Interview with James F. Sansom, an officer in the U. S. Army during World War II. Sansom joined the Army in 1940 and began training on anti-aircraft guns in Florida. He was selected for Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1942. He was assigned to the 843rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Air Warning Battalion, which made its way to India via the Panama Canal and Australia. Shortly after reaching Calcutta, the unit moved to Myitkyina, Burma. After the war, Sansom was assigned to Sagumo Prison outside Tokyo where Japanese war criminals were being held while on trial for war crimes. He describes some of the routines and residents in the prison. Sansom taught Hideki Tojo how to play card games like gin rummy. Sansom also describes the process of executing convicted prisoners as he carried out some sentences. In all, he executed nine convicted war criminals.

Interview with Alan W. "Buck" Saunders, a pilot during World War II. He discusses joining the Army Air Corps, becoming an airplane mechanic, and going to flight school for pilot training. He was stationed in India and flew supplies into China over the Himalayas (known by pilots as "the Hump"). In China, he traded items such as jewelry or opium for information on Japanese troop placements in Burma. He also discusses his meetings with native Burmese and talks about later experiences he had after the war and during the Vietnam War.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Francis Blake. Blake was born in Idaho and finished high school in Portland, Oregon. He then went to California for some college and worked in the mining industry in Arizona before joining the Marine Corps in August 1938. He trained at San Diego, then went to Sea School. Afterward, he was assigned to the USS Idaho (BB-42). He eventually became the captain's orderly and then an admiral's orderly while aboard the Idaho. Blake also served on Admiral Ernest King's flag allowance while King was Commander in Chief, US Fleet. Admiral King recommended Blake for a commission in the Marine Corps in June, 1943. When he got overseas, he was attached to the 3rd Marine Regiment prior to the invasion of Bougainville in an administrative support role. He performed similar duties on Guam during that invasion. When the 3rd MARDIV invaded Iwo Jima, Blake was an assistant to the G-1. When the war ended, he was back on Guam. He soon returned to the US and went to work discharging Marines. Blake retained his commission and stayed in the Corps. He served as marine detachment commanding officer aboard the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jesse Cook. Cook joined the Army in March of 1943. He served as a private with C Battery, 414th Tank Battalion, 20th Armored Division. Cook’s job was to load the 105mm howitzer aboard the M7 tank. In February of 1945, they deployed to Le Havre, France. In April, Cook served in combat along the Rhine River in support of the 101st Airborne Division near Delhoven, Germany and the 82nd Airborne Division across the river from Hitdorf, Germany. He continued in combat from the Rhine into Munich. Upon entering Salzburg in May, hostilities ceased. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Lee. Lee entered the Army Air Forces in November, 1942 as an aviation cadet trainee. After washing out of pilot training, he volunteered to go to gunnery school. After gunnery training, Lee was assigned as a waist gunner on a B-24 crew and went overseas in January, 1945. He arrived in England and was assigned to the 409th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. Lee flew on 19 bombing missions between January and April, 1945. His crew returned to the US in May. Lee stayed in the Reserves until 1982.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James F. Sansom. Sansom joined the Army in 1940 and began training on anti-aircraft guns in Florida. He was selected for Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was commissiond a second lieutenant in 1942. He was assigned to the 843rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Air Warning Battalion, which made its way to India via the Panama Canal and Australia. Shortly after reaching Calcutta, the unit moved to Myitkyina, Burma. After the war, Sansom was assigned to Sagumo Prison outside Tokyo where japanese war criminals were being held while on trial for war crimes. He describes some of the routines and residents in the prison. Sansom taught Hideki Tojo how to play card games like gin rummy. Sansom also describes the process of executing convicted prisoners as he carried out some sentences. In all, he executed nine convicted war criminals.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alan W. ""Buck"" Saunders. He discusses joining the Army Air Corps, becoming an airplane mechanic, then going to flight school to be a pilot. He was stationed in India and discusses flying supplies into China over the Himalayas, ""the Hump"", trading items like jewelry or opium for information on Japanese troop placements in Burma, and meetings he had with native Burmese. He also talks about later experiences he had after the war and during the Vietnam War.