The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald Andrew Alfred. Alfred was born on 28 July 1925, graduated high school in 1942, and joined the Army Air Forces in 1943 at the age of seventeen. He served as a navigator with the 40th Bomb Squadron, 6th Bomb Group, 313th Bombardment Wing, 20th Air Force, aboard the B-29, called Dearly Beloved. In late 1944, they were stationed on Tinian and flew 27 missions over Japan, including Iwo Jima and Tokyo. After the war ended, they dropped supplies to American troops in Japan. Alfred returned to the US and received his discharge on 4 January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Donald Andrew Alfred. Alfred was born on 28 July 1925, graduated high school in 1942, and joined the Army Air Forces in 1943 at the age of seventeen. He served as a navigator with the 40th Bomb Squadron, 6th Bomb Group, 313th Bombardment Wing, 20th Air Force, aboard the B-29, called Dearly Beloved. In late 1944, they were stationed on Tinian and flew 27 missions over Japan, including Iwo Jima and Tokyo. After the war ended, they dropped supplies to American troops in Japan. Alfred returned to the US and received his discharge on 4 January 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Morton Averack. Averack joined the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) at the age of 16, having been recruited from his high school, the School of Aviation in New York, where he had already acquired drafting skills. He and a Japanese-American teenager worked together to map the city of Mukden. The last map of the city had been made in 1933, and the OSS was tasked with updating it as part of its efforts to know the whereabouts of General Wainwright. Averack and his partner worked 17-hour days, sleeping in cots beside their shared drafting board. They were granted a 24-hour leave only once every few weeks. Averack requested aerial photographs of certain areas, and after examining photographs under a stereoscope he would make additions to the map. The work was painstaking and exacting, and mistakes had to be bleached out after being drawn in India ink. After a year-and-a-half, the prisoner-of-war camp was finally located, and Wainwright was rescued. Averack’s work complete, he was discharged in late 1945. Despite never being granted the benefits of the GI Bill, he earned a degree in engineering and enjoyed a varied …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Morton Averack. Averack joined the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) at the age of 16, having been recruited from his high school, the School of Aviation in New York, where he had already acquired drafting skills. He and a Japanese-American teenager worked together to map the city of Mukden. The last map of the city had been made in 1933, and the OSS was tasked with updating it as part of its efforts to know the whereabouts of General Wainwright. Averack and his partner worked 17-hour days, sleeping in cots beside their shared drafting board. They were granted a 24-hour leave only once every few weeks. Averack requested aerial photographs of certain areas, and after examining photographs under a stereoscope he would make additions to the map. The work was painstaking and exacting, and mistakes had to be bleached out after being drawn in India ink. After a year-and-a-half, the prisoner-of-war camp was finally located, and Wainwright was rescued. Averack’s work complete, he was discharged in late 1945. Despite never being granted the benefits of the GI Bill, he earned a degree in engineering and enjoyed a varied …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rural Boyd. Boyd joined the Navy in February 1942 and received basic training in San Diego. He attended aviation machinist school in Chicago. Upon completion, he was assigned to Corpus Christi and then United States. Navy. Carrier Air Service Unit 1 (CASU-1), where he took care of PB4Ys as they came in for landings. He went aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6) in January 1944 and worked in the pump room on the seventh deck down. He recalls feeling the walls vibrate when the Enterprise’s guns were firing on Kwajalein. Whenever a group of islands was secured, one would be set aside for R&R, and at Ulithi Boyd enjoyed a week on Mog Mog. He witnessed a gruesome kamikaze attack at Okinawa, and he recalls that the water used to put out the fire drowned the crew in the elevator pump room. He explains how the Marianas Turkey Shoot got its name: after pinpointing where and when the waves of Japanese planes were refueling, it was easy to shoot them on the ground or just as they were taking off. Boyd left the Enterprise the day Nagasaki was bombed. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rural Boyd. Boyd joined the Navy in February 1942 and received basic training in San Diego. He attended aviation machinist school in Chicago. Upon completion, he was assigned to Corpus Christi and then United States. Navy. Carrier Air Service Unit 1 (CASU-1), where he took care of PB4Ys as they came in for landings. He went aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6) in January 1944 and worked in the pump room on the seventh deck down. He recalls feeling the walls vibrate when the Enterprise’s guns were firing on Kwajalein. Whenever a group of islands was secured, one would be set aside for R&R, and at Ulithi Boyd enjoyed a week on Mog Mog. He witnessed a gruesome kamikaze attack at Okinawa, and he recalls that the water used to put out the fire drowned the crew in the elevator pump room. He explains how the Marianas Turkey Shoot got its name: after pinpointing where and when the waves of Japanese planes were refueling, it was easy to shoot them on the ground or just as they were taking off. Boyd left the Enterprise the day Nagasaki was bombed. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Brecount. Brecount joined the Navy in June 1943 just after beginning his studies at the University of Washington. After attending boot camp at Farragut, he was sent for basic radio training. He advanced to aviation radio technician training and was selected for a top-secret mission to introduce radar-jamming equipment to aircraft aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6). In addition to installing and maintaining the equipment, Brecount flew on a half-dozen combat missions with Night Torpedo Squadron 90, during which time he located the frequency of enemy radar-detection devices and scrambled their readings by emitting noise along those bands. After the war, Brecount returned home and enjoyed a lengthy career as a radio and computer technician.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Brecount. Brecount joined the Navy in June 1943 just after beginning his studies at the University of Washington. After attending boot camp at Farragut, he was sent for basic radio training. He advanced to aviation radio technician training and was selected for a top-secret mission to introduce radar-jamming equipment to aircraft aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6). In addition to installing and maintaining the equipment, Brecount flew on a half-dozen combat missions with Night Torpedo Squadron 90, during which time he located the frequency of enemy radar-detection devices and scrambled their readings by emitting noise along those bands. After the war, Brecount returned home and enjoyed a lengthy career as a radio and computer technician.

