The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Howard Jackel. Jackel served aboard the USS Portland (CA-33) beginning in 1937. During World War II, he was aboard the USS South Dakota (BB-57). He noticed a stark difference between the two crews: while the Portland’s crew were polished sailors, the South Dakota’s were fighting men; uniforms did not mean much to them. During the Night Battle of Guadalcanal, Jackel was in the main battery plotting room, taking ranges from five range finders. As readings were coming in as quickly as five per second, Howard was concentrating on his plotting so much that he did not feel it when the ship was hit. By the end of the battle, only one range finder was left.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Howard Jackel. Jackel served aboard the USS Portland (CA-33) beginning in 1937. During World War II, he was aboard the USS South Dakota (BB-57). He noticed a stark difference between the two crews: while the Portland’s crew were polished sailors, the South Dakota’s were fighting men; uniforms did not mean much to them. During the Night Battle of Guadalcanal, Jackel was in the main battery plotting room, taking ranges from five range finders. As readings were coming in as quickly as five per second, Howard was concentrating on his plotting so much that he did not feel it when the ship was hit. By the end of the battle, only one range finder was left.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Rear Admiral Ray Hunter and Howard Jackel. The interview begins with Admiral Hunter’s experiences aboard USS Washington (BB-56) during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 14-15 November 1942. Hunter served as officer of the deck, and speaks of events that occurred in company with USS South Dakota (BB-57). In the second interview, Howard Jackel shares his experiences aboard the South Dakota from January of 1942 through January of 1944. He participated in the Battles of Santa Cruz, the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal and part of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaigns. Jackel speaks of their interaction with the Washington during the Guadalcanal battle.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Rear Admiral Ray Hunter and Howard Jackel. The interview begins with Admiral Hunter’s experiences aboard USS Washington (BB-56) during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 14-15 November 1942. Hunter served as officer of the deck, and speaks of events that occurred in company with USS South Dakota (BB-57). In the second interview, Howard Jackel shares his experiences aboard the South Dakota from January of 1942 through January of 1944. He participated in the Battles of Santa Cruz, the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal and part of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaigns. Jackel speaks of their interaction with the Washington during the Guadalcanal battle.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ray Hunter. In this interview, Hunter recounts the Night Battle of Guadalcanal, for which he served as officer of the deck on the USS Washington (BB-56), on the lookout, keeping the ship out of collision with friendly forces, and making sure that the commanding officer’s orders were carried out. The crew had been at general quarters for 12 hours before the first shots were fired. Still, everyone remained calm. At the climax of the battle, Hunter ordered a port turn to bypass destroyers that were sinking and burning in front of the Washington. This put the Washington behind the flames so that it would not be silhouetted. For reasons unknown, the USS South Dakota (BB-57), which until this time had been following closely behind the Washington, made a starboard turn, creating a silhouette effect, and was subsequently hit by a salvo of shells. The Washington then shepherded the South Dakota to Noumea.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ray Hunter. In this interview, Hunter recounts the Night Battle of Guadalcanal, for which he served as officer of the deck on the USS Washington (BB-56), on the lookout, keeping the ship out of collision with friendly forces, and making sure that the commanding officer’s orders were carried out. The crew had been at general quarters for 12 hours before the first shots were fired. Still, everyone remained calm. At the climax of the battle, Hunter ordered a port turn to bypass destroyers that were sinking and burning in front of the Washington. This put the Washington behind the flames so that it would not be silhouetted. For reasons unknown, the USS South Dakota (BB-57), which until this time had been following closely behind the Washington, made a starboard turn, creating a silhouette effect, and was subsequently hit by a salvo of shells. The Washington then shepherded the South Dakota to Noumea.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Marie Castro. As a child, Castro lived in Saipan under Japanese occupation, living with rationing and blackout conditions. As a Chamorro, she received corporal punishment from her teachers, and one of her cousins was beaten to death. When Japanese Marines came to Garapan seeking comfort women, Castro hid in an attic to avoid being taken. She then moved with her family to Marpi Point, but her father was sent to a labor camp. After the United States invaded, Castro and her family hid in a cave, lacking food and water. They were discovered and sent to Camp Susupe, crowded with orphans of those who committed suicide. Initially wary of Americans, the interned were happy to find themselves treated very well. Grateful to Americans for giving their lives to save hers, Castro devoted herself to a teaching career in Kansas City.