The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Major General David M. Jones. Jones participated in the Doolittle Raid. He describes the take-off procedures from the USS Hornet (CV-8). He piloted plane number five and recalls clearly seeing a Japanese G4M (Betty) bomber pass by his aircraft an hour after being launched. Jones dropped incendiary bombs over Tokyo and encountering anti-aircraft fire. He explains how the crew bailed out over China and mentions the joyous receptions given to crew members by the people of China.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Major General David M. Jones. Jones participated in the Doolittle Raid. He describes the take-off procedures from the USS Hornet (CV-8). He piloted plane number five and recalls clearly seeing a Japanese G4M (Betty) bomber pass by his aircraft an hour after being launched. Jones dropped incendiary bombs over Tokyo and encountering anti-aircraft fire. He explains how the crew bailed out over China and mentions the joyous receptions given to crew members by the people of China.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue by L E Robinson. Robinson joined the Marine Corps in May 1939 and received basic training in San Diego. After sea school training, he was assigned to Admiral Kimmel’s flag allowance and boarded the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38). Robinson was at Pearl Harbor as the admiral’s senior orderly during the attack of December 7. After surviving strafing from enemy planes, he headed toward the submarine base dock to help carry the wounded. When he found himself holding a severed leg, he experienced a profound emotional detachment that forever changed him. That day, Robinson began serving as the admiral’s bodyguard. Some hours later, a communications officer entered the admiral’s office and froze, dropping a delayed message to the floor. As Robinson bent to pick it up, his eyes passed over a phrase advising Kimmel to take action for proper precautions. From that point on, Robinson was consumed with paranoia, and he overzealously guarded the admiral. When Nimitz arrived and assumed command, he brought with him an air of businesslike normalcy, and Robinson became his orderly. He notes that both admirals were always courteous and concise under pressure.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue by L E Robinson. Robinson joined the Marine Corps in May 1939 and received basic training in San Diego. After sea school training, he was assigned to Admiral Kimmel’s flag allowance and boarded the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38). Robinson was at Pearl Harbor as the admiral’s senior orderly during the attack of December 7. After surviving strafing from enemy planes, he headed toward the submarine base dock to help carry the wounded. When he found himself holding a severed leg, he experienced a profound emotional detachment that forever changed him. That day, Robinson began serving as the admiral’s bodyguard. Some hours later, a communications officer entered the admiral’s office and froze, dropping a delayed message to the floor. As Robinson bent to pick it up, his eyes passed over a phrase advising Kimmel to take action for proper precautions. From that point on, Robinson was consumed with paranoia, and he overzealously guarded the admiral. When Nimitz arrived and assumed command, he brought with him an air of businesslike normalcy, and Robinson became his orderly. He notes that both admirals were always courteous and concise under pressure.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John P. Cordon discussing where he grew up and went to school and what led him to join the Navy. He describes flying airplanes for the Navy in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ben Blaz. Blaz was born on Guam in 1928 and recalls aspects of his education on the island prior to World War II. He then recounts the arrival of the Japanese forces in December, 1941 and how they treated the Chamorro people. His family fled Agana to some property in the hills outside of town and raised crops during the war years. Blaz was recruited to help build and maintain airfields for the Japanese. He describes his life on GUma during WWII and then recalls the return of the Americans and being liberated. In 1947, Blaz went to Notre Dame University and then joined the Marine Corps in 1951, retiring in 1980.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with David Braden. Braden was called to active duty in the Army Air Forces from his university’s ROTC program in February 1943 and went to Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls, Texas. He trained to be a navigator. In January 1945, he flew to Saipan and joined the 870th Bomb Squadron, 497th Bomb Group. He flew combat missions against the home islands of Japan and comments on the initial poor results. He also describes an incident in which they had to ditch their plane in the ocean. He also mentions the low altitude incendiary attacks on Tokyo. Braden returned to the US and was discharged in September, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with E. B. Potter. Potter was attached to the Intelligence Section of the 14th Naval District in Oahu during World War II. He graduated with an English degree from the University of Richmond in 1929. He completed an advanced degree in English at the University of Chicago, and during this time the war broke out in Europe. He applied for and received a commission in the Navy. Potter was sent to the Naval Academy as a reservist to teach college-level