Transcript of an oral interview with Arthur Brown. Brown enlisted in the Navy in 1942, and after a brief training period at San Diego, he went to Pearl Harbor where he was assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-6). The Enterprise then headed for the Solomon Islands. Brown worked aboard the Enterprise as a shipfitter in the damage control section. He describes the Enterprise in a typhoon. Brown shares several anecdotes about his 28 months spent aboard the Enterprise. When the war ended, Brown got discharged and headed back to Iowa.

Transcript of an oral interview with Arthur Brown. Brown enlisted in the Navy in 1942, and after a brief training period at San Diego, he went to Pearl Harbor where he was assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-6). The Enterprise then headed for the Solomon Islands. Brown worked aboard the Enterprise as a shipfitter in the damage control section. He describes the Enterprise in a typhoon. Brown shares several anecdotes about his 28 months spent aboard the Enterprise. When the war ended, Brown got discharged and headed back to Iowa.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harvey Brush. Brush graduated from Penn State in 1942 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He was inducted into the Navy in August of 1943 as an Ensign. He attended radar school at MIT, and then was assigned to the Clinton Naval Air Station in Oklahoma, assisting in developing drones. In late 1944 he was assigned to the Hawaiian Islands. He received orders to join a destroyer escort division. He served as staff radar officer aboard the USS Goss (DE-444). He traveled to Saipan, and then was assigned to work in the CIC with radar equipment. They traveled to Iwo Jima and Okinawa to protect carriers. He traveled into Tokyo and Yokahama by electric train and provides details of what the landscape looked like after bombing. He was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harvey Brush. Brush graduated from Penn State in 1942 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He was inducted into the Navy in August of 1943 as an Ensign. He attended radar school at MIT, and then was assigned to the Clinton Naval Air Station in Oklahoma, assisting in developing drones. In late 1944 he was assigned to the Hawaiian Islands. He received orders to join a destroyer escort division. He served as staff radar officer aboard the USS Goss (DE-444). He traveled to Saipan, and then was assigned to work in the CIC with radar equipment. They traveled to Iwo Jima and Okinawa to protect carriers. He traveled into Tokyo and Yokahama by electric train and provides details of what the landscape looked like after bombing. He was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Granville Coggs. Coggs joined the Army Air Forces in the fall of 1943. He trained at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and at Tyndall Field in Florida, serving as a pilot and one of the original Tuskegee Airmen. Coggs was commissioned on 16 October 1945 as a second lieutenant bombardier pilot. He served as an aerial gunner, aerial bombardier, multi-engine pilot and B-25 pilot trainee who was scheduled for the 477th Bombardment Group, though never made it to combat, as the war ended in 1945 before he finished training. Coggs was discharged in the fall of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Granville Coggs. Coggs joined the Army Air Forces in the fall of 1943. He trained at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and at Tyndall Field in Florida, serving as a pilot and one of the original Tuskegee Airmen. Coggs was commissioned on 16 October 1945 as a second lieutenant bombardier pilot. He served as an aerial gunner, aerial bombardier, multi-engine pilot and B-25 pilot trainee who was scheduled for the 477th Bombardment Group, though never made it to combat, as the war ended in 1945 before he finished training. Coggs was discharged in the fall of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert L Cook. Cook was accepted into the Naval ROTC program at Rice University. Upon his graduation with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in April of 1943, Cook was commissioned into the Navy as an ensign. He became active in major ship repairs, and assigned to Mare Island, California, Pearl Harbor and Guam. In 1944, Cook helped outfit USS Baltimore (CA-68) to accommodate President Franklin Roosevelt in his travels to Pearl Harbor and Alaska. He was discharged in June of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert L Cook. Cook was accepted into the Naval ROTC program at Rice University. Upon his graduation with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in April of 1943, Cook was commissioned into the Navy as an ensign. He became active in major ship repairs, and assigned to Mare Island, California, Pearl Harbor and Guam. In 1944, Cook helped outfit USS Baltimore (CA-68) to accommodate President Franklin Roosevelt in his travels to Pearl Harbor and Alaska. He was discharged in June of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Crawford. Crawford’s daughter Pam Dell assists with the interview. Crawford joined the Army in 1937. He completed basic training in California and Hawaii. In Hawaii he spent his first year at Schofield Barracks with the 35th Infantry Division. His first enlistment was up in 1940 and then he re-enlisted in Hawaii and went into the Coast Artillery in Honolulu at Fort DeRussy. After December 7, 1941 Crawford was a sergeant and went to Hickam Field to assess damage of the ships, airplanes and hangars. He and his daughter give a description of what he witnessed after the bombing. He later assisted with manning the telephones, intercepting radio messages from the Japanese. He then moved to the Field Artillery working in the motor pool. He was discharged in 1945 while in Hawaii, and remained there to open and operate a business. He went on to open a WWII Veteran’s Club in South Carolina for 40 years and after that he was the national commander of the American Veterans of WWII.