Transcript of an oral interview with John P. "J.P." Boswell. When Boswell finished high school in 1942, he went to work in a machine shop to help pay for college. He went to Notre Dame, where he joined the US Marine Corps in June, 1943. Boswell describes riding the train from his home to Parris Island, the drill instructors there and the training regimen. When he finished boot camp, Boswell was assigned to Drill Instructor School. Before long, Boswell went to Sea School and reported shortly thereafter to the USS Bennington (CV-20) at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. He served as an anti-aircraft gunner aboard the ship. Boswell shares many anecdotes about life aboard ship: going through the Panama Canal, liberty on Mog Mog, the harbor at Ulithi, etc. Eventually, Boswell was assigned to shore duty. He rode a breeches bouy to a destroyer and then was delivered to Guam. There, he was assigned to the unit of Marines that served as Admiral Nimitz's bodyguards. Boswell was with Admiral Nimitz aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63) for the Japanese surrender.

Transcript of an oral interview with John P. "J.P." Boswell. When Boswell finished high school in 1942, he went to work in a machine shop to help pay for college. He went to Notre Dame, where he joined the US Marine Corps in June, 1943. Boswell describes riding the train from his home to Parris Island, the drill instructors there and the training regimen. When he finished boot camp, Boswell was assigned to Drill Instructor School. Before long, Boswell went to Sea School and reported shortly thereafter to the USS Bennington (CV-20) at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. He served as an anti-aircraft gunner aboard the ship. Boswell shares many anecdotes about life aboard ship: going through the Panama Canal, liberty on Mog Mog, the harbor at Ulithi, etc. Eventually, Boswell was assigned to shore duty. He rode a breeches bouy to a destroyer and then was delivered to Guam. There, he was assigned to the unit of Marines that served as Admiral Nimitz's bodyguards. Boswell was with Admiral Nimitz aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63) for the Japanese surrender.

Transcript of an oral interview with Ernest S. Clifford. Clifford enlisted in the Army Air Force in late 1942. For training, he went to Miami, South Dakota and Virginia. There, he was attached to the 45th Infantry Division to facilitate radio communications between the Air Force and the infantry. They sailed for North Africa to train for the invasion of Sicily. Clifford describes his experience on Sicily and was evacuated with several hundred Italian POWs back to North Africa, where he was reassigned to a photo reconnaissance company based in southern Italy. His job was to send coded messages from the photo lab to th eair bases where bomb groups would decide which targets to hit. When the war in Europe ended, Clifford went home on leave and was there when the war in the Pacific ended. He was discharged in September, 1945.