European and naval history. After 7 December 1941 he went to communications school. From there he went to Pearl Harbor in November of 1943. Potter worked in the Registered Publications Issuing Office (RPIO), distributing codes and ciphers to ships of the fleet. He provides a vivid description of his work. Potter became second-in-command of RPIO. He talks some of Commander Joseph Rochefort’s operation and code breaking. He discusses briefly working on the biography of Admiral Chester Nimitz, and some of Admiral Bill Halsey’s actions during the war. Potter was later assigned as executive officer to the 14th Naval District and provides stories of his experiences. In 1945 he returned to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with E. B. Potter. Potter was attached to the Intelligence Section of the 14th Naval District in Oahu during World War II. He graduated with an English degree from the University of Richmond in 1929. He completed an advanced degree in English at the University of Chicago, and during this time the war broke out in Europe. He applied for and received a commission in the Navy. Potter was sent to the Naval Academy as a reservist to teach college-level European and naval history. After 7 December 1941 he went to communications school. From there he went to Pearl Harbor in November of 1943. Potter worked in the Registered Publications Issuing Office (RPIO), distributing codes and ciphers to ships of the fleet. He provides a vivid description of his work. Potter became second-in-command of RPIO. He talks some of Commander Joseph Rochefort’s operation and code breaking. He discusses briefly working on the biography of Admiral Chester Nimitz, and some of Admiral Bill Halsey’s actions during the war. Potter was later assigned as executive officer to the 14th Naval District and provides stories of his experiences. In 1945 he returned to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Martin Allday. Allday was drafted into the Army in August, 1944. On 1 May 1945, he landed on Okinawa as a replacement in the 96th Infantry Division. Allday describes his experiences in combat at Okinawa. Allday was wounded on 11 May and returned to duty the day the island was declared secure. When the war ended, Allday was transferred to the 81st Infantry Division and went to the Philippines. Allday returned to the US in September, 1946 and enrolled in college.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Manual Sablan. Sablan was born in Saipan and became a messenger for the Japanese police when he was a teenager. Japanese troops had occupied his family home by that time. To remain safe during bombardments, Sablan lived in a manmade cave behind the police station. He recalls seeing six American prisoners of war in the jail. When the bombing became very heavy, Sablan went to look for his mother, but fires blocked his way. Without caves to hide in, he used a machete to fashion wooden shovels for digging foxholes. He was hiding near Talofofo, having eaten nothing but sugar cane for two weeks, when he surrendered to Americans. Sablan was sent to Camp Susupe, where conditions were terrible. Eventually he was given a job at the 369th Station Hospital in San Vicente, where badly wounded soldiers from Iwo Jima and Okinawa were given medical treatment. He became a police officer in 1951 and participated in the capture of a Japanese soldier who was discovered in a cave in 1952. He became the sheriff of Saipan and then the director of public safety for the Trust Territory.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Manual Sablan. Sablan was born in Saipan and became a messenger for the Japanese police when he was a teenager. Japanese troops had occupied his family home by that time. To remain safe during bombardments, Sablan lived in a manmade cave behind the police station. He recalls seeing six American prisoners of war in the jail. When the bombing became very heavy, Sablan went to look for his mother, but fires blocked his way. Without caves to hide in, he used a machete to fashion wooden shovels for digging foxholes. He was hiding near Talofofo, having eaten nothing but sugar cane for two weeks, when he surrendered to Americans. Sablan was sent to Camp Susupe, where conditions were terrible. Eventually he was given a job at the 369th Station Hospital in San Vicente, where badly wounded soldiers from Iwo Jima and Okinawa were given medical treatment. He became a police officer in 1951 and participated in the capture of a Japanese soldier who was discovered in a cave in 1952. He became the sheriff of Saipan and then the director of public safety for the Trust Territory.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bob Layher. Layher was a member of the first squadron of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), nicknamed the Flying Tigers. While stationed in Rangoon in January 1942, the group sent Pete Wright into the air to scare off an enemy bomber. Wright's plane malfunctioned on the approach, and he veered off the runway, killing a captain. On 5 March 1942, Layher nearly lost control of his own plane during a close formation drill. The group had been asked to escort Chiang Kai-shek and to perform a slow roll. Being at the tail end of the formation, Layher was unable to fly fast enough to perform the maneuver safely. By the time he recovered and rejoined the formation, their leader had dropped out due to an equipment malfunction. So, Pappy Boyington led the group, taking them off course and expending more fuel than anticipated. Layher crash-landed on a remote trail and was discovered by unfriendly natives. Not having worn his blood chit that day, he narrowly escaped execution and was eventually reunited with his group.