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Crawford. Crawford’s daughter Pam Dell assists with the interview. Crawford joined the Army in 1937. He completed basic training in California and Hawaii. In Hawaii he spent his first year at Schofield Barracks with the 35th Infantry Division. His first enlistment was up in 1940 and then he re-enlisted in Hawaii and went into the Coast Artillery in Honolulu at Fort DeRussy. After December 7, 1941 Crawford was a sergeant and went to Hickam Field to assess damage of the ships, airplanes and hangars. He and his daughter give a description of what he witnessed after the bombing. He later assisted with manning the telephones, intercepting radio messages from the Japanese. He then moved to the Field Artillery working in the motor pool. He was discharged in 1945 while in Hawaii, and remained there to open and operate a business. He went on to open a WWII Veteran’s Club in South Carolina for 40 years and after that he was the national commander of the American Veterans of WWII.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William DeFrates. DeFrates entered the Navy in May, 1943 with his parent's consent. He went to boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, as well as signal school. He was ultimately placed in the amphibious force after training at Norfolk, Virginia. DeFrates was assigned to the 7th Naval Beach Battalion. DeFrates describes training in LCVPs (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel). DeFrates recalls several anecdotes from his training days and riding the troop ship to England, where he arrived in January, 1944. He also discusses training in England prior to the Normandy invasion. DeFrates describes going across the English Channel aboard an LST en route to the Normandy beachhead for the D-Day invasion. He discusses going over the side of an LST (Landing Ship, Tank) into an LCVP and heading for the beach. DeFrates was in the seventh or eight wave and landed close to noon on 6 June 1944 at Omaha Beach. His group immediately began setting up signal stations on the beach to communicate with incoming ships. DeFrates and crew signalled incoming ships until August at Normandy before being relieved and returned to England and then the US. He …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William DeFrates. DeFrates entered the Navy in May, 1943 with his parent's consent. He went to boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, as well as signal school. He was ultimately placed in the amphibious force after training at Norfolk, Virginia. DeFrates was assigned to the 7th Naval Beach Battalion. DeFrates describes training in LCVPs (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel). DeFrates recalls several anecdotes from his training days and riding the troop ship to England, where he arrived in January, 1944. He also discusses training in England prior to the Normandy invasion. DeFrates describes going across the English Channel aboard an LST en route to the Normandy beachhead for the D-Day invasion. He discusses going over the side of an LST (Landing Ship, Tank) into an LCVP and heading for the beach. DeFrates was in the seventh or eight wave and landed close to noon on 6 June 1944 at Omaha Beach. His group immediately began setting up signal stations on the beach to communicate with incoming ships. DeFrates and crew signalled incoming ships until August at Normandy before being relieved and returned to England and then the US. He …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Dykstra. Dykstra joined the Navy in January of 1943, at the age of seventeen. He served as a Radarman aboard USS Lunga Point (CVE-94), and saw combat in the Pacific at Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the Philippines. In August of 1945, their ship conducted minesweeping operations west of Okinawa. Dykstra returned to the US in November of 1945 and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Dykstra. Dykstra joined the Navy in January of 1943, at the age of seventeen. He served as a Radarman aboard USS Lunga Point (CVE-94), and saw combat in the Pacific at Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the Philippines. In August of 1945, their ship conducted minesweeping operations west of Okinawa. Dykstra returned to the US in November of 1945 and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Doyle Ebel. Ebel was drafted into the Army Air Forces in March, 1943 and trained at Miami Beach before going to radio operator school in Missouri. He also attended gunnery school before becoming a crewmember on a B-24 and shipping overseas in July 1944. He was assigned to the 26th Bomb Squadron, 11th Bomb Group at Saipan in October. Ebel recalls an emergency landing on Iwo Jima. He flew 37 combat missions before the war ended and returned to the US in November, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Doyle Ebel. Ebel was drafted into the Army Air Forces in March, 1943 and trained at Miami Beach before going to radio operator school in Missouri. He also attended gunnery school before becoming a crewmember on a B-24 and shipping overseas in July 1944. He was assigned to the 26th Bomb Squadron, 11th Bomb Group at Saipan in October. Ebel recalls an emergency landing on Iwo Jima. He flew 37 combat missions before the war ended and returned to the US in November, 1945.