Transcript of an oral interview with Ernest S. Clifford. Clifford enlisted in the Army Air Force in late 1942. For training, he went to Miami, South Dakota and Virginia. There, he was attached to the 45th Infantry Division to facilitate radio communications between the Air Force and the infantry. They sailed for North Africa to train for the invasion of Sicily. Clifford describes his experience on Sicily and was evacuated with several hundred Italian POWs back to North Africa, where he was reassigned to a photo reconnaissance company based in southern Italy. His job was to send coded messages from the photo lab to th eair bases where bomb groups would decide which targets to hit. When the war in Europe ended, Clifford went home on leave and was there when the war in the Pacific ended. He was discharged in September, 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jim Davenport. Davenport was born 3 March 1925 in San Antonio, Texas. Graduating from high school in 1942, he joined the US Army Air Forces in September 1943 and received his basic training at Amarillo, Texas. After basic training he was sent to Iowa State Teacher College for three months to improve his skills in mathematics and sciences in preparation for entry into the Cadet program. Upon completion of pre-flight training at Santa Anna, California he elected to enter navigator school at Ellington Field in Baytown, Texas. Upon graduation he was sent to Lincoln, Nebraska and assigned to a B-24 crew as navigator. Davenport went to Mountain Home, Idaho for crew training and described observing a devastating crash of a B-24. Soon thereafter, he volunteered for an experimental pilot’s class and was selected to be sent to Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas for fighter plane training and advanced P-51 training at Williams Field, Arizona. Upon completion of P-51 training he was assigned to the 307th Fighter Squadron stationed at Turner Field, Albany, Georgia. He describes in detail a near fatal incident which occurred while practicing aerobatics. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jim Davenport. Davenport was born 3 March 1925 in San Antonio, Texas. Graduating from high school in 1942, he joined the US Army Air Forces in September 1943 and received his basic training at Amarillo, Texas. After basic training he was sent to Iowa State Teacher College for three months to improve his skills in mathematics and sciences in preparation for entry into the Cadet program. Upon completion of pre-flight training at Santa Anna, California he elected to enter navigator school at Ellington Field in Baytown, Texas. Upon graduation he was sent to Lincoln, Nebraska and assigned to a B-24 crew as navigator. Davenport went to Mountain Home, Idaho for crew training and described observing a devastating crash of a B-24. Soon thereafter, he volunteered for an experimental pilot’s class and was selected to be sent to Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas for fighter plane training and advanced P-51 training at Williams Field, Arizona. Upon completion of P-51 training he was assigned to the 307th Fighter Squadron stationed at Turner Field, Albany, Georgia. He describes in detail a near fatal incident which occurred while practicing aerobatics. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eugene (Curt) Dillon. Dillon was born 19 October 1924 in Wayne Township, Tennessee. He graduated from high school in 1942 and joined the US Navy. Following boot camp at the Great Lakes Training Station he was assigned to study meteorology. Upon completion of his training he was assigned to the USS Bennington (CV-20) prior to the ships commissioning in August 1944. He volunteered to fly on weather reconnaissance planes to collect weather information prior to air strikes being launched. He describes kamikaze attacks during the invasion of Okinawa and of participating in the weather forecasting procedure prior to the launching of planes involved in the attack and sinking of HIJMS Yamato.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eugene (Curt) Dillon. Dillon was born 19 October 1924 in Wayne Township, Tennessee. He graduated from high school in 1942 and joined the US Navy. Following boot camp at the Great Lakes Training Station he was assigned to study meteorology. Upon completion of his training he was assigned to the USS Bennington (CV-20) prior to the ships commissioning in August 1944. He volunteered to fly on weather reconnaissance planes to collect weather information prior to air strikes being launched. He describes kamikaze attacks during the invasion of Okinawa and of participating in the weather forecasting procedure prior to the launching of planes involved in the attack and sinking of HIJMS Yamato.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Graef. Graef joined the Marine Corps in 1942 and was called to active duty in July 1943. He received basic training in San Diego and was served as an MP attached to various divisions. He landed at Saipan in the third wave, wading ashore under enemy fire, the sharp coral cutting his boots away. He later sustained a concussion during a kamikaze attack, and much of his memory as to the details of his service were clouded as a result. He recalls detaining an Army general who disobeyed orders to advance. At Okinawa, he witnessed the mass suicide of natives. After serving in China with the 3rd Marine Regiment, Graef returned home and was discharged in January 1946. When he visited his best friend's parents to tell them that their son had been killed in action, they were overcome with grief and lashed out in anger. Graef himself was traumatized by the war and experienced lasting PTSD.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Graef. Graef joined the Marine Corps in 1942 and was called to active duty in July 1943. He received basic training in San Diego and was served as an MP attached to various divisions. He landed at Saipan in the third wave, wading ashore under enemy fire, the sharp coral cutting his boots away. He later sustained a concussion during a kamikaze attack, and much of his memory as to the details of his service were clouded as a result. He recalls detaining an Army general who disobeyed orders to advance. At Okinawa, he witnessed the mass suicide of natives. After serving in China with the 3rd Marine Regiment, Graef returned home and was discharged in January 1946. When he visited his best friend's parents to tell them that their son had been killed in action, they were overcome with grief and lashed out in anger. Graef himself was traumatized by the war and experienced lasting PTSD.