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Marie Castro. As a child, Castro lived in Saipan under Japanese occupation, living with rationing and blackout conditions. As a Chamorro, she received corporal punishment from her teachers, and one of her cousins was beaten to death. When Japanese Marines came to Garapan seeking comfort women, Castro hid in an attic to avoid being taken. She then moved with her family to Marpi Point, but her father was sent to a labor camp. After the United States invaded, Castro and her family hid in a cave, lacking food and water. They were discovered and sent to Camp Susupe, crowded with orphans of those who committed suicide. Initially wary of Americans, the interned were happy to find themselves treated very well. Grateful to Americans for giving their lives to save hers, Castro devoted herself to a teaching career in Kansas City.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents and interview with Hal Olsen. Olsen joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939 and went to Utah. When the war started, Olsen was a toolmaker. His deferment expired so he joined the Navy in January 1943. He attended aviation machinist school in Memphis before being assigned to the Bunker Hill Naval Air Station in Indiana. He eventually specialized in instrument repair. In January 1945, he shipped overseas to Tinian. On the side, he painted nose art. Olsen was discharged in February 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Harry Lapham. Lapham joined the Navy and after completing boot, he attended a machinist mate school at Norfolk, Virginia until March 1941. He tells of traveling to Goat Island, California where he went aboard the USS Tangier (AV-8). The ship was anchored near the USS Utah at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He describes what he saw and felt following the attack. In February 1942, Lapham left the Tangier to attend Diesel school. He returned to sea aboard another ship.

Interview with David Braden, a member of the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He discusses his training in the U.S. to become a navigator; his deployment to Saipan with the 870th Squadron, 497th Bomb Group, 73rd Wing; initial attacks on Tokyo in a B-29 bomber at high altitude (during which the jet stream interfered with the bombing raids); a low-altitude fire-bombing mission over Tokyo in March, 1945; living conditions on base at Saipan; a mission in which the B-29 he was on ditched in the ocean and his subsequent rescue; Victory in Europe (V-E) Day on Saipan; completing 35 missions; and going home.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David Braden from Dallas, Texas. He discusses his time in the Airforce during WW2. Mr. Braden start with his time training to be a navigator before his first mission in Tokyo, Japan. David Braen describes dropping messages over Japanese cities urging Japanese people to plead for their leaders to surrender and to evacuate before the U.S. burns the cities to the ground. After the Japanese government surrendered and the war was over, Mr. Braden was flown home and kissed the ground as soon as he landed.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with David Braden from Dallas, Texas. He discusses his time in the Airforce during WW2. Mr. Braden start with his time training to be a navigator before his first mission in Tokyo, Japan. David Braen describes dropping messages over Japanese cities urging Japanese people to plead for their leaders to surrender and to evacuate before the U.S. burns the cities to the ground. After the Japanese government surrendered and the war was over, Mr. Braden was flown home and kissed the ground as soon as he landed.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earle M. Craig, Jr. Born in 1924, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps. He earned his wings in 1944 at the age of 19. He shares an anecdote about being summoned to see the Base Commander during his basic training in Sherman, Texas. After training and serving as a flight instructor, he was assigned to the 507th Fighter Group. He went overseas on a CVE in early 1945. He flew from Saipan with about 72 other planes in a single mass formation over 1,400 miles of water to Ie Shima. He describes the flying conditions and equipment. He flew combat air patrols and escorted B-24’s, Navy photographic planes, and PBYs. He talks about their instructions in the eventuality that they went down over land. He describes witnessing the atomic bomb at Nagasaki while flying over the east coast of Kyushu. He also witnessed the Japanese Delegation as they were transferred to US C-54 transports on Ie Shima en route to Manila. He provides a general discussion of various planes. He talks in more detail about outbound and return flights as well as navigation techniques, incuding the circular …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earle