The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Curts. Curts joined the Army in September, 1943 and trained in Oklahoma. Then he was assigned to the 252nd Engineer Combat Battalion. He landed in France in September, 1944. His unit built bridges and cleared mines from France to Belgium. He was on the front lines at the Battle of the Bulge. His unit was on its way to the Pacific when the war ended. Curts went home and was discharged in May, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Billy Dennard. Dennard was drafted into the Navy in September, 1944 and trained at San Diego before reporting aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13). He was aboard when a Japanese plane attacked the ship 50 miles off the coast of Japan in March, 1945. Dennard was rescued from below decks and stayed aboard the ship all the way back to New York. Dennard was discharged in June, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Herb Smith. Smith was born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1920. In 1940 he entered Centenary College in Shreveport and participated in the Civilian Pilot Training Program. After completing the course he joined the Navy. After receiving his wings in July 1943 he went to Melbourne, Florida where he began training in the Grumman F6F fighter plane. Upon qualifying in carrier landings on Lake Michigan, he was sent to Guadalcanal in May 1944. He flew various combat missions from there. He then went to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides and was assigned to Carrier Aircraft Service Unit 39. After several months he was assigned to VF-80 aboard the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14). Smith, with another Hellcat, was returning from an airstrike to the Ticonderoga and encountered fifteen Japanese planes. Smith and his wingman employed the Thach Weave, resulting in them shooting down several of the enemy. In December 1944 the Ticonderoga was caught in Typhoon Cobra. During a mission over Formosa, Smith’s group commander was forced to bail out. Smith protected him from the air until he was picked by an American submarine. On 21 January 1945, while Smith was airborne, …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard Curts. Curts joined the Army in September, 1943 and trained in Oklahoma. Then he was assigned to the 252nd Engineer Combat Battalion. He landed in France in September, 1944. His unit built bridges and cleared mines from France to Belgium. He was on the front lines at the Battle of the Bulge. His unit was on its way to the Pacific when the war ended. Curts went home and was discharged in May, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Billy Dennard. Dennard was drafted into the Navy in September, 1944 and trained at San Diego before reporting aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13). He was aboard when a Japanese plane attacked the ship 50 miles off the coast of Japan in March, 1945. Dennard was rescued from below decks and stayed aboard the ship all the way back to New York. Dennard was discharged in June, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Herb Smith. Smith was born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1920. In 1940 he entered Centenary College in Shreveport and participated in the Civilian Pilot Training Program. After completing the course he joined the Navy. After receiving his wings in July 1943 he went to Melbourne, Florida where he began training in the Grumman F6F fighter plane. Upon qualifying in carrier landings on Lake Michigan, he was sent to Guadalcanal in May 1944. He flew various combat missions from there. He then went to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides and was assigned to Carrier Aircraft Service Unit 39. After several months he was assigned to VF-80 aboard the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14). Smith, with another Hellcat, was returning from an airstrike to the Ticonderoga and encountered fifteen Japanese planes. Smith and his wingman employed the Thach Weave, resulting in them shooting down several of the enemy. In December 1944 the Ticonderoga was caught in Typhoon Cobra. During a mission over Formosa, Smith’s group commander was forced to bail out. Smith protected him from the air until he was picked by an American submarine. On 21 January 1945, while Smith was airborne, …