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bob Layher. Layher was a member of the first squadron of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), nicknamed the Flying Tigers. While stationed in Rangoon in January 1942, the group sent Pete Wright into the air to scare off an enemy bomber. Wright's plane malfunctioned on the approach, and he veered off the runway, killing a captain. On 5 March 1942, Layher nearly lost control of his own plane during a close formation drill. The group had been asked to escort Chiang Kai-shek and to perform a slow roll. Being at the tail end of the formation, Layher was unable to fly fast enough to perform the maneuver safely. By the time he recovered and rejoined the formation, their leader had dropped out due to an equipment malfunction. So, Pappy Boyington led the group, taking them off course and expending more fuel than anticipated. Layher crash-landed on a remote trail and was discovered by unfriendly natives. Not having worn his blood chit that day, he narrowly escaped execution and was eventually reunited with his group.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Mrs. Robinson. Robinson joined the Navy in June 1944 and received training at the National Naval Medical Center in Maryland in February 1945. There she tended to both psychiatric patients and amputees and participated on the medical advisory board as to whether a patient should be discharged or returned to duty. She sold tickets at a movie theater in her spare time and recalls the day when one of her patients reached into his pocket and proudly presented her with a dime, made possible by his prosthetics. She also describes treatment given to psychiatric patients whose experiences at war triggered psychotic breaks, particularly schizophrenia. One of the patients at the hospital had been injured while aboard USS Birmingham (CL-62), fighting the fire on USS Princeton (CVL-23). He came to the hospital and received psychological treatment for stress resulting from his experience aboard ship. After he recovered, he was discharged but remained at the hospital as a civilian employee. There he met and married Robinson, who upon discharge also remained at the hospital as a civilian employee.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Mrs. Robinson. Robinson joined the Navy in June 1944 and received training at the National Naval Medical Center in Maryland in February 1945. There she tended to both psychiatric patients and amputees and participated on the medical advisory board as to whether a patient should be discharged or returned to duty. She sold tickets at a movie theater in her spare time and recalls the day when one of her patients reached into his pocket and proudly presented her with a dime, made possible by his prosthetics. She also describes treatment given to psychiatric patients whose experiences at war triggered psychotic breaks, particularly schizophrenia. One of the patients at the hospital had been injured while aboard USS Birmingham (CL-62), fighting the fire on USS Princeton (CVL-23). He came to the hospital and received psychological treatment for stress resulting from his experience aboard ship. After he recovered, he was discharged but remained at the hospital as a civilian employee. There he met and married Robinson, who upon discharge also remained at the hospital as a civilian employee.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ray Bowden. Bowden joined the Navy in November 1938 and received basic training in San Diego. He went aboard the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) and was made coxswain of a liberty boat. During the attack on Pearl Harbor, he ran to his battle station. By the time he arrived, the ship had already been torpedoed seven times and was beginning to roll. He was hit by a piece of shrapnel that killed the men next to him but left him with only a broken rib. After the attack, he searched for his brother, who was also aboard the Oklahoma. He was safe at a nearby Marine encampment. Bowden participated in one diving mission as part of the effort to clean up the harbor, assessing damage and closing water-tight doors. Late in the war, he was transferred to the USS Santee (ACV-29) as a chief boatswain’s mate. He encountered kamikazes near Okinawa. At the end of the war, Bowden had enough points to be discharged but chose to remain in the Navy until 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ray Bowden. Bowden joined the Navy in November 1938 and received basic training in San Diego. He went aboard the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) and was made coxswain of a liberty boat. During the attack on Pearl Harbor, he ran to his battle station. By the time he arrived, the ship had already been torpedoed seven times and was beginning to roll. He was hit by a piece of shrapnel that killed the men next to him but left him with only a broken rib. After the attack, he searched for his brother, who was also aboard the Oklahoma. He was safe at a nearby Marine encampment. Bowden participated in one diving mission as part of the effort to clean up the harbor, assessing damage and closing water-tight doors. Late in the war, he was transferred to the USS Santee (ACV-29) as a chief boatswain’s mate. He encountered kamikazes near Okinawa. At the end of the war, Bowden had enough points to be discharged but chose to remain in the Navy until 