The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bernard Garbow. Garbow joined the Navy in September 1941 to become an aviator. He trained as a fighter pilot. Garbow became a replacement pilot in Fighter Squadron 19 (VF-19) on board the USS Lexington (CV-16). He shot down three planes in one action over Formosa. Garbow was also part of an attack that sank several ships in Manila Bay. He also witnessed three Japanese carriers sink during the Battle of Cape Engano. Garbow’s unit rotated back to the States when the war ended. He left the Navy in the Fall of 1945 only to rejoin in the Spring of 1946. He stayed in the Navy until he retired in 1973.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bernard Garbow. Garbow joined the Navy in September 1941 to become an aviator. He trained as a fighter pilot. Garbow became a replacement pilot in Fighter Squadron 19 (VF-19) on board the USS Lexington (CV-16). He shot down three planes in one action over Formosa. Garbow was also part of an attack that sank several ships in Manila Bay. He also witnessed three Japanese carriers sink during the Battle of Cape Engano. Garbow’s unit rotated back to the States when the war ended. He left the Navy in the Fall of 1945 only to rejoin in the Spring of 1946. He stayed in the Navy until he retired in 1973.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Horn. Horn was drafted into the Army in February of 1943. Horn was assigned to Company H, 2nd Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. He was first gunner in a machine gun squad. In March they traveled to Africa. Horn provides details of the water-cooled 30mm machine gun he fired. Theirjob in Africa was to move the remaining Germans out. Later in 1943 they traveled to Sicily, then Salerno. In September of 1943 Horn was wounded in Salerno by a 20mm gun. After being wounded he was sent back to Anzio. He later participated in the Normandy landings in June of 1944. Ernie Pyle worked with their group. In December of 1944 they participated in the Battle of the Bulge. He was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Horn. Horn was drafted into the Army in February of 1943. Horn was assigned to Company H, 2nd Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. He was first gunner in a machine gun squad. In March they traveled to Africa. Horn provides details of the water-cooled 30mm machine gun he fired. Theirjob in Africa was to move the remaining Germans out. Later in 1943 they traveled to Sicily, then Salerno. In September of 1943 Horn was wounded in Salerno by a 20mm gun. After being wounded he was sent back to Anzio. He later participated in the Normandy landings in June of 1944. Ernie Pyle worked with their group. In December of 1944 they participated in the Battle of the Bulge. He was discharged in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Merton Bobo. Bobo was born in Greenfield, Maine 10 February 1926. Graduating from high school in 1943 he enlisted in the Navy. Following a six week boot camp in Sampson, New York he was sent to Jacksonville, Florida to attend radio school. Once he graduated, he was sent to Yellow Water, Florida for gunnery training. Upon completing the gunnery training, he went to Fort Lauderdale, where he began operational training in a TBM with a pilot and gunner. The crew stayed together during their combat tour. Upon completion of the advanced training the crew went to San Diego where they joined VC-90. Going to Hawaii, they were trained in the use of rockets and torpedoes. The crew was assigned to the USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87) and began making patrols and practice landings. They joined a task unit and sailed to the Mindoro Straits where they were under attack by Japanese planes for five days. During this time Bobo witnessed a kamikaze crashing into the USS Ommaney Bay (CVE-79). He participated in combat missions at Lingayen Gulf, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He recalls the night their ship was in …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Merton Bobo. Bobo was born in Greenfield, Maine 10 February 1926. Graduating from high school in 1943 he enlisted in the Navy. Following a six week boot camp in Sampson, New York he was sent to Jacksonville, Florida to attend radio school. Once he graduated, he was sent to Yellow Water, Florida for gunnery training. Upon completing the gunnery training, he went to Fort Lauderdale, where he began operational training in a TBM with a pilot and gunner. The crew stayed together during their combat tour. Upon completion of the advanced training the crew went to San Diego where they joined VC-90. Going to Hawaii, they were trained in the use of rockets and torpedoes. The crew was assigned to the USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87) and began making patrols and practice landings. They joined a task unit and sailed to the Mindoro Straits where they were under attack by Japanese planes for five days. During this time Bobo witnessed a kamikaze crashing into the USS Ommaney Bay (CVE-79). He participated in combat missions at Lingayen Gulf, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He recalls the night their ship was in …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Raymond Wortham. Wortham joined the Marine Corps in August 1943 and received basic training in San Diego. Because he already knew Morse code and enjoyed electronics as a hobby, he was sent for further training as a radio operator. Upon completion, he was assigned to radio materiel school in Omaha, where he learned to repair two-way electronic equipment. He was then sent to the US Army’s main signal depot in Fort Monmouth to take a course in carrier radio relay. He joined the 2nd Marine Division in Hawaii and installed a transmitter on Mount Haleakala. After the Japanese surrender, Wortham was transferred to Sasebo, Japan, to set up and maintain communication receivers and transmitters for MacArthur’s headquarters. Wortham returned home and was discharged in September 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Raymond Wortham. Wortham joined the Marine Corps in August 1943 and received basic training in San Diego. Because he already knew Morse code and enjoyed electronics as a hobby, he was sent for further training as a radio operator. Upon completion, he was assigned to radio materiel school in Omaha, where he learned to repair two-way electronic equipment. He was then sent to the US Army’s main signal depot in Fort Monmouth to take a course in carrier radio relay. He joined the 2nd Marine Division in Hawaii and installed a transmitter on Mount Haleakala. After the Japanese surrender, Wortham was transferred to Sasebo, Japan, to set up and maintain communication receivers and transmitters for MacArthur’s headquarters. Wortham returned home and was discharged in September 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Schell. Schell joined the Navy in March 1944. He was trained as an aviation ordinance man and was assigned to VC-84 as a gunner on a TBM-3. His squadron was assigned to the USS Makin Island (CVE-93) and participated in the battles of Leyte Gulf, Lingayen Bay, and Iwo Jima. Schell talks about how they bombed Iwo Jima for thirty-two days with little effect. He was discharged in February 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Schell. Schell joined the Navy in March 1944. He was trained as an aviation ordinance man and was assigned to VC-84 as a gunner on a TBM-3. His squadron was assigned to the USS Makin Island (CVE-93) and participated in the battles of Leyte Gulf, Lingayen Bay, and Iwo Jima. Schell talks about how they bombed Iwo Jima for thirty-two days with little effect. He was discharged in February 1946.