The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Erwin Wilhite. Wilhite earned his wings in February of 1942. He then conducted anti-submarine patrols off the coast of Louisiana. Later, he served with the 376th Bombardment Group, piloting B-24s out of North Africa and Italy. He describes in vivid detail his first flight to Africa, landing in Khartoum in July of 1942. From there they traveled to Lydda, Palestine where they joined the Halverson Provisional (HALPRO) detachment. He describes running out of fuel over Lebanon, parachuting from the plane, injuring his ankles and his interactions with the Lebanese people. Wilhite returned to the U.S. in January of 1943 for additional treatment of his ankles. In mid-1943 he was sent to Dayton, Ohio to serve as a test pilot, and later served as an engineering officer in Columbus, Ohio through the end of the war. He provides some details of the planes he flew as a test pilot. He was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wendell Wilkins. Wilkins joined the Army Air Forces around 1942. He completed radial engine and gunnery schools, and served as an aerial engineer. In 1943, Wilkins deployed to Italy. He completed 50 combat missions over Munich, North Italy, along Brenner Pass, Austria and Romania.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Wendell Wilkins. Wilkins joined the Army Air Forces around 1942. He completed radial engine and gunnery schools, and served as an aerial engineer. In 1943, Wilkins deployed to Italy. He completed 50 combat missions over Munich, North Italy, along Brenner Pass, Austria and Romania.

Transcript of an oral interview with John Wilson. Wilson was born in the Philippines and graduated high school there in 1939. Upon graduating, he enrolled in the University of Wisconsin and participated in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program. He graduated and took his commission in the Army in 1943. After Officer Candidate School (OCS), he was assigned to an engineering unit slated to participate in the invasion of the Philippines. He eventually landed on Luzon. On Luzon he was assigned temporary duty with a small Philippine Civil Affairs unit that was made up of officers and men who had relatives interned by the Japanese in the Philippines. His small unit made their way to Santo Tomas where he liberated many friends and old school mates. A few weeks later, Wilson liberated his father, a civilian internee at Los Banos. Wilson remained with his unit constructing hospitals in the Philippines in anticipation of the casualties expected from the invasion of the Japanese home islands.

Transcript of an oral interview with John Wilson. Wilson was born in the Philippines and graduated high school there in 1939. Upon graduating, he enrolled in the University of Wisconsin and participated in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program. He graduated and took his commission in the Army in 1943. After Officer Candidate School (OCS), he was assigned to an engineering unit slated to participate in the invasion of the Philippines. He eventually landed on Luzon. On Luzon he was assigned temporary duty with a small Philippine Civil Affairs unit that was made up of officers and men who had relatives interned by the Japanese in the Philippines. His small unit made their way to Santo Tomas where he liberated many friends and old school mates. A few weeks later, Wilson liberated his father, a civilian internee at Los Banos. Wilson remained with his unit constructing hospitals in the Philippines in anticipation of the casualties expected from the invasion of the Japanese home islands.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gladys Winkleman. Winkleman was born on 10 March 1919 in Lytle, Texas. She met her husband, Meryl, while working at her parent’s restaurant after she graduated from high school. They were married on 16 October 1939. Her husband worked for Exxon before the war and enlisted in the Marines in October 1942. After her husband enlisted she moved back in with her parents. Before her husband was shipped overseas (February/March 1943) she went to see him in San Diego. She started working at Kelly Field after her husband left the States. At Kelly Field, Winkleman worked on the flight line as a checker on a wide variety of airplanes including the B-24, B-25, B-17 and flew as a civilian on several. She was in flight test and worked on planes that had come back from overseas and were being repaired before being sent back out. Throughout the interview, Mrs. Winkleman provides insights into what she did at Kelly Field and what the working conditions were like. When her husband came back from overseas, he was sent to Parris Island and Mrs. Winkleman went there to be with him, …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gladys Winkleman. Winkleman was born on 10 March 1919 in Lytle, Texas. She met her husband, Meryl, while working at her parent’s restaurant after she graduated from high school. They were married on 16 October 1939. Her husband worked for Exxon before the war and enlisted in the Marines in October 1942. After her husband enlisted she moved back in with her parents. Before her husband was shipped overseas (February/March 1943) she went to see him in San Diego. She started working at Kelly Field after her husband left the States. At Kelly Field, Winkleman worked on the flight line as a checker on a wide variety of airplanes including the B-24, B-25, B-17 and flew as a civilian on several. She was in flight test and worked on planes that had come back from overseas and were being repaired before being sent back out. Throughout the interview, Mrs. Winkleman provides insights into what she did at Kelly Field and what the working conditions were like. When her husband came back from overseas, he was sent to Parris Island and Mrs. Winkleman went there to be with him, …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Carl Yerian. Yerian joined the Army Air Forces in August of 1942. He completed training as a pilot and received his wings in November of 1943. Yerian served as a B-24 pilot with the 376th Bombardment Group. He completed 51 combat missions over Italy, Austria, southern France and Germany. Yerian continued his service after the war ended, and participated in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He completed 32 years of service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Carl Yerian. Yerian joined the Army Air Forces in August of 1942. He completed training as a pilot and received his wings in November of 1943. Yerian served as a B-24 pilot with the 376th Bombardment Group. He completed 51 combat missions over Italy, Austria, southern France and Germany. Yerian continued his service after the war ended, and participated in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He completed 32 years of service.

Photograph of Chester W. Nimitz standing at a wooden podium with a standing microphone beside it, giving speech at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California. He is wearing a dark Naval Uniform with stripes on the sleeves, ribbon bars pinned above his pocket and a dark die. There is some type of palm or fern plant behind Chester Nimitz.