Oral History Interview with Bill Knuth, May 6, 2009 transcript

Oral History Interview with Bill Knuth, May 6, 2009

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Knuth. The Great Depression caused Knuth and his father to relocate often due to financial hardship. After the tenth move, Knuth sought refuge in the Navy in 1944. After basic training he was assigned as a deckhand to the USS Tulsa (PG-22). His battle station was at the 20-millimeter trunnion, unloading spent magazines. In his spare time he managed to converse with Chinese crewmen, despite the language barrier. Arriving in the Philippines in October 1944, the Tulsa was put on escort duty but was rarely used, due to its tendency to outpace other ships. Often under attack by enemy planes in the Philippines, the crew also had to be alert to Japanese saboteurs hiding under boxes that were floating down the river. In 1945, the ship’s name was changed to the USS Tacloban and erroneously received supplies bound for the new Tulsa, which happily included phonograph records. Knuth took an interest in electronics and learned to operate a film projector. Before returning home, he weathered five typhoons, and after arriving safely in November 1945 he stayed in the service another year.
Date: May 6, 2009
Creator: Knuth, Bill
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Oliver Massey, May 6, 2014 transcript

Oral History Interview with Oliver Massey, May 6, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Oliver Massey. Massey joined the Marine Corps at the age of sixteen. After boot camp, Massey was assigned to Fighter Squadron 2 (VF-2) where he began training as an aircraft mechanic at North Island Naval Air Station. In January of 1940 he was assigned to Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 231 (VMSB-231) Ewa, Hawaii and he describes the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. In early 1942, the squadron flew the SB2U-3 Scout Bomber in the Battle of Midway and Massey briefly describes the battle and noted limitations of the aircraft. After returning to the US, he went aboard an escort carrier that took planes to Guadalcanal. He was later stationed at various bases and tells of working on various types of planes including the Grumman F6F fighter and the Douglas C-54 transport. He continued serving in the Korean War, flying with several generals as the crew chief. Massey retired as a Master Sergeant in 1959.
Date: May 6, 2014
Creator: Massey, Oliver
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Rufus Dye, May 6, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Rufus Dye, May 6, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rufus Dye. Dye joined the Army Air Corps in 1940 after finishing high school in Illinois. Dye finished radio operator school in Chicago before heading for flight training in California. Upon completion of flight training and earning his commission, Dye reported for duty with the 392nd Fighter Squadron, 367th Fighter Group in England where he flew combat missions in France prior to the Normandy landing. He flew a P-38 Lightning. He was in Frankfurt when the war ended.
Date: May 6, 2004
Creator: Dye, Rufus
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Oliver Massey, May 6, 2014 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Oliver Massey, May 6, 2014

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Oliver Massey. Massey joined the Marine Corps at the age of sixteen. After boot camp, Massey was assigned to Fighter Squadron 2 (VF-2) where he began training as an aircraft mechanic at North Island Naval Air Station. In January of 1940 he was assigned to Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 231 (VMSB-231) Ewa, Hawaii and he describes the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. In early 1942, the squadron flew the SB2U-3 Scout Bomber in the Battle of Midway and Massey briefly describes the battle and noted limitations of the aircraft. After returning to the US, he went aboard an escort carrier that took planes to Guadalcanal. He was later stationed at various bases and tells of working on various types of planes including the Grumman F6F fighter and the Douglas C-54 transport. He continued serving in the Korean War, flying with several generals as the crew chief. Massey retired as a Master Sergeant in 1959.
Date: May 6, 2014
Creator: Massey, Oliver
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Rufus Dye, May 6, 2004 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Rufus Dye, May 6, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rufus Dye. Dye joined the Army Air Corps in 1940 after finishing high school in Illinois. Dye finished radio operator school in Chicago before heading for flight training in California. Upon completion of flight training and earning his commission, Dye reported for duty with the 392nd Fighter Squadron, 367th Fighter Group in England where he flew combat missions in France prior to the Normandy landing. He flew a P-38 Lightning. He was in Frankfurt when the war ended.
Date: May 6, 2004
Creator: Dye, Rufus
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Bill Knuth, May 6, 2009 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Bill Knuth, May 6, 2009

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Knuth. The Great Depression caused Knuth and his father to relocate often due to financial hardship. After the tenth move, Knuth sought refuge in the Navy in 1944. After basic training he was assigned as a deckhand to the USS Tulsa (PG-22). His battle station was at the 20-millimeter trunnion, unloading spent magazines. In his spare time he managed to converse with Chinese crewmen, despite the language barrier. Arriving in the Philippines in October 1944, the Tulsa was put on escort duty but was rarely used, due to its tendency to outpace other ships. Often under attack by enemy planes in the Philippines, the crew also had to be alert to Japanese saboteurs hiding under boxes that were floating down the river. In 1945, the ship’s name was changed to the USS Tacloban and erroneously received supplies bound for the new Tulsa, which happily included phonograph records. Knuth took an interest in electronics and learned to operate a film projector. Before returning home, he weathered five typhoons, and after arriving safely in November 1945 he stayed in the service another year.
Date: May 6, 2009
Creator: Knuth, Bill
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cecelia McKie to Mrs. Bakhleder- May 6, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Cecelia McKie to Mrs. Bakhleder- May 6, 1943]

Copy of letter sent from Cecelia McKie to 'Mrs. Bakhleder' regarding Santo Tomas Internment Camp internee Luis Backleder, recorded in the letter as 'Louise Bakhleder'. Letter contains transcribed message broadcast to mother from internee on Radio Tokyo.
Date: May 6, 1943
Creator: McKie, Cecelia, 1903-1982
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cecelia McKie to Mrs. F. C. Bacon - May 6, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Cecelia McKie to Mrs. F. C. Bacon - May 6, 1943]

Copy of letter sent from Cecelia McKie to Mrs. F. C. Bacon regarding Santo Tomas Internment Camp internee Frank Bacon, recorded in the letter as 'Frank Orville (?) Bacon (?) Daton (?), Jr.'. Letter contains transcribed message broadcast to mother from internee on Radio Tokyo.
Date: May 6, 1943
Creator: McKie, Cecelia, 1903-1982
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cecelia McKie to Edward P. Bailey - May 6, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Cecelia McKie to Edward P. Bailey - May 6, 1943]

Copy of letter sent from Cecelia McKie to 'Mr. Edward P. Bailey', regarding Santo Tomas Internment Camp internee Fay Cook Bailey, recorded in the letter as 'Kay (Fay) Cook Bailey'. Letter contains transcribed message broadcast to uncle from internee on Radio Tokyo.
Date: May 6, 1943
Creator: McKie, Cecelia, 1903-1982
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History