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Oral History Interview with Richard Bennett, November 15, 2001 transcript

Oral History Interview with Richard Bennett, November 15, 2001

Interview with Richard (Dick) Bennett, a pilot during World War II. He discusses his enlistment in the Army Air Corps, basic training and flight school. He then went to a base in South Carolina to learn to fly B-25s. At Fort Myers, Florida he flew B-26 bombers and trained to fly them off of aircraft carriers so they could drop torpedos on the Japanese fleet during naval battles. He traveled across the Pacific to Brisbane only to be told that they didn't have B-26s for the crews; the colonel there knew nothing about the plan to launch B-26s from aircraft carriers, so they were sent to New Guinea to fly B-17s and supplement the crews for those bombers. From there they made bombing runs or "Washing Machine Charlie"-type runs to keep people awake at night on various Japanese targets in the islands, particularly the base at Rabaul. In fall of 1943, the Army grounded the B-17s due to the damage they had incurred and replaced them with B-24s. The men received manuals and were given only a few days to familiarize themselves with the new planes. They were then sent on bombing runs. He finished his tour of duty at …
Date: November 15, 2001
Creator: Cox, Floyd & Bennett, Richard
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Authorization for Allotment of Pay] (open access)

[Authorization for Allotment of Pay]

Card belonging to Justin L. Bible authorizing allotment of pay to support a wife, child, or dependent relative.
Date: November 4, 1942
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping: "Ferry Pilot"] (open access)

[Clipping: "Ferry Pilot"]

Magazine clipping with a photograph of Nancy Batson on one side and an advertisement for Kollsman Aircraft Instruments. Text on the front side reads: " FERRY PILOT: All smiles over her appointment as Florida's first WAFS (Woman's Auxiliary Ferry Squadron) member, Nancy Batson, former flight instructor at Embry-Riddle, Miami, prepares to take off. A native of Alabama where she learned to fly at the U. of A., Tuscaloosa, Nancy at 22 intends to make flying her career. She is convinced that the longer the war continues women will assume more and more wartime responsibility."
Date: November 1942
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from Cornelia Yerkes to Frances Yerkes, November 15, 1946]

Postcard from Cornelia Yerkes to her mother discussing recent news about friends and family. The postcard features "Festival of St. Roche" by E. Debat-Ponsan as it appears at the Tudor Hotel in New York.
Date: November 15, 1946
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Postcard
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes to Frances Yerkes, November 2, 1942] (open access)

[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes to Frances Yerkes, November 2, 1942]

Letter from Cornelia Yerkes to her mother discussing a recent letter, lecturer selection in her flight class, living arrangements, information about the Women's Flying Training Detachment from Jackie Cochran, hanging out with a man from her hometown, mail, and how much she has enjoyed flight classes.
Date: November 2, 1942
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes and Phil Kafka, November 10, 1950~] (open access)

[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes and Phil Kafka, November 10, 1950~]

Letter from Phil and Cornelia Yerkes Kafka discussing trying to sell a boat.
Date: 1950-11-10?
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes & Kafka, Phillip Eric
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from Cornelia Yerkes to Fred G. and Frances Yerkes, November 12, 1944]

Postcard from WASP Cornelia Yerkes to her parents discussing visiting Niagra to pick up a P-63, an image of which is featured on the card.
Date: November 12, 1944
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Postcard
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from Cornelia Yerkes to Fred G. and Frances Yerkes, November 25, 1944]

Postcard from WASP Cornelia Yerkes to her parents discussing trying to get out of Kansas City. The postcard features an image of the Sky View Dining Room at the Hotel Lenox in Buffalo.
Date: November 25, 1944
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Postcard
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes, November 12, 1949] (open access)

[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes, November 12, 1949]

Letter from Cornelia Yerkes discussing the purchase of a boat, getting some buttons from her WASP uniform, time with friends, and Miami.
Date: November 12, 1949
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from Cornelia Yerkes to Frances Yerkes, November 21, 1946]

Postcard from Cornelia Yerkes to her mother discussing a visit with Bobby Willis' family in New York City, and news of Bobby giving birth. Postcard features a color image of the Hotel Tudor in NYC.
Date: November 21, 1946
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Postcard
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from Cornelia Yerkes to Fred G. and Frances Yerkes, November 23, 1944]

Postcard from WASP Cornelia Yerkes to her parents discussing recent work ferrying a P-40. The postcard is part of the Medici Society Herb Garden Series and features a drawing of lad's love and lungwort and facts about each.
Date: November 23, 1944
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Postcard
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from Cornelia Yerkes to Mr. and Mrs. Fred G. Yerkes, November 16, 1944]

Postcard from WASP Cornelia Yerkes to her parents. The postcard is from the American Red Cross and features two photos of the Red Cross Canteen in Memphis, with several men and at least one woman in uniform enjoying drinks and billiards.
Date: November 16, 1944
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Postcard
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from Cornelia Yerkes to Frances Yerkes, November 8, 1946]

Postcard from Cornelia Yerkes to her mother discussing friends in New York City. The postcard features a color reproduction of the "Festival of St. Roche" by E. Debat-Ponsan as it appeared in the Tudor Hotel.
Date: November 8, 1946
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Postcard
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from Cornelia Yerkes to Frances Yerkes, November 21, 1946]

Postcard from Cornelia Yerkes to her mother discussing her time in New York City. The card features a color painting of the Tudor Hotel.
Date: November 21, 1946
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Postcard
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from Cornelia Yerkes to Frances Yerkes, November 24, 1946]

Postcard from Cornelia Yerkes to her mother discussing her time in New York City and recent correspondence. The card features a color reproduction of the "Festival of St. Roche" by E. Debat-Ponsan as it appeared in the Tudor Hotel.
Date: November 24, 1946
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Postcard
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from Cornelia Yerkes to Frances Yerkes, November 21, 1944]

Postcard from Cornelia Yerkes to her mother. The postcard is from the Medici Society's Herb Garden Series and features a drawing of woad and hyssop with a blurb about their qualities.
Date: November 21, 1944
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Postcard
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes to Frances Yerkes, November 5, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes to Frances Yerkes, November 5, 1943]

Letter from WASP Cornelia Yerkes to her mother discussing her repaired typewriter, sleeping on a flight, delaying a ferrying flight because a ground crew member stepped through the wing, friends, the B-24, and a AT-6 check flight. Typed on Wells Roberts Hotel (Oklahoma City) stationary.
Date: November 5, 1943
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History