M. Craig, Jr. Born in 1924, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps. He earned his wings in 1944 at the age of 19. He shares an anecdote about being summoned to see the Base Commander during his basic training in Sherman, Texas. After training and serving as a flight instructor, he was assigned to the 507th Fighter Group. He went overseas on a CVE in early 1945. He flew from Saipan with about 72 other planes in a single mass formation over 1,400 miles of water to Ie Shima. He describes the flying conditions and equipment. He flew combat air patrols and escorted B-24’s, Navy photographic planes, and PBYs. He talks about their instructions in the eventuality that they went down over land. He describes witnessing the atomic bomb at Nagasaki while flying over the east coast of Kyushu. He also witnessed the Japanese Delegation as they were transferred to US C-54 transports on Ie Shima en route to Manila. He provides a general discussion of various planes. He talks in more detail about outbound and return flights as well as navigation techniques, incuding the circular …

Transcript of an oral interview with Elmer Freeman. Mr Freeman graduated from high school in 1938 and joined the Navy in 1939. He had three other brothers in the service during the war. After training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, he was assigned to Aviation Machinist Mate School in San Diego. Upon completion of that, he was sent to VP-12, a PBY squadron in San Diego for a short while then sent to Patrol Wing 4 in Seattle. He was assigned to VP-41 first and then VP-42, both PBY squadrons; he was there when the war started. On December 8, 1941, they were ordered to Tongue Point, Oregon (in the mouth of the Columbia River) and began flying anti-submarine patrols from there, flying PBY-5s. In Feb 1942, his squadron was ordered to Alaska (Sitka, Kodiak and Dutch Harbor). He was a plane captain/crew chief, flight engineer and gunner. They flew pie-shaped sector searches for around ten hours. The squadron came back to Whidbey Island in Feb 1943 for about a month and then went back to Alaska but changed over to the PVs then (PV-1 Ventura). They operated from a variety of islands in the Aleutian chain. He was …

Transcript of an oral interview with Elmer Freeman. Mr Freeman graduated from high school in 1938 and joined the Navy in 1939. He had three other brothers in the service during the war. After training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, he was assigned to Aviation Machinist Mate School in San Diego. Upon completion of that, he was sent to VP-12, a PBY squadron in San Diego for a short while then sent to Patrol Wing 4 in Seattle. He was assigned to VP-41 first and then VP-42, both PBY squadrons; he was there when the war started. On December 8, 1941, they were ordered to Tongue Point, Oregon (in the mouth of the Columbia River) and began flying anti-submarine patrols from there, flying PBY-5s. In Feb 1942, his squadron was ordered to Alaska (Sitka, Kodiak and Dutch Harbor). He was a plane captain/crew chief, flight engineer and gunner. They flew pie-shaped sector searches for around ten hours. The squadron came back to Whidbey Island in Feb 1943 for about a month and then went back to Alaska but changed over to the PVs then (PV-1 Ventura). They operated from a variety of islands in the Aleutian chain. He was …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Francis R. Ferry. Ferry grew up in Nebraska and taught for a year before joining the Navy in 1942. He had enrolled in the Civilian Pilot Training Program prior to enlisting. He trained on the N3N, the SNJ, the OS2U, the BT, the SBC3 and other types of aircraft. He was assigned to be a dive-bomber, flying the SB2C Helldiver. Ferry was initially assigned to VB-14 and left aboard the USS Wasp to the coast of Venezuela where he continued training. He was reassigned to VB-82 and left on the USS Bennington (CV-20) for Pearl Harbor. The ship joined Task Force 58.1 for Japan. He flew his first combat mission over Tokyo. He was involved with burning the beaches on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He then was involved in the attack on the Japanese ship Yamato. His air group was the lead group in on the first strike, and Ferry himself dropped rockets and bombs that may have been hits. His wife Genevieve Ferry briefly discusses what her experiences were on the homefront.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Francis R. Ferry. Ferry grew up in Nebraska and taught for a year before joining the Navy in 1942. He had enrolled in the Civilian Pilot Training Program prior to enlisting. He trained on the N3N, the SNJ, the OS2U, the BT, the SBC3 and other types of aircraft. He was assigned to be a dive-bomber, flying the SB2C Helldiver. Ferry was initially assigned to VB-14 and left aboard the USS Wasp to the coast of Venezuela where he continued training. He was reassigned to VB-82 and left on the USS Bennington (CV-20) for Pearl Harbor. The ship joined Task Force 58.1 for Japan. He flew his first combat mission over Tokyo. He was involved with burning the beaches on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He then was involved in the attack on the Japanese ship Yamato. His air group was the lead group in on the first strike, and Ferry himself dropped rockets and bombs that may have been hits. His wife Genevieve Ferry briefly discusses what her experiences were on the homefront.