The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lanson B. Ditto. Ditto grew up in Kentucky. He went to college at Washington and Lee University and then joined the Navy in 1940. After training, Ditto chose to join the Asiatic Fleet. He went to Shanghai, China where he was assigned to the USS Langley (CV-1). The ship went to the Philippines. They were at Manila when the Japanese destroyed all B-17's at the airfield on December 8, 1941. The Langley left Manila Bay that night and headed south. On that trip, Ditto mentions that his ship fired at the planet Venus. They went to Balikpapan, refueled, and spent Christmas at Surabaya. Next, they went to Darwin, Australia, then Perth, Australia. Then, they went to Java. Before they arrived at the port, they were hit by Japanese airplanes dropping bombs. Ditto abandons ship and swims to the USS Edsall. They steam to the Christmas Island. He transferred to the Pecos. The Pecos was then bombed by the Japanese. Next the 220 survivors out of 666 men were picked up by the Whipple. He was injured and went back to the United States on the Mount Vernon. They …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Donihi. Donihi was born in Erie, Pennsylvania. He graduated from high school in 1934. During the Depression, he worked low wage jobs and lost his leg in an automobile accident while hitchhiking to Florida. His experiences influenced him to attend law school. He passed the Bar in 1941 and went to work in Tennessee. He was exempt from the draft, but was motivated to learn to fly under the Civil Air Patrol. He joined the Coast Guard Reserve during World War II and became a Seaman First Class, ferrying submarine chasers down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico for shakedown cruises. After the war, he met Tom Clark, President Truman’s Attorney General (and later Associate Supreme Court Justice). Clark offered Donihi a job in Tokyo and introduced him to Joseph B. Keenan, who had worked in President Roosevelt’s White House. Keenan was setting up an organization named Project K, which operated out of the Justice Department. Its purpose was to prosecute Emperor Hirohito and other suspected Japanese war criminals. In Tokyo he lived with Keenan and 15 other lawyers and judges. He attended several meetings …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Donihi. Donihi was born in Erie, Pennsylvania. He graduated from high school in 1934. During the Depression, he worked low wage jobs and lost his leg in an automobile accident while hitchhiking to Florida. His experiences influenced him to attend law school. He passed the Bar in 1941 and went to work in Tennessee. He was exempt from the draft, but was motivated to learn to fly under the Civil Air Patrol. He joined the Coast Guard Reserve during World War II and became a Seaman First Class, ferrying submarine chasers down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico for shakedown cruises. After the war, he met Tom Clark, President Truman’s Attorney General (and later Associate Supreme Court Justice). Clark offered Donihi a job in Tokyo and introduced him to Joseph B. Keenan, who had worked in President Roosevelt’s White House. Keenan was setting up an organization named Project K, which operated out of the Justice Department. Its purpose was to prosecute Emperor Hirohito and other suspected Japanese war criminals. In Tokyo he lived with Keenan and 15 other lawyers and judges. He attended several meetings …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Herrick. Herrick entered the Naval Academy in 1944 and was graduated in 1944. He first reported aboard the USS Mississippi (BB-41) in time to participate in the Battle of Surigao Strait and support the invasion of Luzon. He was still aboard for the invasion of Okinawa and witnessed the kamikaze attacks on the Mississippi. Herrick remained in the Navy after the war, retiring in 1964.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Sam Moody. Moody joined the Air Corps in 1940 to become an aircraft mechanic. He arrived in the Philippines in November, 1941 and when the war broke out, he went to the front at Bataan. After the surrender, he walked out of Bataan and spent 10 days on the Death March. He was moved from Camp O'Donnell to Cabanatuan. From there, he was sent to Manila to a camp near Clark Field. Moody stayed on a work detail in Manila for a while. In June, 1944, he was shipped to Japan to work in a factory. When the war ended, Moody returned to Boston only to be transported back to Japan to testify at the war crime trials.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Sam Moody. Moody joined the Air Corps in 1940 to become an aircraft mechanic. He arrived in the Philippines in November, 1941 and when the war broke out, he went to the front at Bataan. After the surrender, he walked out of Bataan and spent 10 days on the Death March. He was moved from Camp O'Donnell to Cabanatuan. From there, he was sent to Manila to a camp near Clark Field. Moody stayed on a work detail in Manila for a while. In June, 1944, he was shipped to Japan to work in a factory. When the war ended, Moody returned to Boston only to be transported back to Japan to testify at the war crime trials.