The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jasper, Jay, Knoll. Knoll was born in Wisconsin in 1915. He served on the ROTC at the University of Nebraska, and joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. After a number of temporary assignments, he was assigned as Chief of Aircraft Maintenance with the 20th Air Force on Guam. Knoll tells of some of the problems he encountered with the Boeing B-29 and the efforts put forth to keep the maximum number of planes in the air. He also comments on problems caused by the rats on Guam. He was discharged following World War II and reentered the Air Force with a regular commission. He recalls being assigned to Royal Air Force at Lakenheath, England and his involvement in the handling of nuclear weapons during a critical time during the Cold War. A career officer in the US Air Force, Knoll attained the rank of lieutenant colonel by his retirement.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gerald Benishek. Benishek was drafted into the Army Air Forces in June 1942 and trained at Jefferson Barracks. From there, he went to mechanics school in Nebraska. Once overseas, he went to New Guinea and then to Biak where he worked on C-47 and C-54 engines. When the war ended, Benishek was home in time for Christmas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Dunnam. Dunnam was drafted into the Army in July, 1944 and had basic training at Camp Wolters. Upon being sent overseas, Dunnam joined the 126th Infantry Regiment on Leyte. He traveled with them to Luzon in January just after the invasion got started. In May, he was wounded by rifle fire. He returned to his unit and recalls several hundred Japanese soldiers surrendering just after the war ended. He spent some time in Japan before returning to the US and being discharged in August, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Neumann. Neumann joined the Navy in April, 1944 and trained at Great Lakes. He attended radio school before reporting aboard YMS-231. They were just getting underway in the Pacific when the war ended. They shaped course for Japan to work minesweeping duties during the occupation. He was discharged I n1947 but stayed in the active reserves.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jim Bradford. Bradford was born in Marshall, Texas in 1920 and graduated from high school in 1937. Entering the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program he was sent to Tulare, California where he began flight training at the Rankin Aeronautical Academy. Upon graduation as a second lieutenant, he was assigned to Roswell, New Mexico as an instructor pilot at the Roswell Army Air Field. Following two years as an instructor Bradford was assigned to the 548th Night Fighter Squadron to begin training in the Northrop P-61 night fighter plane. Upon completion of training the unit was moved to Iwo Jima where they conducted night patrols. Bradford shot down a Japanese Betty bomber during one patrol. After Iwo Jima was secured, the unit moved to Okinawa and remained there until Japan surrendered. Bradford concludes the narration by telling of the various assignments he had prior to his retirement after thirty years of service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Milford Lee. After high school, Lee performed in a traveling big band. Once the war started, he became a draftsman at Boeing and took the aviation cadet exam. In January 1943 he began flight training, earning his wings that fall. He served as a P-38 fighter escort and group leader over Ploiesti. He details the protocol for conducting large raids, from briefing to debriefing, describing intense antiaircraft fire over the target. In Southern France, his plane was experimentally modified to carry 3,000 pounds' worth of bombs. In the fall of 1944, Lee was recruited for an Army big band that traveled to remote bases and emergency landing strips. While performing in the Balkans, he was captivated by a Partisan commander, later revealed to be Tito. After 56 missions, Lee was rotated to the States and in November 1945 was discharged. He went on to earn a doctorate in nuclear physics and joined a small research team that revolutionized fiber-optic communication.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Jennings. Jennings joined the Navy in September 1942 as an aviation cadet. In March 1944, he earned his wings and a commission in the Marine Corps. He volunteered for a night fighter unit so he could go overseas. He first went to Peleliu before going to Okinawa and joining VMF(N)-542 in July. Jennings went home in March, 1946 and was recalled for the Korean War. He was stationed in Japan briefly before returning to the US to train pilots.