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frederick Chevalier. Chevalier grew up in Texas and was drafted into the Army Air Force in 1941. Once he finished training, he became an instructor. He was told he had a foot condition and offered to stay as an instructor. He turned down the offer. He boarded a tanker at San Francisco in 1944 and took it to New Guinea. From there, he went up to Biak and then Mindoro where he fly 15 missions with the Jolly Rogers. He did radar counter measures. His missions were mostly mid-level with some high enough to use oxygen. From Mindoro Chevalier moved to Luzon. He was part of the 5th Air Force, VBC, 5th Bomber Command. He describes how the teams would verify that they were jamming the signals of the Japaneses. Finally, he moved up to Okinawa. He boarded the Hobo Queen, a B-32, for the Tokyo mission.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frederick Chevalier. Chevalier grew up in Texas and was drafted into the Army Air Force in 1941. Once he finished training, he became an instructor. He was told he had a foot condition and offered to stay as an instructor. He turned down the offer. He boarded a tanker at San Francisco in 1944 and took it to New Guinea. From there, he went up to Biak and then Mindoro where he fly 15 missions with the Jolly Rogers. He did radar counter measures. His missions were mostly mid-level with some high enough to use oxygen. From Mindoro Chevalier moved to Luzon. He was part of the 5th Air Force, VBC, 5th Bomber Command. He describes how the teams would verify that they were jamming the signals of the Japaneses. Finally, he moved up to Okinawa. He boarded the Hobo Queen, a B-32, for the Tokyo mission.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Harold Buell. While attending college in Iowa, Buell took advantage of the Civilian Pilot Training program and earned a pilot's license in 1940. He volunteered for the Navy and went to flight school at Pensacola, Florida, where he earned his wings and a commission in November, 1941. He was assigned to go aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-5) as a member of Scouting Squadron 5 (VS-5) and arrived in time for the Battle of the Coral Sea. His squadron suffered enough damage to be removed from the Yorktown prior to the Battle of Midway. Buell was assigned to the USS Saratoga (CV-3) and flew search and rescue missions from her during the Battle of Midway. After that battle, Buell was transferred to yet another carrier, the USS Enterprise (CV-6), prior to the invasion of Guadalcanal. While flying off the Enterprise, Buell and ten other pilots had to land on Guadalcanal at Henderson Field. They and their dive bombers then became members of the Cactus Air Force. Buell describes the living conditions on Guadalcanal as opposed to those aboard an aircraft carrier. His group finally got off Guadalcanal and returned …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Harold Buell. While attending college in Iowa, Buell took advantage of the Civilian Pilot Training program and earned a pilot's license in 1940. He volunteered for the Navy and went to flight school at Pensacola, Florida, where he earned his wings and a commission in November, 1941. He was assigned to go aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-5) as a member of Scouting Squadron 5 (VS-5) and arrived in time for the Battle of the Coral Sea. His squadron suffered enough damage to be removed from the Yorktown prior to the Battle of Midway. Buell was assigned to the USS Saratoga (CV-3) and flew search and rescue missions from her during the Battle of Midway. After that battle, Buell was transferred to yet another carrier, the USS Enterprise (CV-6), prior to the invasion of Guadalcanal. While flying off the Enterprise, Buell and ten other pilots had to land on Guadalcanal at Henderson Field. They and their dive bombers then became members of the Cactus Air Force. Buell describes the living conditions on Guadalcanal as opposed to those aboard an aircraft carrier. His group finally got off Guadalcanal and returned …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Henry Hise. Hise grew up in Texas and enlisted in the Navy in July 1941. He later joined the Marines. He was trained in dive bombers. Hise met Joe Foss during training at San Diego. In 1942 after training, he took the Hilo to Pearl Harbor. Hise flew out to the USS Hornet. He flew day and night intensively. He deployed on the USS Long Island to Guadalcanal. He describes an encounter with Melanesian cops. Next he describes the USS Hornet almost not recognizing two friendly ships. At Guadalcanal, he was hit by a vehicle and broke his pelvis. He was moved from Guadalcanal to Espiritu Santo. While in hospital, he met many men who were dying, including men burned by tannic acid after the sinking of the USS Wasp. He was moved by Dutch ship Japarra to the USS Solace, a hospital ship. From there, he went to Auckland, New Zealand. He went back to Guadalcanal to fly once recovered and then to the United States. He was redeployed twice. He went to fly strikes on Bougainville. He next flew initial strikes into Rabaul. He was stationed …