Transcript of an oral interview with Lloyd Dane Handschy. Handschy went to high school and college with John Glenn in New Concord, Ohio. They learned to fly together. Handschy joined the Marine Corps and went to pilot training at Pensacola. When he finished there, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and continued training in single engine aircraft. When he went overseas in 1943, he was assigned to VMF-213 and they went to the Solomon Islands. He describes aerial combat versus Japanese pilots. After the war, Handschy stayed i nthe Reserves and was called back for the Korean War, where he flew observation planes spotting for artillery units. On several occasions, Mrs. Handschy provides a lot of details. Handschy recalls flying Jack Benny, the entertainer, around so Benny could see the front lines.

Transcript of an oral interview with Lloyd Dane Handschy. Handschy went to high school and college with John Glenn in New Concord, Ohio. They learned to fly together. Handschy joined the Marine Corps and went to pilot training at Pensacola. When he finished there, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and continued training in single engine aircraft. When he went overseas in 1943, he was assigned to VMF-213 and they went to the Solomon Islands. He describes aerial combat versus Japanese pilots. After the war, Handschy stayed i nthe Reserves and was called back for the Korean War, where he flew observation planes spotting for artillery units. On several occasions, Mrs. Handschy provides a lot of details. Handschy recalls flying Jack Benny, the entertainer, around so Benny could see the front lines.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glenn Hope. Hope joined the Army Air Forces in 1941 and received flight training in Texas and Oklahoma in PT-19s and AT-6s. Upon completion, he was assigned to a P-40 squadron on Oahu. He was transferred to Port Moresby with the 80th Fighter Squadron, flying P-39s. The only advantage they had over Zeros was horsepower, so when Hope later became a flight instructor he taught pilots evasive maneuvers consisting of shallow dives and shallow climbs. His squadron received new P-38s, which Hope once pushed to 550 miles per hour while being pursued by a Zero. He shot down three Japanese planes in aerial combat, and is credited with one victory, which was confirmed by troops on the ground. He was sent back to the States to train pilots, producing triple-ace Robin Olds.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glenn Hope. Hope joined the Army Air Forces in 1941 and received flight training in Texas and Oklahoma in PT-19s and AT-6s. Upon completion, he was assigned to a P-40 squadron on Oahu. He was transferred to Port Moresby with the 80th Fighter Squadron, flying P-39s. The only advantage they had over Zeros was horsepower, so when Hope later became a flight instructor he taught pilots evasive maneuvers consisting of shallow dives and shallow climbs. His squadron received new P-38s, which Hope once pushed to 550 miles per hour while being pursued by a Zero. He shot down three Japanese planes in aerial combat, and is credited with one victory, which was confirmed by troops on the ground. He was sent back to the States to train pilots, producing triple-ace Robin Olds.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Kardaseski. As a teenager, Kardaseski worked as a machinist with Globe Valve Company in support of the military. He joined the Navy in the spring of 1944, just before his 18th birthday. Upon completion, of gunnery school, he was assigned to the USS Bennington (CV-20) as a second loader on a 40mm gun. With his background in machining, he volunteered for and was accepted to the main engine room crew, where he took down readings from pumps and gears. His battle station was in the electrical repair shop. In Ulithi, Kardaseski survived kamikaze strikes against adjacent ships. Later, he was almost washed away by a typhoon but clung tightly to a rail. After the war, he worked at a repair shop in Naples for one year. After discharge, he later rejoined the service, overseeing the mess crew of an Air Force troop ship in the Korean War.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Kardaseski. As a teenager, Kardaseski worked as a machinist with Globe Valve Company in support of the military. He joined the Navy in the spring of 1944, just before his 18th birthday. Upon completion, of gunnery school, he was assigned to the USS Bennington (CV-20) as a second loader on a 40mm gun. With his background in machining, he volunteered for and was accepted to the main engine room crew, where he took down readings from pumps and gears. His battle station was in the electrical repair shop. In Ulithi, Kardaseski survived kamikaze strikes against adjacent ships. Later, he was almost washed away by a typhoon but clung tightly to a rail. After the war, he worked at a repair shop in Naples for one year. After discharge, he later rejoined the service, overseeing the mess crew of an Air Force troop ship in the Korean War.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Norman Kleiss. Kleiss graduated from the Naval Academy in 1938 and became a dive-bomber pilot. He describes how he earned his nickname, Dusty, by making an uninvited landing at Ewa Field and causing a large dust cloud that disrupted Marine Corps flight operations. Kleiss discusses his training and early career as an aviator. He describes early tactics that naval aviators used and how they evolved under the direction of Admiral Halsey. Kleiss describes in detail his experiences while attached to USS Enterprise (CV-6) during the Battle of Midway. He discusses some of his involvement with Operation Paperclip at the end of the war. Kleiss retired from the military in March of 1962.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Norman Kleiss. Kleiss graduated from the Naval Academy in 1938 and became a dive-bomber pilot. He describes how he earned his nickname, Dusty, by making an uninvited landing at Ewa Field and causing a large dust cloud that disrupted Marine Corps flight operations. Kleiss discusses his training and early career as an aviator. He describes early tactics that naval aviators used and how they evolved under the direction of Admiral Halsey. Kleiss describes in detail his experiences while attached to USS Enterprise (CV-6) during the Battle of Midway. He discusses some of his involvement with Operation Paperclip at the end of the war. Kleiss retired from the military in March of 1962.

