The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank Crain. Crain left law school to join the Army Air Forces in January 1942. He was assigned to an ordnance detachment with the 3rd Air Depot Group in Agra, India, where he loaded ammunition onto trains. He was transferred to Karachi, where he made reusable practice bombs out of tin cans and sand. He applied to OCS and returned to the States in April 1943. As an Infantry officer he taught math, reading, and ordnance use. He was sent to Italy and assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 86th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. In the Apennines, his unit furnished ammunition and performed light engineering. Crain was the battalion commander’s primary troubleshooter. He was assigned to the 85th Infantry Division when the armistice went into effect in Italy. There was no resistance from Germans in the Po Valley, who pleaded with Crain to help them defend their homes from the Russians. When the war ended, he was assigned to keep the peace between political factions in Tarvisio. His last occupation duty was overseeing refugees in Milan. Crain returned home and was discharged in December 1945. He returned to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Carl DuBose. DuBose joined the Army Air Forces in June of 1942. He served as a B-17 pilot with the 427th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group. He deployed to England, and flew 36 combat missions over Germany, attacking airfields, submarine yards and railroads. DuBose returned to the US in October of 1944. He was assigned to Roswell, New Mexico, flying B-29s. He was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Hobbs. Hobbs joined the Army in the spring of 1943. He served with the 35th Infantry Division, and deployed to England in May of 1944. His job was to drive a machine gun Jeep. Hobbs participated in the invasion of Normandy, the Battle of Saint-Lô and the Battle of the Bulge. He returned to the US and was discharged in August of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Sidney Key. Key joined the Marine Corps in July of 1942. He completed Officer Candidate School and LVT School. Key was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion. In May of 1943, he deployed and participated in in the assaults on Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian. He operated the landing vehicles and provided combat support in operations ashore. Key was discharged in late 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 interview with Orby Ledbetter. Ledbetter joined the Texas Army National Guard in 1937 as a soldier in the Texas 36th Infantry Division, 142nd Infantry Regiment. He provides details of serving in the Texas Guard and remaining with the 36th ID throughout the war. He describes his experiences completing basic training through numerous camps and traveling overseas aboard the SS Argentina. Beginning in April of 1943 Orby served in the North African Campaign and also landed at Salerno, Italy. He was captured by the German Army in September of 1943 and remained a prisoner of war at Stalag VII-A in Moosburg, Germany until April of 1945. Ledbetter provides vivid details of these experiences. He was discharged in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Arquette. Arquette joined the Navy in February of 1942. He completed flight training, and was assigned to a fighter squadron. Beginning November of 1942, he served as a pilot aboard USS Lexington (CV-16). He participated in raids on Wake Island and the Gilbert Islands. He later transferred to USS Randolph (CV-15), participating in the Okinawa invasion. He returned to the US and was discharged in October of 1945. Arquette continued his service and retired in 1963.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Drachnik. Drachnik graduated from the Naval Academy in June of 1942. He served aboard USS Betelgeuse (AKA-11), transporting cargo and troops for the invasion of Guadalcanal. They made several resupply and reinforcement voyages to Guadalcanal and Tulagi in support of the campaign, and returned to the US in January of 1943. Beginning October of 1943 through October of 1945, Drachnik served as Executive Officer aboard USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692), completing patrol duty during the battles of Leyte and Luzon. He completed 30 years of service, retiring in 1972.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dwight Dehaven. Dehaven joined the Navy in 1939 and served aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-5) in the boiler room. Dehaven recalls being shaken by a bomb and by explosions from the USS Lexington (CV-2) nearby in the Battle of the Coral Sea. In the Battle of Midway, bombs and a torpedo caused fire and flooding. Dehaven witnessed the gruesome death of a sailor jumping ship and saw a pilot trapped underneath an overturned plane. After abandoning ship, Dehaven was rescued by the USS Henley (DD-391), which was subsequently hit by a torpedo. He abandoned that ship amidst the explosions of depth charges and was then rescued by the USS Balch (DD-363). He was assigned to help repair the USS California (BB-44) and was then