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 Robert Barg. Barg was born on 20 November 1918 in San Benito, Texas and graduated from high school in 1936. After hearing the Army Air Corps had an excellent school for aircraft maintenance, he joined the Army Air Corps on 20 June 1940 at Chanute Field, Illinois. After completing aircraft maintenance training, he was made an instructor. Barg served as an instructor for several years before he applied for and was accepted to Officer Candidate School at Boca Raton, Florida. He was then sent to Yale University for training as a Maintenance Engineering Officer. Upon completing the course in July 1943, he was commissioned. Barg then reported to the Boeing Aircraft plant in Seattle for additional training. He was then sent to the Pratt, Kansas Air Base where he received more training. The crew then went to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and picked up their B-29 and flew to Chakulia, India where they were assigned to the 20th Air Force, 58th Bomb Wing, 40th Bomb Group, 44th Bomb Squadron. The unit was based there for a year, during which they flew gasoline and other supplies into China as well …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Barg. Barg was born on 20 November 1918 in San Benito, Texas and graduated from high school in 1936. After hearing the Army Air Corps had an excellent school for aircraft maintenance, he joined the Army Air Corps on 20 June 1940 at Chanute Field, Illinois. After completing aircraft maintenance training, he was made an instructor. Barg served as an instructor for several years before he applied for and was accepted to Officer Candidate School at Boca Raton, Florida. He was then sent to Yale University for training as a Maintenance Engineering Officer. Upon completing the course in July 1943, he was commissioned. Barg then reported to the Boeing Aircraft plant in Seattle for additional training. He was then sent to the Pratt, Kansas Air Base where he received more training. The crew then went to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and picked up their B-29 and flew to Chakulia, India where they were assigned to the 20th Air Force, 58th Bomb Wing, 40th Bomb Group, 44th Bomb Squadron. The unit was based there for a year, during which they flew gasoline and other supplies into China as well …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Benzinger. Benzinger joined the Navy in June of 1944. He completed Radio School. He was stationed as a Radio Technician at the Navy Pier in Chicago and worked with all Navy communications equipment. He graduated from Navy Pier just as the war ended and continued on with his service. He worked in a receiving station on Leyte Gulf in the Philippine from September of 1945 through May of 1946. He was discharged in June of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Benzinger. Benzinger joined the Navy in June of 1944. He completed Radio School. He was stationed as a Radio Technician at the Navy Pier in Chicago and worked with all Navy communications equipment. He graduated from Navy Pier just as the war ended and continued on with his service. He worked in a receiving station on Leyte Gulf in the Philippine from September of 1945 through May of 1946. He was discharged in June of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral history with Ralph Bissett. Bissett grew up in California and joined the Navy at 18 in 1943. He trained at Farragut, Idaho. He was assigned aboard the USS Cahaba (AO-82) as a gunner’s mate striker just before the ship headed for duty in the Pacific. Bissett describes the mechanics of refueling ships at sea. He also shares a few anecdotes of his time aboard the Cahaba.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral history with Ralph Bissett. Bissett grew up in California and joined the Navy at 18 in 1943. He trained at Farragut, Idaho. He was assigned aboard the USS Cahaba (AO-82) as a gunner’s mate striker just before the ship headed for duty in the Pacific. Bissett describes the mechanics of refueling ships at sea. He also shares a few anecdotes of his time aboard the Cahaba.

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 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 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 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 interview with Richard E. Byler. Byler joined the Navy on March 12, 1943. He completed radio operator training at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and became proficient in Morse Code. In 1943, he deployed to Hawaii. In February of 1944, he was transferred to Kwajalein and worked at Navy Base 824. He was on board a transport ship during the Battle of Kwajalein. Once the fighting ceased, he worked as a Radioman Second-Class on the island, translating Morse Code. He continued his service through the end of the war, and shares details of his work and life on the island. Byler returned to the U.S. and received his discharge in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard E. Byler. Byler joined the Navy on March 12, 1943. He completed radio operator training at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and became proficient in Morse Code. In 1943, he deployed to Hawaii. In February of 1944, he was transferred to Kwajalein and worked at Navy Base 824. He was on board a transport ship during the Battle of Kwajalein. Once the fighting ceased, he worked as a Radioman Second-Class on the island, translating Morse Code. He continued his service through the end of the war, and shares details of his work and life on the island. Byler returned to the U.S. and received his discharge in February of 1946.