Transcript of an oral interview with Cliff Robertson. Robertson was a crewman on a small, old freighter (SS Admiral Cole) about 150 miles out of Iloilo (in the vicinity of Philippines Islands) when his ship was bombed by a Japanese 4-engine amphibious plane - the same time Pearl Harbor was being bombed. Although their ship was damaged by the bombs, they got to Zamboanga and then were in the China Sea when the USS Houston (CA-30) was sunk. They finally got out down through Tora Straits and then out along the Great Barrier Reef to Sidney, Australia. They went to New Zealand for repairs and then sailed for San Francisco, California which is where they had started. Robertson signed off the ship. He went off to Antioch College and worked for the Springfield Daily News in Springfield, Ohio at the same time. Robertson wanted to fly but his eyesight wasn't good enough so he went into the Merchant Marine. After training on Catalina Island, he was assigned to a tanker. The other ships he remembered being on were SS Craig and SS Jonathan. Robertson made several trips to the South Pacific and contracted malaria on one. Later on, he went …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wallace Pickard. Pickard was born in New York City on 2 August 1919. In 1940 he was accepted into the US Army Air Corps and tells of the various aircraft in which he trained and the different air fields to which he was assigned. In September 1941 he was assigned to Reconnaissance Squadron Four at Hickam Field, Hawaii. He was awakened by the sounds of explosions on 7 December 1941 as the Japanese launched their attack on Pearl Harbor. During the attack, Pickard received shell fragment wounds to his hand, back and hip. He was transported to Tripler Hospital for treatment. While preparations were being made to amputate his hand a visiting trauma surgeon took interest in his case and ultimately saved it. In February 1942 he was sent to Letterman General Hospital, then to Walter Reed Hospital for treatment. He underwent twenty-two operations for his injuries. In June 1942 he was assigned as aide to General George Marshall. He tells of the circumstances that precluded his assignment and describes his duties. In 1944 he was discharged for medical reasons but was recalled and became an executive officer …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Szymanski. Szymanski joined the Navy in October of 1942. He served as an aviation machinist mate aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). During the invasion of Hollandia, New Guinea, Szymanski’s job was to help mine the anchorage in Palau so the Japanese could not sail their fleet ships. He shares details of his experiences through the Battles of the Philippine Sea, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was honorably discharged in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henry Wertz and Russell Wheeler. Both Wertz and Wheeler served in the Navy aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). Wertz enlisted in the Navy in January of 1940 and Wheeler enlisted around 1942. Wertz served aboard the Hornet as Boatswain Mate 2nd Class and Wheeler served as Seaman 1st Class. Both men were in the 3rd Division, 40mm guns, which Wertz had charge over. Considering that Wheeler was only 15 years old when he joined, Wertz took extra care of him while aboard the Hornet. They traveled through the Panama Canal. They helped qualify fighter squadrons for the Pacific Fleet, and transported Marines to various islands. Their ship operated around Formosa, Guam, New Caledonia, Iwo Jima and the Aleutian Islands. They share various incidents aboard the ship, including kamikaze plane attacks, air raids, memorable landings and takeoffs from their carrier and life in general aboard the Hornet.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Spires and Murdock Walley. Both Spires and Walley joined the Navy in 1943 and served aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). Spires worked as a 3rd Class Fireman. Walley worked in damage control in the ship repair division, as well as fire fighting in the pump room and as a plumber. They both boarded the ship around October of 1943, and speak on the 3 skippers they worked under, including Captain Browning, Captain Sample and Captain Doyle. Spires and Walley speak on their individual work aboard the ship, comradery between shipmates, transporting a Marine detachment, qualifying fighter squadrons for the Pacific Fleet, traveling to Kwajalein, New Guinea and Hollandia and life in general aboard the Hornet.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an interview with William Bates. Bates joined the Navy Reserves in late 1939 as an aviation cadet. He was in primary flight training at Corpus Christi when the war started. He opted to quit flying and went instead to Midshipmen’s School at northwestern and earned a commission and was assigned to the USS APc-21. He describes his journey down the East Coast, through the Panama Canal and on to Australia and the Southwest Pacific. Once there, his vessel would escort LCTs and LSTs provisioning the ground forces in New Guinea. He was aboard the APc-21 when it was bombed and sunk. After returning to the US and some leave, Bates was assigned to the USS ATR-22. He then transferred to the USS Unadilla (ATA-182). He shares a few anecdotes about being at the Panama Canal and experiencing typhoons off the Philippines. Bates returned to the US in early 1946 and was discharged in September.