The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Crooker. Crooker joined the Navy on 6 December 1941. He served as an officer (ensign to lieutenant commander), stationed in 1944 and 1945 in New Guinea, and as an intelligence briefer for Admiral T.C. Kinkaid, Commander, Seventh Fleet, on the USS Wasatch (AGC-9) and in the Philippine Islands. He participated in the Leyte and Lingayen Gulf operations from October of 1944 through August of 1945. He was discharged from active duty in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Crooker. Crooker joined the Navy on 6 December 1941. He served as an officer (ensign to lieutenant commander), stationed in 1944 and 1945 in New Guinea, and as an intelligence briefer for Admiral T.C. Kinkaid, Commander, Seventh Fleet, on the USS Wasatch (AGC-9) and in the Philippine Islands. He participated in the Leyte and Lingayen Gulf operations from October of 1944 through August of 1945. He was discharged from active duty in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Hotova. Hotova was born in November 1918. He describes conditions during the Great Depression. He left high school at 15 years of age and joined the National Guard in 1939. He was assigned to the 242nd Coast Artillery. Hotova applied for flight training in the Army Air Corps in 1942. He did not qualify for advanced flight training and was assigned to aircraft mechanics school at Keesler Field, Mississippi. After four months of training, he was sent to Laredo, Texas for gunnery training. He was assigned as a waist gunner on a B-24. While four members flew their plane to England, he and five other crewmen boarded RMS Queen Mary. Landing in Scotland they were assigned to the 8th Air Force, 389th Bomb Group, 567th Bomb Squadron based at Hethel, England. On his first bombing mission, in May 1944, he flew to Brussels and recounts the discomfort of being at a waist gun position at high altitudes. Having flown 29 combat missions during his tour, he describes several of the missions, during which German fighters and heavy flak were encountered. He also witnessed other aircraft being shot …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Hotova. Hotova was born in November 1918. He describes conditions during the Great Depression. He left high school at 15 years of age and joined the National Guard in 1939. He was assigned to the 242nd Coast Artillery. Hotova applied for flight training in the Army Air Corps in 1942. He did not qualify for advanced flight training and was assigned to aircraft mechanics school at Keesler Field, Mississippi. After four months of training, he was sent to Laredo, Texas for gunnery training. He was assigned as a waist gunner on a B-24. While four members flew their plane to England, he and five other crewmen boarded RMS Queen Mary. Landing in Scotland they were assigned to the 8th Air Force, 389th Bomb Group, 567th Bomb Squadron based at Hethel, England. On his first bombing mission, in May 1944, he flew to Brussels and recounts the discomfort of being at a waist gun position at high altitudes. Having flown 29 combat missions during his tour, he describes several of the missions, during which German fighters and heavy flak were encountered. He also witnessed other aircraft being shot …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Burley. Burley joined the Army Air Forces in October of 1942. He completed armament school, and was assigned to the 1025th Training Squadron. Burley worked at the gunnery range, ensuring each gun remained operable for training. He was sent to a B-29 gunnery school at Lowry Field in Colorado, and was later stationed at the Red Cross Office in Biloxi, Mississippi performing routine maintenance on armament for an emergency rescue unit. Burley was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Burley. Burley joined the Army Air Forces in October of 1942. He completed armament school, and was assigned to the 1025th Training Squadron. Burley worked at the gunnery range, ensuring each gun remained operable for training. He was sent to a B-29 gunnery school at Lowry Field in Colorado, and was later stationed at the Red Cross Office in Biloxi, Mississippi performing routine maintenance on armament for an emergency rescue unit. Burley was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Long. Long joined the Navy on 10 December 1941. He completed boot camp and traveled to Pearl Harbor in January of 1942, where he worked at a submarine base, served guard duty and completed further training. He served as a Watertender 3rd Class aboard the USS Hinsdale (APA-120) beginning October of 1944. In February of 1945 they participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima, embarking and disembarking troops and valuable cargo, and serving as an auxiliary hospital ship. Beginning in April 1945, they participated in the Battle of Okinawa, though received a hit by a kamikaze airplane. Long was in the fire room at the time of the attack. He was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Long. Long joined the Navy on 10 December 1941. He completed boot camp and traveled to Pearl Harbor in January of 1942, where he worked at a submarine base, served guard duty and completed further training. He served as a Watertender 3rd Class aboard the USS Hinsdale (APA-120) beginning October of 1944. In February of 1945 they participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima, embarking and disembarking troops and valuable cargo, and serving as an auxiliary hospital ship. Beginning in April 1945, they participated in the Battle of Okinawa, though received a hit by a kamikaze airplane. Long was in the fire room at the time of the attack. He was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Vickers. Vickers was born in Adams Mill, Ohio 20 February 1924. Joining the Army Air Forces in November 1942, he was sent to Keesler Field, Mississippi for basic training. He was then sent to Mississippi State College then the Cadet Classification Center in San Antonio. He received preflight training prior to being sent to Garner Field, Uvalde, Texas for flight training by civilian instructors. Vickers describes some of his experiences while flying the PT-19 primary trainer. He recalls being sent to Waco, Texas and describes the training he received flying the BT-13. Upon completion of the course he was sent to twin engine advanced school at Blackland Airfield at Waco. He received his wings and commission in April 1944, and was sent to Liberal, Kansas for B-24 bomber training. Upon completion, Vickers received orders to Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho for combat crew training. In October 1944 the crew went aboard the USS Washington (BB-56) bound for Liverpool, England. He was assigned to the 8th Air Force, 392nd Bomb Group, 578th Bomb Squadron stationed at Wendling, England. Vickers flew thirty combat missions. In recalling some, he tells of …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Vickers. Vickers was born in Adams Mill, Ohio 20 February 1924. Joining the Army Air Forces in November 1942, he was sent to Keesler Field, Mississippi for basic training. He was then sent to Mississippi State College then the Cadet Classification Center in San Antonio. He received preflight training prior to being sent to Garner Field, Uvalde, Texas for flight training by civilian instructors. Vickers describes some of his experiences while flying the PT-19 primary trainer. He recalls being sent to Waco, Texas and describes the training he received flying the BT-13. Upon completion of the course he was sent to twin engine advanced school at Blackland Airfield at Waco. He received his wings and commission in April 1944, and was sent to Liberal, Kansas for B-24 bomber training. Upon completion, Vickers received orders to Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho for combat crew training. In October 1944 the crew went aboard the USS Washington (BB-56) bound for Liverpool, England. He was assigned to the 8th Air Force, 392nd Bomb Group, 578th Bomb Squadron stationed at Wendling, England. Vickers flew thirty combat missions. In recalling some, he tells of …