The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles H. Tucker from Orange, California. He discusses volunteering for the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943 and going to basic training in Miami Beach, Florida, then going to Aircraft Armament School in Buckley Field, Colorado, and finally air gunnery school in Fort Myers, Florida. In air gunnery school, Mr. Tucker learned to shoot in B-17 by shooting into the Gulf of Mexico. After gunnery school he was sent to the B-25 crew training at Columbia, South Carolina for 5 months. After Mr. Tucker completed his training, he was transferred to Dacca to a B-25 base and joined the 10th Air Force, the 12th Bomb Group. When he arrived his crew pilots were reassigned, and Mr. Tucker was not able to fly much until he was assigned to a regular crew again. Mr. Tucker was put in the 729th bomb squadron tasked with supporting the British 14th Army against the Japanese forces in Burma. The campaign he was involved in ended in May 1945 with the capture of Rangoon, the main city of Burma and Mr. tucker was in one of the squadron planes that flew over the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles H. Tucker from Orange, California. He discusses volunteering for the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943 and going to basic training in Miami Beach, Florida, then going to Aircraft Armament School in Buckley Field, Colorado, and finally air gunnery school in Fort Myers, Florida. In air gunnery school, Mr. Tucker learned to shoot in B-17 by shooting into the Gulf of Mexico. After gunnery school he was sent to the B-25 crew training at Columbia, South Carolina for 5 months. After Mr. Tucker completed his training, he was transferred to Dacca to a B-25 base and joined the 10th Air Force, the 12th Bomb Group. When he arrived his crew pilots were reassigned, and Mr. Tucker was not able to fly much until he was assigned to a regular crew again. Mr. Tucker was put in the 729th bomb squadron tasked with supporting the British 14th Army against the Japanese forces in Burma. The campaign he was involved in ended in May 1945 with the capture of Rangoon, the main city of Burma and Mr. tucker was in one of the squadron planes that flew over the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Marion Peck. Peck entered the Navy WAVES in January 1943. She went to Hunter College in the Bronx, New York for training. She describes in detail what she learned in training and her uniform. She then moved on to Boston to Burdett College for additional training. She served in naval supplies and accounts. Her permanent work station was at the U.S. Naval Reserve Midshipman School at Notre Dame University in Indiana. She was also assigned to the Navy Pier in Chicago to work at the U.S. Naval Expo. She then moved on to the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christ, Texas in 1945. Her rank was DK2C Disbursing Clerk Second Class. She was discharged February 1946. She used her G.I. Bill to attend St. Mary’s College at Notre Dame. She worked as a flight attendant and at Green Giant and as a housewife. She enjoys playing Taps at her local military burials as a member of the American Legion.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alvino Mendoza. Mendoza was born in Round Rock, Texas on 1 March 1926, and briefly tells of his life before entering the US Navy. After completing boot training at Camp Wallace, Texas he was assigned as a seaman aboard USS St. George (AV-16). His battle station was loader on an anti-aircraft gun. Mendoza describes his experiences during the Battle of Okinawa in which the St. George, as well as USS Curtiss (AV-4), were hit by kamikazes. He tells of being in several typhoons and describes an incident in which he fell into the sea. He served in the occupation of Japan. Mendoza returned to the US and received his discharge in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Leon Stath. Stath joined the Navy and volunteered for submarine duty in 1944. After finishing sound school and torpedo school, he was sent to the Pacific and assigned aboard the submarine tender USS Howard W Gilmore (AS-16) at Subic Bay. He also served on submarine skeleton crews ferrying subs as well as aboard USS Requin (SS-481) when Slade Cutter commanded. When the war ended, Stath took his discharge in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Dittmar. Dittmar joined the Navy in 1943 and trained at Great Lakes and shares a few anecdotes from those days. He served as an operating room technician aboard USS La Grange (APA-124) when he was assigned to the ship in mid-1944. He recalls his duties aboard and going to the Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with George Kempfe. Kempfe was working when the war started. He decided to join the Navy and trained for service aboard PT boats. After training, he was assigned to PT-372 in Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 27. Kempfe shares several anecdotes about PT operations in the Solomon Islands and the Philippines. When the war ended, Kempfe opted for discharge and mustered out of the Navy in late 1945.