The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Smart. Upon graduating from junior college Smart joined the Naval Aviation Cadet Program. Having civilian pilot experience, he quickly advanced from platoon leader to company and battalion commander. Smart first joined the experienced VMSB-141 before joining VMSB-236 at Bougainville. His first combat experience involved bombing Rabaul. Smart then supported the Army in the Philippines by bombing assigned buildings and strafing enemy troops. Although Smart was fortunate enough never to encounter enemy aircraft, antiaircraft fire struck his plane in the oil cooler system, forcing a crash-landing on a guerrilla airstrip. There he was warmly received and gifted a homemade knife and scabbard by a headhunter. Later, during the Luzon campaign, Smart bombed Santo Tomas following the liberation of American prisoners and felt it was a privilege to do so. After war ended, Smart joined the Marines as a reserve pilot and had duty in Japan. He lived there with his wife and children and was amazed by how much the Japanese accepted them as allies, so soon after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lloyd Fulbright. Fulbright joined the Army in September 1943 and trained in the artillery branch. He went overseas in Fenruary 1944 first to New Caledonia, then to New Zeraland where he was assigned to the 169th Field Artillery Battalion, 43rd Infantry Division. He then went to Aitape, New Guinea with the division and the Philippines. Fulbright shares several anecdotes about his combat experiences and stories from his time in occupied Japan. While in Japan, he was part of a detail that guarded the Kirin Brewery in Yokohama. He returned tot he US in January, 1946 and opted for discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Dragoni. Dragoni joined the Army Aviation Cadet Training Program in August of 1943. He completed cadet training and gunnery school, though served as a Radar Navigator aboard a B-29. Beginning in December of 1944 he completed missions to Singapore out of a base in India. During one mission, their plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire over Singapore and they crash landed on Burma. They were later stationed on Guam, completing missions to Iwo Jima and Japan. He was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ruben Peterson. Peterson grew up in Madrid, Iowa and attended Iowa State College under the Navy’s V-5 Aviation Program, where he enrolled in flight training. He was transferred to the University of Georgia in January 1943 where he continued flight training. After three months he was transferred to Pensacola where he received his wings. He trained in Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers, but he preferred fighter aircraft and volunteered to fly night fighters. In June 1943 Peterson was transferred to Quonset Point, Rhode Island, where the Navy established a base to train night flying on carriers in Grumman Hellcats. He qualified in carrier night flying and was transferred to Barbers Point, Hawaii. He embarked on the USS Independence (CVL-22) on 1 September 1943 and sailed to the South Pacific. While there, he shot down a Japanese bomber, and made bombing runs on freighters and ships near Leyte, flying only in daylight due to Admiral Halsey’s aversion to night carrier missions. Admiral Halsey’s relief had no such reluctance, and night flying became common. He remembers one close call at night in thick fog when he could not locate the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Doane. Doane joined the Navy in December of 1942. He completed aviation ordnance school and gunnery school in Oklahoma. He served as a gunner with a night flying outfit in Quonset Point, Rhode Island. He also worked with the radio and radar aboard the plane. He provides some details of practicing in night flights to and from the USS Independence (CVL-22) in the Pacific. In 1944 they participated in the Palau operation and the Battle of the Philippines. Doane provides vivid details of their strike duties against targets in the Philippines and Japan. Doane was later transferred to train in a torpedo bomber. Doan was discharged shortly after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al Kiracofe. Kiracofe was born in Gratis, Ohio in 1917 and graduated from high school in 1935. Entering the Navy in October 1942 he became a Commissioning Yeoman and participated in the forming of the Navy’s first five night-fighter units at Quonset Point, Rhode Island. He relates the experience of participating as a flying target for night-fighter pilots in training. He was assigned to Air Group 10 aboard the USS Intrepid (CV-11) in January 1945. Following the shakedown cruise the ship was deployed to Ulithi. Kiracofe tells of being on board the ship when it was hit by a Japanese suicide plane, which killed a number of sailors and heavily damaged the ship. The Intrepid returned to the United States for repairs and Kiracofe reported to the Oakland Naval Hospital. After receiving treatment for several months he received a medical discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Margaret Gardner. Gardner tells of life in rural South Carolina during the war years and the emotions she felt as the result of losing her husband, Ensign Russell Edwards, a US Air Corps fighter pilot.