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Szymanski. Szymanski joined the Navy in October of 1942. He served as an aviation machinist mate aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). During the invasion of Hollandia, New Guinea, Szymanski’s job was to help mine the anchorage in Palau so the Japanese could not sail their fleet ships. He shares details of his experiences through the Battles of the Philippine Sea, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was honorably discharged in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Henry Wertz and Russell Wheeler. Both Wertz and Wheeler served in the Navy aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). Wertz enlisted in the Navy in January of 1940 and Wheeler enlisted around 1942. Wertz served aboard the Hornet as Boatswain Mate 2nd Class and Wheeler served as Seaman 1st Class. Both men were in the 3rd Division, 40mm guns, which Wertz had charge over. Considering that Wheeler was only 15 years old when he joined, Wertz took extra care of him while aboard the Hornet. They traveled through the Panama Canal. They helped qualify fighter squadrons for the Pacific Fleet, and transported Marines to various islands. Their ship operated around Formosa, Guam, New Caledonia, Iwo Jima and the Aleutian Islands. They share various incidents aboard the ship, including kamikaze plane attacks, air raids, memorable landings and takeoffs from their carrier and life in general aboard the Hornet.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Spires and Murdock Walley. Both Spires and Walley joined the Navy in 1943 and served aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). Spires worked as a 3rd Class Fireman. Walley worked in damage control in the ship repair division, as well as fire fighting in the pump room and as a plumber. They both boarded the ship around October of 1943, and speak on the 3 skippers they worked under, including Captain Browning, Captain Sample and Captain Doyle. Spires and Walley speak on their individual work aboard the ship, comradery between shipmates, transporting a Marine detachment, qualifying fighter squadrons for the Pacific Fleet, traveling to Kwajalein, New Guinea and Hollandia and life in general aboard the Hornet.

Transcript of an oral interview with Cliff Robertson. Robertson was a crewman on a small, old freighter (SS Admiral Cole) about 150 miles out of Iloilo (in the vicinity of Philippines Islands) when his ship was bombed by a Japanese 4-engine amphibious plane - the same time Pearl Harbor was being bombed. Although their ship was damaged by the bombs, they got to Zamboanga and then were in the China Sea when the USS Houston (CA-30) was sunk. They finally got out down through Tora Straits and then out along the Great Barrier Reef to Sidney, Australia. They went to New Zealand for repairs and then sailed for San Francisco, California which is where they had started. Robertson signed off the ship. He went off to Antioch College and worked for the Springfield Daily News in Springfield, Ohio at the same time. Robertson wanted to fly but his eyesight wasn't good enough so he went into the Merchant Marine. After training on Catalina Island, he was assigned to a tanker. The other ships he remembered being on were SS Craig and SS Jonathan. Robertson made several trips to the South Pacific and contracted malaria on one. Later on, he went …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wallace Pickard. Pickard was born in New York City on 2 August 1919. In 1940 he was accepted into the US Army Air Corps and tells of the various aircraft in which he trained and the different air fields to which he was assigned. In September 1941 he was assigned to Reconnaissance Squadron Four at Hickam Field, Hawaii. He was awakened by the sounds of explosions on 7 December 1941 as the Japanese launched their attack on Pearl Harbor. During the attack, Pickard received shell fragment wounds to his hand, back and hip. He was transported to Tripler Hospital for treatment. While preparations were being made to amputate his hand a visiting trauma surgeon took interest in his case and ultimately saved it. In February 1942 he was sent to Letterman General Hospital, then to Walter Reed Hospital for treatment. He underwent twenty-two operations for his injuries. In June 1942 he was assigned as aide to General George Marshall. He tells of the circumstances that precluded his assignment and describes his duties. In 1944 he was discharged for medical reasons but was recalled and became an executive officer …