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Bob Osborne. Osborne joined the Navy in 1943. He was assigned aboard USS Chester (CA-27). Osborne shares several anecdotes of his time aboard the ship. He also describes the collision between the Chester and another ship off Iwo Jima. When the war ended, Osborne elected to take his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Tucker. Tucker was drafted into the Army Air Forces in 1943. He went to aircraft armament school at Buckley Field, Colorado and aerial gunnery school in Fort Myers, Florida. He was then assigned to a B-25 crew training in Columbia, South Carolina. He served as a tail gunner. He provides detail of his activities and lessons in training. In December of 1944 his crew received orders to go overseas to India. His crew joined the 12th Bombardment Group, 729th Bomb Squadron, part of the 10th Air Force. They were assigned missions of supporting the British 14th Army in its campaign to recapture Burma from the Japanese. Tucker was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Alvino Mendoza. Mendoza was born in Round Rock, Texas on 1 March 1926, and briefly tells of his life before entering the US Navy. After completing boot training at Camp Wallace, Texas he was assigned as a seaman aboard USS St. George (AV-16). His battle station was loader on an anti-aircraft gun. Mendoza describes his experiences during the Battle of Okinawa in which the St. George, as well as USS Curtiss (AV-4), were hit by kamikazes. He tells of being in several typhoons and describes an incident in which he fell into the sea. He served in the occupation of Japan. Mendoza returned to the US and received his discharge in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Marion Peck. Peck entered the Navy WAVES in January 1943. She went to Hunter College in the Bronx, New York for training. She describes in detail what she learned in training and her uniform. She then moved on to Boston to Burdett College for additional training. She served in naval supplies and accounts. Her permanent work station was at the U.S. Naval Reserve Midshipman School at Notre Dame University in Indiana. She was also assigned to the Navy Pier in Chicago to work at the U.S. Naval Expo. She then moved on to the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christ, Texas in 1945. Her rank was DK2C Disbursing Clerk Second Class. She was discharged February 1946. She used her G.I. Bill to attend St. Mary’s College at Notre Dame. She worked as a flight attendant and at Green Giant and as a housewife. She enjoys playing Taps at her local military burials as a member of the American Legion.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Dittmar. Dittmar joined the Navy in 1943 and trained at Great Lakes and shares a few anecdotes from those days. He served as an operating room technician aboard USS La Grange (APA-124) when he was assigned to the ship in mid-1944. He recalls his duties aboard and going to the Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Leon Stath. Stath joined the Navy and volunteered for submarine duty in 1944. After finishing sound school and torpedo school, he was sent to the Pacific and assigned aboard the submarine tender USS Howard W Gilmore (AS-16) at Subic Bay. He also served on submarine skeleton crews ferrying subs as well as aboard USS Requin (SS-481) when Slade Cutter commanded. When the war ended, Stath took his discharge in late 1945.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with Bob Osborne. Osborne joined the Navy in 1943. He was assigned aboard USS Chester (CA-27). Osborne shares several anecdotes of his time aboard the ship. He also describes the collision between the Chester and another ship off Iwo Jima. When the war ended, Osborne elected to take his discharge.

The National Museum of the pacific War presents an oral interview with George Kempfe. Kempfe was working when the war started. He decided to join the Navy and trained for service aboard PT boats. After training, he was assigned to PT-372 in Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 27. Kempfe shares several anecdotes about PT operations in the Solomon Islands and the Philippines. When the war ended, Kempfe opted for discharge and mustered out of the Navy in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Tucker. Tucker was drafted into the Army Air Forces in 1943. He went to aircraft armament school at Buckley Field, Colorado and aerial gunnery school in Fort Myers, Florida. He was then assigned to a B-25 crew training in Columbia, South Carolina. He served as a tail gunner. He provides detail of his activities and lessons in training. In December of 1944 his crew received orders to go overseas to India. His crew joined the 12th Bombardment Group, 729th Bomb Squadron, part of the 10th Air Force. They were assigned missions of supporting the British 14th Army in its campaign to recapture Burma from the Japanese. Tucker was discharged in December of 1945.