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dean Stephens. Stephens was born in Red Oak, Oklahoma. After finishing two years of college he attempted to join the Coast Guard but was rejected. He went to work at Emerson Electric, a defense plant that made gun turrets for bombers. He was drafted 15 January 1943 and went to Wichita Falls, Texas for basic training. After basic, he was sent to weather observer school at Chanute Field, Illinois. After ten months of training he went to Perrin Field in Sherman, Texas. On 15 July 1943 he went aboard the USS Hermitage (AP-54) bound for Bombay. After arriving at Karachi, he volunteered to go to Burma. He was then sent to Pushkar, India where he helped build a weather station. After five months he flew to Mangkuan, China in an L-5 aircraft. After a three day trek by foot, he arrived at a camp where he joined a team of nine others comprising the Signal Air Warning group. Their job was to pass weather conditions every six hours to a collection point that drew area weather maps. Stephens recalls leeches being a constant problem and being accidentally burned …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James F. Sansom. Sansom joined the Army in 1940 and began training on anti-aircraft guns in Florida. He was selected for Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was commissiond a second lieutenant in 1942. He was assigned to the 843rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Air Warning Battalion, which made its way to India via the Panama Canal and Australia. Shortly after reaching Calcutta, the unit moved to Myitkyina, Burma. After the war, Sansom was assigned to Sagumo Prison outside Tokyo where japanese war criminals were being held while on trial for war crimes. He describes some of the routines and residents in the prison. Sansom taught Hideki Tojo how to play card games like gin rummy. Sansom also describes the process of executing convicted prisoners as he carried out some sentences. In all, he executed nine convicted war criminals.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Alan W. ""Buck"" Saunders. He discusses joining the Army Air Corps, becoming an airplane mechanic, then going to flight school to be a pilot. He was stationed in India and discusses flying supplies into China over the Himalayas, ""the Hump"", trading items like jewelry or opium for information on Japanese troop placements in Burma, and meetings he had with native Burmese. He also talks about later experiences he had after the war and during the Vietnam War.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dean Stephens. Stephens was born in Red Oak, Oklahoma. After finishing two years of college he attempted to join the Coast Guard but was rejected. He went to work at Emerson Electric, a defense plant that made gun turrets for bombers. He was drafted 15 January 1943 and went to Wichita Falls, Texas for basic training. After basic, he was sent to weather observer school at Chanute Field, Illinois. After ten months of training he went to Perrin Field in Sherman, Texas. On 15 July 1943 he went aboard the USS Hermitage (AP-54) bound for Bombay. After arriving at Karachi, he volunteered to go to Burma. He was then sent to Pushkar, India where he helped build a weather station. After five months he flew to Mangkuan, China in an L-5 aircraft. After a three day trek by foot, he arrived at a camp where he joined a team of nine others comprising the Signal Air Warning group. Their job was to pass weather conditions every six hours to a collection point that drew area weather maps. Stephens recalls leeches being a constant problem and being accidentally burned …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jesse Cook. Cook joined the Army in March of 1943. He served as a private with C Battery, 414th Tank Battalion, 20th Armored Division. Cook’s job was to load the 105mm howitzer aboard the M7 tank. In February of 1945, they deployed to Le Havre, France. In April, Cook served in combat along the Rhine River in support of the 101st Airborne Division near Delhoven, Germany and the 82nd Airborne Division across the river from Hitdorf, Germany. He continued in combat from the Rhine into Munich. Upon entering Salzburg in May, hostilities ceased. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Lee. Lee entered the Army Air Forces in November, 1942 as an aviation cadet trainee. After washing out of pilot training, he volunteered to go to gunnery school. After gunnery training, Lee was assigned as a waist gunner on a B-24 crew and went overseas in January, 1945. He arrived in England and was assigned to the 409th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. Lee flew on 19 bombing missions between January and April, 1945. His crew returned to the US in May. Lee stayed in the Reserves until 1982.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Francis Blake. Blake was born in Idaho and finished high school in Portland, Oregon. He then went to California for some college and worked in the mining industry in Arizona before joining the Marine Corps in August 1938. He trained at San Diego, then went to Sea School. Afterward, he was assigned to the USS Idaho (BB-42). He eventually became the captain's orderly and then an admiral's orderly while aboard the Idaho. Blake also served on Admiral Ernest King's flag allowance while King was Commander in Chief, US Fleet. Admiral King recommended Blake for a commission in the Marine Corps in June, 1943. When he got overseas, he was attached to the 3rd Marine Regiment prior to the invasion of Bougainville in an administrative support role. He performed similar duties on Guam during that invasion. When the 3rd MARDIV invaded Iwo Jima, Blake was an assistant to the G-1. When the war ended, he was back on Guam. He soon returned to the US and went to work discharging Marines. Blake retained his commission and stayed in the Corps. He served as marine detachment commanding officer aboard the …

Interview with Alan W. "Buck" Saunders of New Braunfels, Texas, a veteran of the Army Air Force during World War Two. The interview includes Saunders' personal experiences while in the Air Force, including the China-Burma-India Theater and memories of flying cargo to China over the Himalayas. Mr. Saunders also talks about life before and after his service.