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents oral interviews with Tex Hill, Joe Robert and Dick Rossi. Hill and Burken go into great detail regarding an issue of LIFE Magazine with a picture of General Claire Lee Chennault on the cover and a drawing of a panda bear dressed like a cowboy, as Hill was a member of the Panda Bear squadron of the Flying Tigers. Burken then visits with Joe Robert about a print that Joe is looking to sell and a LIFE Magazine that Joe is featured in, sitting on the wing of the P-40. They also discuss some events with the Japanese and the Pappy Boyington book titled Tonya. Robert was in the same squadron as Boyington. They also visit some on the history of the Flying Tigers and the Burma campaign. Beginning on page 44 through the end of the interview Burken speaks with Dick Rossi. They visit about Flying Tiger pilot Robert T. Smith and a letter from filmmaker Ron Howard in regards to a movie about the Flying Tigers. They also discuss some events with Flying Tiger pilot Freeman Ricketts.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents oral interviews with Tex Hill, Joe Robert and Dick Rossi. Hill and Burken go into great detail regarding an issue of LIFE Magazine with a picture of General Claire Lee Chennault on the cover and a drawing of a panda bear dressed like a cowboy, as Hill was a member of the Panda Bear squadron of the Flying Tigers. Burken then visits with Joe Robert about a print that Joe is looking to sell and a LIFE Magazine that Joe is featured in, sitting on the wing of the P-40. They also discuss some events with the Japanese and the Pappy Boyington book titled Tonya. Robert was in the same squadron as Boyington. They also visit some on the history of the Flying Tigers and the Burma campaign. Beginning on page 44 through the end of the interview Burken speaks with Dick Rossi. They visit about Flying Tiger pilot Robert T. Smith and a letter from filmmaker Ron Howard in regards to a movie about the Flying Tigers. They also discuss some events with Flying Tiger pilot Freeman Ricketts.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Gill. Gill was born in Pennsylvania 21 July 1920. He attended Pennsylvania State College and graduated in December 1942. He then reported to Ft Benning, Georgia to attend Infantry Officers Candidate School. Upon graduation in March 1943 he was commissioned and assigned to the 98th Infantry Division at Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky. While there he was assigned as an air-ground umpire during maneuvers and he explains the functions of those assigned to this position. In early 1944 the unit went to Camp Stoneman, California where they boarded the USS General W.M. Black (AP-135) where they joined the 304th Infantry Regiment for a trip to Honolulu. Upon their arrival, the unit maintained defensive positions among the islands. In 1945 after receiving advanced training for the invasion of Japan, they began loading the ships for the invasion. When the war ended, the division became part of Operation BLACKLIST and proceeded to Wakayana, Japan. Soon after his arrival, he was assigned to his regiment’s ordnance company to supervise the collection and destruction of Japanese weapons. In October, Gill reported to the US Army War Crimes Legal Section in Tokyo. He investigated …

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with William Gill. Gill went to Fort Benning for Officer Candidate School in early 1942, and then was assigned to the 98th Infantry Division. He traveled to Hawaii with them and continued training for the invasion of Japan. Instead of active combat, Gill went with the 98th to occupy Japan after the war ended. He ended up gathering evidence against war criminals for prosecutors. He provides some insight in the treason case against John David Provo. He also investigated air crashes while on occupation duty. Gill returned to the US in 1948 and was discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Gill. Gill was born in Pennsylvania 21 July 1920. He attended Pennsylvania State College and graduated in December 1942. He then reported to Ft Benning, Georgia to attend Infantry Officers Candidate School. Upon graduation in March 1943 he was commissioned and assigned to the 98th Infantry Division at Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky. While there he was assigned as an air-ground umpire during maneuvers and he explains the functions of those assigned to this position. In early 1944 the unit went to Camp Stoneman, California where they boarded the USS General W.M. Black (AP-135) where they joined the 304th Infantry Regiment for a trip to Honolulu. Upon their arrival, the unit maintained defensive positions among the islands. In 1945 after receiving advanced training for the invasion of Japan, they began loading the ships for the invasion. When the war ended, the division became part of Operation BLACKLIST and proceeded to Wakayana, Japan. Soon after his arrival, he was assigned to his regiment’s ordnance company to supervise the collection and destruction of Japanese weapons. In October, Gill reported to the US Army War Crimes Legal Section in Tokyo. He investigated …