The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Cecil Harris. Harris was born 20 February 1925 in Raymond, Mississippi. In January 1943 he joined the Army Air Force Enlisted Reserves and entered basic training at Kessler Air Base, Mississippi. In May 1943 he was sent to the University of Tennessee in preparation for pre-flight training. He went to Nashville for classification and was selected for pilot training. He went to Montgomery, Alabama for primary training by a civilian instructor. After training in BT-13 aircraft at Courtland, Alabama, he flew AT-10 aircraft in advanced training at Freeman Field, Indiana and graduated 22 May 1944. He then went to Gulfport, Mississippi to begin B-17 crew training. Upon completing the training the crew was sent to New York City where in January 1945 they boarded the RMS Aquitania. Landing in Scotland they were transported to Glatton Air Base, England where they reported to the 457th Bomb Group, 748th Bomb Squadron. In reporting to the Deputy CO, Harris found the man had been his Boy Scout Master many years before. He flew thirty-two combat missions and describes a number of them. Of particular interest is his recollection of an encounter …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Margaret Gardner. Gardner married Russell Emmett Edwards on 2 November 1943. Edwards joined the Navy in 1941. Gardner provides some details of Edwards’ flight training in Florida, where he was selected for a night fighter squadron. He completed additional training in Charleston, Rhode Island aboard the Grumman F6F Hellcats. Gardner notes the various places she and Edwards lived while he was training in Florida and Rhode Island. She also provides some details of their pending wedding date, which policy implored must take place after Edwards received his wings. Edwards completed his flying missions from aboard the USS Independence (CVL-22) and was killed in action 6 January 1945. Gardner provides details of how she learned of Edwards death. She attended 28 of the CVLG 41 VF-41 reunions over the last 58 years to maintain contact with Edwards’ crew members she had met during his flight training days.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jesse T. Barker. Barker joined the Navy and entered the V-5 Naval Aviation Program in April 1941. Completing his training at Pensacola in September, he received his wings and commission. Upon arriving in San Diego, he was assigned to the USS Saratoga (CV-3) and traveled to Pearl Harbor. After additional training, he was assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-5) and participated in the invasion of Guadalcanal. A group of twelve pilots were temporarily assigned to Henderson Field and Barker describes missions he flew. He recalls harassment by a Japanese plane called Washing Machine Charlie. Returning to the US he reported to the Vero Beach, Florida Naval Air Station to serve as a dive bomber instructor. After serving there for one year he volunteered for night fighter training and was sent to Quonset Point, Rhode Island. He describes the procedure of using radar in flying night missions. After six months of training he went to Pearl Harbor where he underwent advanced training. He was then assigned to the USS Independence (CVL-22) and relates his experiences during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He was then transferred to the USS Intrepid …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Cecil Harris. Harris was born 20 February 1925 in Raymond, Mississippi. In January 1943 he joined the Army Air Force Enlisted Reserves and entered basic training at Kessler Air Base, Mississippi. In May 1943 he was sent to the University of Tennessee in preparation for pre-flight training. He went to Nashville for classification and was selected for pilot training. He went to Montgomery, Alabama for primary training by a civilian instructor. After training in BT-13 aircraft at Courtland, Alabama, he flew AT-10 aircraft in advanced training at Freeman Field, Indiana and graduated 22 May 1944. He then went to Gulfport, Mississippi to begin B-17 crew training. Upon completing the training the crew was sent to New York City where in January 1945 they boarded the RMS Aquitania. Landing in Scotland they were transported to Glatton Air Base, England where they reported to the 457th Bomb Group, 748th Bomb Squadron. In reporting to the Deputy CO, Harris found the man had been his Boy Scout Master many years before. He flew thirty-two combat missions and describes a number of them. Of particular interest is his recollection of an encounter …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Margaret Gardner. Gardner married Russell Emmett Edwards on 2 November 1943. Edwards joined the Navy in 1941. Gardner provides some details of Edwards’ flight training in Florida, where he was selected for a night fighter squadron. He completed additional training in Charleston, Rhode Island aboard the Grumman F6F Hellcats. Gardner notes the various places she and Edwards lived while he was training in Florida and Rhode Island. She also provides some details of their pending wedding date, which policy implored must take place after Edwards received his wings. Edwards completed his flying missions from aboard the USS Independence (CVL-22) and was killed in action 6 January 1945. Gardner provides details of how she learned of Edwards death. She attended 28 of the CVLG 41 VF-41 reunions over the last 58 years to maintain contact with Edwards’ crew members she had met during his flight training days.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jesse T. Barker. Barker joined the Navy and entered the V-5 Naval Aviation Program in April 1941. Completing his training at Pensacola in September, he received his wings and commission. Upon arriving in San Diego, he was assigned to the USS Saratoga (CV-3) and traveled to Pearl Harbor. After additional training, he was assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-5) and participated in the invasion of Guadalcanal. A group of twelve pilots were temporarily assigned to Henderson Field and Barker describes missions he flew. He recalls harassment by a Japanese plane called Washing Machine Charlie. Returning to the US he reported to the Vero Beach, Florida Naval Air Station to serve as a dive bomber instructor. After serving there for one year he volunteered for night fighter training and was sent to Quonset Point, Rhode Island. He describes the procedure of using radar in flying night missions. After six months of training he went to Pearl Harbor where he underwent advanced training. He was then assigned to the USS Independence (CVL-22) and relates his experiences during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He was then transferred to the USS Intrepid …