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Oral History Interview with George Zapalac, January 1, 2002 (open access)

Oral History Interview with George Zapalac, January 1, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with George Zapalac. After completing jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia, Zapalac went into the 101st Airborne, 506th Infantry Regiment. He jumped into Normandy on 6 June 1944. The objective for the 506th Infantry Regiment was to secure two bridges over the Carentan canal. He recalls being seriously wounded soon after landing and tells of the effort made by members of the 4th Infantry to bring trucks up so he and many other wounded could be taken to the aid station on Utah Beach. After receiving emergency treatment he was put on board an LST and taken to a hospital in England. After he recovered, Zapalac returned to his unit in November. It was found that he was unable to properly handle his weapon because of the injury and he was sent back to the hospital. Soon thereafter, he returned to the United States.
Date: January 1, 2002
Creator: Zapalac, George
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Zeller, July 1, 2002 transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Zeller, July 1, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Zeller. Zeller was born in Fulton County, Indiana on 14 July 1924. Soon after graduating from high school he joined the Army Air Forces. After indoctrination training, he was sent to the Carey Jones School of Aeronautics in Newark, New Jersey. There he had four weeks of training on aircraft engines. He was then sent to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri where he was subjected to six weeks of basic training. On 6 October 1943 he departed Newport News, Virginia on board the SS Marine Robin for a twenty-one day trip to Bombay, India. He recalls the ship being under attack by German bombers using guided missiles. His ship received some damage while another ship in the convoy was sunk. Upon arriving in India he was assigned as crew chief with the 48th Air Depot Group. Zeller’s unit performed maintenance on various aircraft including P-51 fighters, P-38 fighters and B-25 bombers. He recalls that following the surrender of Japan, over one hundred fifty aircraft at the field were purposely destroyed. Zeller returned to the United States in February 1946 and was discharged shortly thereafter.
Date: July 1, 2002
Creator: Zeller, Robert L.
Object Type: Sound
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oral History Interview with Robert Zeller, July 1, 2002 (open access)

Oral History Interview with Robert Zeller, July 1, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Zeller. Zeller was born in Fulton County, Indiana on 14 July 1924. Soon after graduating from high school he joined the Army Air Forces. After indoctrination training, he was sent to the Carey Jones School of Aeronautics in Newark, New Jersey. There he had four weeks of training on aircraft engines. He was then sent to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri where he was subjected to six weeks of basic training. On 6 October 1943 he departed Newport News, Virginia on board the SS Marine Robin for a twenty-one day trip to Bombay, India. He recalls the ship being under attack by German bombers using guided missiles. His ship received some damage while another ship in the convoy was sunk. Upon arriving in India he was assigned as crew chief with the 48th Air Depot Group. Zeller’s unit performed maintenance on various aircraft including P-51 fighters, P-38 fighters and B-25 bombers. He recalls that following the surrender of Japan, over one hundred fifty aircraft at the field were purposely destroyed. Zeller returned to the United States in February 1946 and was discharged shortly thereafter.
Date: July 1, 2002
Creator: Zeller, Robert L.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History