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lloyd Fulbright. Fulbright joined the Army in September 1943 and trained in the artillery branch. He went overseas in Fenruary 1944 first to New Caledonia, then to New Zeraland where he was assigned to the 169th Field Artillery Battalion, 43rd Infantry Division. He then went to Aitape, New Guinea with the division and the Philippines. Fulbright shares several anecdotes about his combat experiences and stories from his time in occupied Japan. While in Japan, he was part of a detail that guarded the Kirin Brewery in Yokohama. He returned tot he US in January, 1946 and opted for discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Smart. Upon graduating from junior college Smart joined the Naval Aviation Cadet Program. Having civilian pilot experience, he quickly advanced from platoon leader to company and battalion commander. Smart first joined the experienced VMSB-141 before joining VMSB-236 at Bougainville. His first combat experience involved bombing Rabaul. Smart then supported the Army in the Philippines by bombing assigned buildings and strafing enemy troops. Although Smart was fortunate enough never to encounter enemy aircraft, antiaircraft fire struck his plane in the oil cooler system, forcing a crash-landing on a guerrilla airstrip. There he was warmly received and gifted a homemade knife and scabbard by a headhunter. Later, during the Luzon campaign, Smart bombed Santo Tomas following the liberation of American prisoners and felt it was a privilege to do so. After war ended, Smart joined the Marines as a reserve pilot and had duty in Japan. He lived there with his wife and children and was amazed by how much the Japanese accepted them as allies, so soon after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ruben Peterson. Peterson grew up in Madrid, Iowa and attended Iowa State College under the Navy’s V-5 Aviation Program, where he enrolled in flight training. He was transferred to the University of Georgia in January 1943 where he continued flight training. After three months he was transferred to Pensacola where he received his wings. He trained in Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers, but he preferred fighter aircraft and volunteered to fly night fighters. In June 1943 Peterson was transferred to Quonset Point, Rhode Island, where the Navy established a base to train night flying on carriers in Grumman Hellcats. He qualified in carrier night flying and was transferred to Barbers Point, Hawaii. He embarked on the USS Independence (CVL-22) on 1 September 1943 and sailed to the South Pacific. While there, he shot down a Japanese bomber, and made bombing runs on freighters and ships near Leyte, flying only in daylight due to Admiral Halsey’s aversion to night carrier missions. Admiral Halsey’s relief had no such reluctance, and night flying became common. He remembers one close call at night in thick fog when he could not locate the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Robert Doane. Doane joined the Navy in December of 1942. He completed aviation ordnance school and gunnery school in Oklahoma. He served as a gunner with a night flying outfit in Quonset Point, Rhode Island. He also worked with the radio and radar aboard the plane. He provides some details of practicing in night flights to and from the USS Independence (CVL-22) in the Pacific. In 1944 they participated in the Palau operation and the Battle of the Philippines. Doane provides vivid details of their strike duties against targets in the Philippines and Japan. Doane was later transferred to train in a torpedo bomber. Doan was discharged shortly after the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Al Kiracofe. Kiracofe was born in Gratis, Ohio in 1917 and graduated from high school in 1935. Entering the Navy in October 1942 he became a Commissioning Yeoman and participated in the forming of the Navy’s first five night-fighter units at Quonset Point, Rhode Island. He relates the experience of participating as a flying target for night-fighter pilots in training. He was assigned to Air Group 10 aboard the USS Intrepid (CV-11) in January 1945. Following the shakedown cruise the ship was deployed to Ulithi. Kiracofe tells of being on board the ship when it was hit by a Japanese suicide plane, which killed a number of sailors and heavily damaged the ship. The Intrepid returned to the United States for repairs and Kiracofe reported to the Oakland Naval Hospital. After receiving treatment for several months he received a medical discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Margaret Gardner. Gardner tells of life in rural South Carolina during the war years and the emotions she felt as the result of losing her husband, Ensign Russell Edwards, a US Air Corps fighter pilot.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Dragoni. Dragoni joined the Army Aviation Cadet Training Program in August of 1943. He completed cadet training and gunnery school, though served as a Radar Navigator aboard a B-29. Beginning in December of 1944 he completed missions to Singapore out of a base in India. During one mission, their plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire over Singapore and they crash landed on Burma. They were later stationed on Guam, completing missions to Iwo Jima and Japan. He was discharged in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Afton Keeton. Keeton joined the Navy in July of 1942. He completed Hospital Corps School and became a Pharmacist Mate. He first served aboard the USS Sea Dragon (SS-194). They patrolled the Aleutian Islands. He was then stationed at the Submarine Base in Pearl Harbor, working in a sick bay. He then served aboard the USS Apollo (AS-25) with a relief crew. He provides some detail of working aboard a submarine, serving as the Doc, living conditions and undergoing his own appendectomy aboard the Apollo. In early 1945 he was assigned for 1 year to serve at a submarine base in St. Thomas. He then served as hospital corpsman on the USS Clamagore (SS-343). Keeton also worked on sonar watch, radar watch and as a cook during his time in the Navy. He spent a total of 30 years in the Navy, retiring in February of 1972.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Afton Keeton. Keeton joined the Navy in July of 1942. He completed Hospital Corps School and became a Pharmacist Mate. He first served aboard the USS Sea Dragon (SS-194). They patrolled the Aleutian Islands. He was then stationed at the Submarine Base in Pearl Harbor, working in a sick bay. He then served aboard the USS Apollo (AS-25) with a relief crew. He provides some detail of working aboard a submarine, serving as the Doc, living conditions and undergoing his own appendectomy aboard the Apollo. In early 1945 he was assigned for 1 year to serve at a submarine base in St. Thomas. He then served as hospital corpsman on the USS Clamagore (SS-343). Keeton also worked on sonar watch, radar watch and as a cook during his time in the Navy. He spent a total of 30 years in the Navy, retiring in February of 1972.