Transcript of an oral interview with Claire Krizoy. Krizoy discusses her time in the Marine Corp Women's Reserve where she did secretarial work at Cherry Point, NC and Milledgeville, GA for aviation units stations on bases in each place.

Transcript of an oral interview with Claire Krizoy. Krizoy discusses her time in the Marine Corp Women's Reserve where she did secretarial work at Cherry Point, NC and Milledgeville, GA for aviation units stations on bases in each place.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Bennett Lee. Lee joined the Army Air Forces soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He discusses the training he received to become a fighter pilot. Lee was sent to England in October 1944 to fly P-51s. He completed 52 missions over Europe with the 79th Fighter Squadron. Lee describes what it was like to fly a P-51 and details some of the highlights his of missions. He details one mission in which he encountered German ME-262 jet fighters and discusses how one of his fellow airmen destroyed eight planes. Lee mentions seeing the last performance of Glenn Miller. He left the service in December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Bennett Lee. Lee joined the Army Air Forces soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He discusses the training he received to become a fighter pilot. Lee was sent to England in October 1944 to fly P-51s. He completed 52 missions over Europe with the 79th Fighter Squadron. Lee describes what it was like to fly a P-51 and details some of the highlights his of missions. He details one mission in which he encountered German ME-262 jet fighters and discusses how one of his fellow airmen destroyed eight planes. Lee mentions seeing the last performance of Glenn Miller. He left the service in December 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Matthew Lynch. Lynch joined the Navy in September of 1942. He completed advanced electric hydraulic school, concentrating primarily on the 5"/38 caliber gun. Beginning June of 1943, he served as Third-Class Gunner’s Mate aboard USS Conner (DD-582). Lynch participated in the invasion of the Gilbert Islands, a pre-invasion attack on the Marshall Islands, the Mariana Islands Campaign, the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He returned to the US and was discharged in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Matthew Lynch. Lynch joined the Navy in September of 1942. He completed advanced electric hydraulic school, concentrating primarily on the 5"/38 caliber gun. Beginning June of 1943, he served as Third-Class Gunner’s Mate aboard USS Conner (DD-582). Lynch participated in the invasion of the Gilbert Islands, a pre-invasion attack on the Marshall Islands, the Mariana Islands Campaign, the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He returned to the US and was discharged in February of 1946.