The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Brown. Brown was studying at the University of Texas at El Paso whe nhe joined the Army Air Force in 1942. Brown discusses his flight training, which occurred throughout Texas. With training cmplete, Brown was sent to Hawaii where he continued training with the 45th Fighter Squadron, 7th Air Force. Soon his unit was shipped to Iwo Jima where they flew bomber escort for bombing missions over the home islands of Japan. Brown was shot down over Yokahama and bailed out over the Tokyo Bay, where he was resuced by the USS Pipefish (SS-388). Brown was taken to Hawaii to recover and was eventually shipped back to the US, where he was discharged in September, 1945.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz is on the summer cruise and writing from aboard the USS Hartford. He discusses visiting the shipyards at Newport News, Virginia. Nimitz expresses some surprise to see German navy ships anchored nearby and able to view the construction of American battleships so freely. He also mentions some details about being aboard and interacting with the captain.

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his father in Kerrville. Nimitz is on the summer cruise and writing from aboard the USS Hartford. He discusses visiting the shipyards at Newport News, Virginia. Nimitz expresses some surprise to see German navy ships anchored nearby and able to view the construction of American battleships so freely. He also mentions some details about being aboard and interacting with the captain. This letter is on US Naval Academy stationery.