The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Kirk. Kirk was born in Moline, Illinois on 17 April 1921. After graduating from high school in 1939 he enrolled at the University of Iowa. While there he participated in the Civilian Pilot Training Program and received his pilot’s license. In June 1942, he joined the Navy and had four months of training at St Louis. He then entered flight training at Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, Texas and had advanced at Kingsville Naval Air Station, Texas. He was commissioned in May 1943. After gunnery, formation and night flying he went to Norfolk, Virginia and was assigned to VF-8 and began flying F6F fighter planes. The group began practicing carrier landing on the USS Charger (CVE-30). Upon being carrier qualified, VF-8 was assigned to the USS Intrepid (CV-11). Upon arrival in Hawaii, VF-8 was off loaded from the ship and moved to the Navy base on Maui. On 1 March 1944, Air Group 8 was assigned to the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17). In recalling various combat missions, Kirk depicts the coordinated attacks by dive bombers, torpedo planes and fighter planes against various targets. He took part in …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Theodore J. Kalenterides. Kalenterides joined the Army Air Corps on 10 August 1939. He completed Airplane and Engine Mechanic School at Parks Air College, Illinois, and worked on the line as Crew Chief, Flight Chief and Line Chief. He then completed B-29 Engineer Flight School. In 1944, Kalenterides was assigned to the 62nd Bomb Squadron, 39th Bomb Group at Smoky Hill Air Force Base, Kansas. In January of 1945, they deployed to Batista Army Airfield, Cuba for training, then formed at North Field, Guam in mid-February. They completed missions against the Japanese home islands in April, and bombed military and industrial targets in Japan and flew incendiary raids on urban areas from mid-May until the end of the war. He continued his service in the Korean and Vietnam wars, and was discharged in 1968.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William T. Schauer. Schauer was born on 27 August 1928. He was in high school for the duration of World War II. He joined the Army Air Forces in June of 1946. He completed bootcamp, then was assigned to a fighter group on Okinawa and Guam, where he assisted in refueling planes. He notes Japanese soldiers coming out of caves and hiding, unaware that the war was over. He also notes his living conditions on the islands. Schauer was assigned as an automotive mechanic in charge of the motor pool. On 17 June 1949, Staff Sgt. William T. Schauer received his Honorable Discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Hassenplug. Hassenplug was born 5 May 1921 in Melton, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the Naval Academy in June, 1944. His first assignment was aboard the USS O-7 (SS-68). Then on 29 January 1945 he was ordered to report on board the USS Pintado (SS-387) at Pearl Harbor. He served on the boat for six months during which time it was on two combat patrols. Hassenplug recalls the experience of picking up crew members of a downed B-29 off the coast of Japan. [The fairwater from the Pintado is on display at The National Museum of the Pacific War]

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Kirk. Kirk was born in Moline, Illinois on 17 April 1921. After graduating from high school in 1939 he enrolled at the University of Iowa. While there he participated in the Civilian Pilot Training Program and received his pilot’s license. In June 1942, he joined the Navy and had four months of training at St Louis. He then entered flight training at Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, Texas and had advanced at Kingsville Naval Air Station, Texas. He was commissioned in May 1943. After gunnery, formation and night flying he went to Norfolk, Virginia and was assigned to VF-8 and began flying F6F fighter planes. The group began practicing carrier landing on the USS Charger (CVE-30). Upon being carrier qualified, VF-8 was assigned to the USS Intrepid (CV-11). Upon arrival in Hawaii, VF-8 was off loaded from the ship and moved to the Navy base on Maui. On 1 March 1944, Air Group 8 was assigned to the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17). In recalling various combat missions, Kirk depicts the coordinated attacks by dive bombers, torpedo planes and fighter planes against various targets. He took part in …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Theodore J. Kalenterides. Kalenterides joined the Army Air Corps on 10 August 1939. He completed Airplane and Engine Mechanic School at Parks Air College, Illinois, and worked on the line as Crew Chief, Flight Chief and Line Chief. He then completed B-29 Engineer Flight School. In 1944, Kalenterides was assigned to the 62nd Bomb Squadron, 39th Bomb Group at Smoky Hill Air Force Base, Kansas. In January of 1945, they deployed to Batista Army Airfield, Cuba for training, then formed at North Field, Guam in mid-February. They completed missions against the Japanese home islands in April, and bombed military and industrial targets in Japan and flew incendiary raids on urban areas from mid-May until the end of the war. He continued his service in the Korean and Vietnam wars, and was discharged in 1968.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William T. Schauer. Schauer was born on 27 August 1928. He was in high school for the duration of World War II. He joined the Army Air Forces in June of 1946. He completed bootcamp, then was assigned to a fighter group on Okinawa and Guam, where he assisted in refueling planes. He notes Japanese soldiers coming out of caves and hiding, unaware that the war was over. He also notes his living conditions on the islands. Schauer was assigned as an automotive mechanic in charge of the motor pool. On 17 June 1949, Staff Sgt. William T. Schauer received his Honorable Discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred Hassenplug. Hassenplug was born 5 May 1921 in Melton, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the Naval Academy in June, 1944. His first assignment was aboard the USS O-7 (SS-68). Then on 29 January 1945 he was ordered to report on board the USS Pintado (SS-387) at Pearl Harbor. He served on the boat for six months during which time it was on two combat patrols. Hassenplug recalls the experience of picking up crew members of a downed B-29 off the coast of Japan. [The fairwater from the Pintado is on display at The National Museum of the Pacific War]

Handwritten letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz describes the holiday he enjoyed over Christmas in Annapolis. He also mentions receiving a package of cakes and sausages from his Henke grandparents. He comments on his French class and the upcoming semi-annual exams, which he anticipates passing. Nimitz also mentions attending a few funerals at the Academy. This letter is on US Naval Academy stationery.

Transcription of letter from Chester Nimitz to his grandfather in Fredericksburg. Nimitz describes the holiday he enjoyed over Christmas in Annapolis. He also mentions receiving a package of cakes and sausages from his Henke grandparents. He comments on his French class and the upcoming semi-annual exams, which he anticipates passing. Nimitz also mentions attending a few funerals at the Academy.