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John H. (Jack) Camp. Camp grew up in New Orleans and joined the Navy in August, 1943. Upon completion of training, Camp was selected for Hospital Corpsman school. In ealry 1945, Camp was ordered to go to Guam and work the in Fleet Hospital 103. He recalls receiving patients from the battle at Okinawa. In May, Camp was transferred to the USS South Dakota (BB-57). He was aboard when the task force the South Dakota was attached to attacked the Japanese home islands. Camp shares excerpts from a diary he kept while aboard the ship. At teh surrender ceremony, Camp was among a group of medical personnel that went ashore to a prisoner of war camp to bring former POWs back to the USS Benevolence (AH-13) treatment. Camp visited several POW camps before leaving Tokyo Bay. He returned aboard ship to the US in October, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John H. (Jack) Camp. Camp grew up in New Orleans and joined the Navy in August, 1943. Upon completion of training, Camp was selected for Hospital Corpsman school. In ealry 1945, Camp was ordered to go to Guam and work the in Fleet Hospital 103. He recalls receiving patients from the battle at Okinawa. In May, Camp was transferred to the USS South Dakota (BB-57). He was aboard when the task force the South Dakota was attached to attacked the Japanese home islands. Camp shares excerpts from a diary he kept while aboard the ship. At teh surrender ceremony, Camp was among a group of medical personnel that went ashore to a prisoner of war camp to bring former POWs back to the USS Benevolence (AH-13) treatment. Camp visited several POW camps before leaving Tokyo Bay. He returned aboard ship to the US in October, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Kidder. Kidder joined the Army Air Forces in March 1943 and received basic training on a golf course in Miami Beach while staying at a hotel. Upon completion, he was assigned to LaGuardia Field, where he was a quartermaster supply clerk. While there he lived at the Greystone and Alamac hotels, the Garden Bay Manor apartment complex, and a mansion at One Park Avenue. The post was very relaxed, and roll call was rarely taken. As a member of the military, he enjoyed ballgames and entertainment for free. In September 1944, he requested to be given a more active role in the war. He was then given intensive training as an engine mechanic for DC-3s, C-54s (Skymaster), and C-47s (Skytrain, a.k.a. “Gooney Bird”). In April 1945 he was sent to the Pacific and served in Saipan and Guam as an assistant crew chief. Kidder returned home and was discharged in March 1946. He qualified for disability due to hearing loss after being around airplanes without any hearing protection. He went to the University of Texas on the GI Bill and majored in journalism.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Kidder. Kidder joined the Army Air Forces in March 1943 and received basic training on a golf course in Miami Beach while staying at a hotel. Upon completion, he was assigned to LaGuardia Field, where he was a quartermaster supply clerk. While there he lived at the Greystone and Alamac hotels, the Garden Bay Manor apartment complex, and a mansion at One Park Avenue. The post was very relaxed, and roll call was rarely taken. As a member of the military, he enjoyed ballgames and entertainment for free. In September 1944, he requested to be given a more active role in the war. He was then given intensive training as an engine mechanic for DC-3s, C-54s (Skymaster), and C-47s (Skytrain, a.k.a. “Gooney Bird”). In April 1945 he was sent to the Pacific and served in Saipan and Guam as an assistant crew chief. Kidder returned home and was discharged in March 1946. He qualified for disability due to hearing loss after being around airplanes without any hearing protection. He went to the University of Texas on the GI Bill and majored in journalism.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ben Cater. Cater joined the Navy V-7 Program, graduating in June of 1942. He then completed Midshipman School in the February of 1943. Cater then flew to Kodiak, Alaska, and served aboard USS Long (DMS-12), providing escort and patrol for the occupations of Attu and Kiska, returning to Pearl Harbor in September. Cater recalls participating in the Marshall Islands Campaign. In February of 1944, they traveled to New Guinea, escorting convoys and sweeping mines prior to the Admiralty Islands Campaign. They additionally participated in the Battles of Hollandia and Guam, and the Mariana and Palau islands campaign. Cater then served aboard the USS Columbia (CL-56), participating in pre-invasion bombardments for the landings at Leyte Gulf. He was discharged in January of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ben Cater. Cater joined the Navy V-7 Program, graduating in June of 1942. He then completed Midshipman School in the February of 1943. Cater then flew to Kodiak, Alaska, and served aboard USS Long (DMS-12), providing escort and patrol for the occupations of Attu and Kiska, returning to Pearl Harbor in September. Cater recalls participating in the Marshall Islands Campaign. In February of 1944, they traveled to New Guinea, escorting convoys and sweeping mines prior to the Admiralty Islands Campaign. They additionally participated in the Battles of Hollandia and Guam, and the Mariana and Palau islands campaign. Cater then served aboard the USS Columbia (CL-56), participating in pre-invasion bombardments for the landings at Leyte Gulf. He was discharged in January of 1946.