transferred to the USS England (DE-635) as a chief machinist’s mate. Dehaven describes the complementary skillsets and personalities of Captain Williamson and Commander Pendleton, and how that contributed to the England’s unparalleled success in anti-submarine warfare. Dehaven was discharged in November 1945. He returned to the England for its decommissioning ceremony, remembering his friends who were trapped and burned in the Yorktown after it …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Nelson Granzella. Granzella joined the Navy and served aboard the USS Omaha (CL-4), based in the French Riviera. He traveled to Italy, North Africa, Turkey, and Greece during the Spanish Civil War. After the invasion of Poland, he stayed in Portugal for a few months and was then reassigned to the USS Wapello (YN-56). After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was tasked with removing oil from the surface of waterways. He was then assigned to the USS Dash (AM-88), sweeping mines around Tulagi. He was transferred to the USS England (DE-635) as chief quartermaster, tracking the stars and relaying information to the navigator. Granzella also helped sink several Japanese submarines near Papua New Guinea. He would plot the submarines’ movements based on information given to him by sonar operators and then relay the information to the bridge. After the war, Granzella became a specialist in photo intelligence based in Washington, D.C.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joe Van Dyke. Van Dyke was drafted into the Army Air Forces in March 1943. Upon completion of basic training at Sheppard Field, he was assigned to the nearby aircraft mechanic school. He then attended gunnery school and became a top turret gunner on a B-24, also doubling as assistant engineer. In August 1944 his crew joined the 466th Bombardment Group, 787th Bombardment Squadron in England. While stationed there, Van Dyke survived V-1 and V-2 rocket attacks. His initial missions involved transporting fuel to France. Moving onto strategic bombing operations, he flew 32 missions, mostly over Germany. He also provided ground support over France and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. In all of his missions, he never once had to fire his gun. After Germany surrendered, Van Dyke was reassigned to B-29s and trained for the Pacific. He had accumulated enough points, however and was discharged in July 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ramon Villa. Villa joined the Army in April of 1941. He served with the 200th Coast Artillery. In September, he deployed to the Philippines, and was assigned at Clark Field. After the Japanese landed on Luzon, Villa helped defend Bataan and Corregidor, surrendering to the Japanese in April of 1942. He was captured and held a prisoner of war at Camp O’Donnell, Cabanatuan Camp #3, Las Piñas Camp #4, and in Japan. In 1944, he survived transport aboard the Haro Maru to Taiwan, to work as slave labor on a sugar plantation. He was liberated after the war ended, and returned to the US in October of 1945, receiving an honorable discharge in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Woolson. Woolson joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1942. He provides details of his flight training. Beginning in August of 1943 he served as a B-24 co-pilot. He went overseas in October of 1943. He traveled to Iceland, Scotland, Morocco, Italy, France and Austria. He joined the 513th Squadron, 376th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force. Woolson completed 35 combat missions during World War II, including 2 missions on D-Day. After the war Woolson continued his service as a photomapping officer in the Philippines, a tactical teaching officer at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, and as a T-33 flight instructor and base civil engineer at Foster Field in Victoria, Texas. He retired from the Air Force in 1962 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dwight Pendleberry. Pendleberry joined the Army with his brother prior to the outbreak of war with Japan. After training as an ordnance man in the artillery, Pendleberry's company was sent to the Philippines in September, 1941. Pendleberry describes the Japanese attack on the Philippines and the subsequent fall of Bataan. He escaped to Corregidor with a few other people only to be captured there one month later. After being taken to Manila, Pendleberry was sent to Cabanatuan. By that time, he had contracted malaria. From there, he was selected to be on a work detail loading and unloading Japanese ships in Manila. Pendleberry also describes executions, genral mistreatment and outright torture at the hands of the Japanese captors. Eventually, Pendleberry and many other POWs were shipped aboard the Noto Maru to Taiwan, then Japan. Pendleberry wound up at Omori prison camp in Tokyo Bay. He describes the low-level fire bombing mission over Tokyo, which took place one night in March, 1945. After that, Pendleberry was moved to northern Japan to work at a coal mine. After the war, Pendleberry was liberated and repatriated back to the US through …

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.

