 1943. He then joined the Army Air Forces and trained as an aerial gunner in Kingman, Arizona. He also trained as a bombardier and was commissioned. Veteto went overseas in December 1944 to England. On a mission over Berlin in February, Veteto’s plane was shot down and he bailed out. On the ground, he met another crewman and they walked out, eventually reaching Poland and contacting the Russians. The Russians took them to Odessa where they boarded a ship and were repatriated in Italy. Upon returning to the US, the war ended and Veteto took his discharge.
Date: January 11, 2005
Creator: Veteto, Hearol
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Chris Walker, February 11, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Chris Walker, February 11, 2003

Interview with Chris Walker, a carpenter during World War II. He discusses working as a carpenter in the Marines at Camp Pendleton and on Tinian and Saipan. He was present at Okinawa and in Nagasaki after Japan surrendered. He also tells stories about generals, his colonel, rations, and friendly fire. He describes some of the memorabilia he kept.
Date: February 11, 2003
Creator: Misenhimer, Richard & Walker, Chris
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Chris Walker, February 11, 2003 transcript

Oral History Interview with Chris Walker, February 11, 2003

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Chris Walker. He discusses working as a carpenter in the Marines at Camp Pendleton and on Tinian and Saipan and being on Okinawa and in Nagasaki after Japan surrendered. He also ancedotes on Generals and his Colonel, rations, friendly fire and describes some of the memoriabilia he kept.
Date: February 11, 2003
Creator: Walker, Chris
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History