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 Roger A. Ashenbrenner. Ashenbrenner was born 7 June 1922 in Washington D.C. He enlisted in the Navy 15 August 1942. He went to boot camp in Newport, Rhode Island. After brief periods as an armed guard at the Naval War College, amphibious training at Little Creek, Virginia, and a trip to Brooklyn, New York to man a new destroyer, he was finally sent to the merchant ship Mormac Swan as a member of the Navy Armed Guard. Their duty was to man the 3" gun mounted on the bow of the ship. After one trip across the Atlantic, Ashenbrenner was assigned to the Henry A. Wiley (DM-29). In November 1944, the Wiley escorted the battleships Missouri (BB-63), Texas (BB-35), and Arkansas (BB-33), and two escort carriers from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Arriving at Pearl Harbor, she then escorted the New York (BB-34) to join the covering force for the invasion of Iwo Jima. While there, Ashenbrenner witnessed both the original flag raising on Mt. Suribachi and the second raising immortalized by Joe Rosenthal. Once Iwo Jima was secured, the Wiley went to Okinawa to sweep mines. Subsequently …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joe White. White joined the Navy in June, 1944 and was assigned to the amphibious forces. He became a coxswain on an LCVP. In addition to hauling Marines to the beaches on Okinawa, White spent a lot of time running supplies from ship to shore to support the invasion. White has several anecdotes about his experiences like trading the Seabees beer for showers at his camp and being caught in a typhoon. White returned to the US and was discharged in June, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Gerald Benishek. Benishek was drafted into the Army Air Forces in June 1942 and trained at Jefferson Barracks. From there, he went to mechanics school in Nebraska. Once overseas, he went to New Guinea and then to Biak where he worked on C-47 and C-54 engines. When the war ended, Benishek was home in time for Christmas.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Dunnam. Dunnam was drafted into the Army in July, 1944 and had basic training at Camp Wolters. Upon being sent overseas, Dunnam joined the 126th Infantry Regiment on Leyte. He traveled with them to Luzon in January just after the invasion got started. In May, he was wounded by rifle fire. He returned to his unit and recalls several hundred Japanese soldiers surrendering just after the war ended. He spent some time in Japan before returning to the US and being discharged in August, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Walter Neumann. Neumann joined the Navy in April, 1944 and trained at Great Lakes. He attended radio school before reporting aboard YMS-231. They were just getting underway in the Pacific when the war ended. They shaped course for Japan to work minesweeping duties during the occupation. He was discharged I n1947 but stayed in the active reserves.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jim Bradford. Bradford was born in Marshall, Texas in 1920 and graduated from high school in 1937. Entering the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program he was sent to Tulare, California where he began flight training at the Rankin Aeronautical Academy. Upon graduation as a second lieutenant, he was assigned to Roswell, New Mexico as an instructor pilot at the Roswell Army Air Field. Following two years as an instructor Bradford was assigned to the 548th Night Fighter Squadron to begin training in the Northrop P-61 night fighter plane. Upon completion of training the unit was moved to Iwo Jima where they conducted night patrols. Bradford shot down a Japanese Betty bomber during one patrol. After Iwo Jima was secured, the unit moved to Okinawa and remained there until Japan surrendered. Bradford concludes the narration by telling of the various assignments he had prior to his retirement after thirty years of service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Milford Lee. After high school, Lee performed in a traveling big band. Once the war started, he became a draftsman at Boeing and took the aviation cadet exam. In January 1943 he began flight training, earning his wings that fall. He served as a P-38 fighter escort and group leader over Ploiesti. He details the protocol for conducting large raids, from briefing to debriefing, describing intense antiaircraft fire over the target. In Southern France, his plane was experimentally modified to carry 3,000 pounds' worth of bombs. In the fall of 1944, Lee was recruited for an Army big band that traveled to remote bases and emergency landing strips. While performing in the Balkans, he was captivated by a Partisan commander, later revealed to be Tito. After 56 missions, Lee was rotated to the States and in November 1945 was discharged. He went on to earn a doctorate in nuclear physics and joined a small research team that revolutionized fiber-optic communication.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William Jennings. Jennings joined the Navy in September 1942 as an aviation cadet. In March 1944, he earned his wings and a commission in the Marine Corps. He volunteered for a night fighter unit so he could go overseas. He first went to Peleliu before going to Okinawa and joining VMF(N)-542 in July. Jennings went home in March, 1946 and was recalled for the Korean War. He was stationed in Japan briefly before returning to the US to train pilots.

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 Roger A. Ashenbrenner. Ashenbrenner was born 7 June 1922 in Washington D.C. He enlisted in the Navy 15 August 1942. He went to boot camp in Newport, Rhode Island. After brief periods as an armed guard at the Naval War College, amphibious training at Little Creek, Virginia, and a trip to Brooklyn, New York to man a new destroyer, he was finally sent to the merchant ship Mormac Swan as a member of the Navy Armed Guard. Their duty was to man the 3" gun mounted on the bow of the ship. After one trip across the Atlantic, Ashenbrenner was assigned to the Henry A. Wiley (DM-29). In November 1944, the Wiley escorted the battleships Missouri (BB-63), Texas (BB-35), and Arkansas (BB-33), and two escort carriers from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Arriving at Pearl Harbor, she then escorted the New York (BB-34) to join the covering force for the invasion of Iwo Jima. While there, Ashenbrenner witnessed both the original flag raising on Mt. Suribachi and the second raising immortalized by Joe Rosenthal. Once Iwo Jima was secured, the Wiley went to Okinawa to sweep mines. Subsequently …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joe White. White joined the Navy in June, 1944 and was assigned to the amphibious forces. He became a coxswain on an LCVP. In addition to hauling Marines to the beaches on Okinawa, White spent a lot of time running supplies from ship to shore to support the invasion. White has several anecdotes about his experiences like trading the Seabees beer for showers at his camp and being caught in a typhoon. White returned to the US and was discharged in June, 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jasper, Jay, Knoll. Knoll was born in Wisconsin in 1915. He served on the ROTC at the University of Nebraska, and joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. After a number of temporary assignments, he was assigned as Chief of Aircraft Maintenance with the 20th Air Force on Guam. Knoll tells of some of the problems he encountered with the Boeing B-29 and the efforts put forth to keep the maximum number of planes in the air. He also comments on problems caused by the rats on Guam. He was discharged following World War II and reentered the Air Force with a regular commission. He recalls being assigned to Royal Air Force at Lakenheath, England and his involvement in the handling of nuclear weapons during a critical time during the Cold War. A career officer in the US Air Force, Knoll attained the rank of lieutenant colonel by his retirement.