Transcript of a presentation by Forrest Biard. Biard grew up in Texas and attended the Naval Academy, graduating in 1934. Biard learned Japanese in Japan from 1939 to 1941. The training was rigorous. He describes interactions with the local women. Biard also traveled in Japan. He describes how sentiment gradually changed in Japan after the Japanese Army invaded China. He also describes how more and more Germans started traveling to Japan. Biard relates that the U.S. was warned that Japan would attack Pearl Harbor by the Peruvian ambassador but ignored it. He also mentions meeting Richard Sorge. He also talks about being followed everywhere by two plainclothes police officers, who at one point even searched his bags. He arrived in Pearl Harbor shortly before it was bombed. Biard was immediately assigned to be a cryptologist to break Japanese code under Commander Joe Rochefort, without any instruction. He describes working on breaking JN-25. He also identifies the 3 code-breaking sites as Washington DC, Corregidor, and Pearl Harbor. He describes in detail how many warnings and mistakes happened prior to Pearl Harbor. He was also on the USS Yorktown and describes difficulties when trying to warn Admiral Fletcher about an attack. Next, …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Woolson. Woolson joined the Army Air Forces in February of 1942. He provides details of his flight training. Beginning in August of 1943 he served as a B-24 co-pilot. He went overseas in October of 1943. He traveled to Iceland, Scotland, Morocco, Italy, France and Austria. He joined the 513th Squadron, 376th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force. Woolson completed 35 combat missions during World War II, including 2 missions on D-Day. After the war Woolson continued his service as a photomapping officer in the Philippines, a tactical teaching officer at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, and as a T-33 flight instructor and base civil engineer at Foster Field in Victoria, Texas. He retired from the Air Force in 1962 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank Crain. Crain left law school to join the Army Air Forces in January 1942. He was assigned to an ordnance detachment with the 3rd Air Depot Group in Agra, India, where he loaded ammunition onto trains. He was transferred to Karachi, where he made reusable practice bombs out of tin cans and sand. He applied to OCS and returned to the States in April 1943. As an Infantry officer he taught math, reading, and ordnance use. He was sent to Italy and assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 86th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. In the Apennines, his unit furnished ammunition and performed light engineering. Crain was the battalion commander’s primary troubleshooter. He was assigned to the 85th Infantry Division when the armistice went into effect in Italy. There was no resistance from Germans in the Po Valley, who pleaded with Crain to help them defend their homes from the Russians. When the war ended, he was assigned to keep the peace between political factions in Tarvisio. His last occupation duty was overseeing refugees in Milan. Crain returned home and was discharged in December 1945. He returned to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Carl DuBose. DuBose joined the Army Air Forces in June of 1942. He served as a B-17 pilot with the 427th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group. He deployed to England, and flew 36 combat missions over Germany, attacking airfields, submarine yards and railroads. DuBose returned to the US in October of 1944. He was assigned to Roswell, New Mexico, flying B-29s. He was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Hobbs. Hobbs joined the Army in the spring of 1943. He served with the 35th Infantry Division, and deployed to England in May of 1944. His job was to drive a machine gun Jeep. Hobbs participated in the invasion of Normandy, the Battle of Saint-Lô and the Battle of the Bulge. He returned to the US and was discharged in August of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Sidney Key. Key joined the Marine Corps in July of 1942. He completed Officer Candidate School and LVT School. Key was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion. In May of 1943, he deployed and participated in in the assaults on Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian. He operated the landing vehicles and provided combat support in operations ashore. Key was discharged in late 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 interview with Orby Ledbetter. Ledbetter joined the Texas Army National Guard in 1937 as a soldier in the Texas 36th Infantry Division, 142nd Infantry Regiment. He provides details of serving in the Texas Guard and remaining with the 36th ID throughout the war. He describes his experiences completing basic training through numerous camps and traveling overseas aboard the SS Argentina. Beginning in April of 1943 Orby served in the North African Campaign and also landed at Salerno, Italy. He was captured by the German Army in September of 1943 and remained a prisoner of war at Stalag VII-A in Moosburg, Germany until April of 1945. Ledbetter provides vivid details of these experiences. He was discharged in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Joe Van Dyke. Van Dyke was drafted into the Army Air Forces in March 1943. Upon completion of basic training at Sheppard Field, he was assigned to the nearby aircraft mechanic school. He then attended gunnery school and became a top turret gunner on a B-24, also doubling as assistant engineer. In August 1944 his crew joined the 466th Bombardment Group, 787th Bombardment Squadron in England. While stationed there, Van Dyke survived V-1 and V-2 rocket attacks. His initial missions involved transporting fuel to France. Moving onto strategic bombing operations, he flew 32 missions, mostly over Germany. He also provided ground support over France and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. In all of his missions, he never once had to fire his gun. After Germany surrendered, Van Dyke was reassigned to B-29s and trained for the Pacific. He had accumulated enough points, however and was discharged in July 1945.