The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Ross. Ross was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in September 1922. After graduating from high school he played football at the University of Wisconsin in 1940 and 1941. While in college, he participated in the Civilian Pilot Training Program. Enlisting in the Naval Aviation cadet program in 1942 he began pre-flight training at Iowa City, Iowa. He then went to the Glennville Naval Air Station in Illinois. While there he requested a transfer into the air arm of the US Marine Corps. Upon being accepted he went to Cherry Point, North Carolina where he was assigned to VMSB-331 to pilot SBD dive bombers. The squadron traveled to San Diego where they were put on the USS Nassau (CVE-16) for deployment to Nukufetau Airfield. He was a member of a detachment of the squadron that spent several months on Tarawa where they were subjected to nightly bombings by Japanese aircraft. During June 1944, while on a mission over Maloelap, Ross was forced to ditch due to flak damage. He and his crewman were picked up by a PBY. In July, the squadron converted to F4Us with experienced Corsair pilots …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Rueben Watlov. Watlov joined the Marine Corps in 1942. He completed radio and gunnery school. In January of 1943 Watlov joined Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 331 (VMSB-331), working as an aerial gunner aboard a Douglas SBD Dauntless divebomber. Beginning in November of 1943, they were stationed at Nukufetau Airfield on Motulalo Island. They participated in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands Campaign. Watlov joined a detachment of their squadron at Tarawa, aiding in patrol operations. They remained in the Pacific and carried out air strikes against bypassed Japanese positions for the remainder of the war. They returned to the US in October of 1945 and he was discharged in November.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bob Goeser. Goeser joined the Marine Corps in October of 1942, and was assigned to the air arm. He completed Radio Navigation School. He served as an air crewman in the Philippines and China, completed over 50 combat missions and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, and a Silver Star. He was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dick Merrifield. Merrifield was born in Philadelphia in 1925 into a family of three boys and one girl. All three boys served in the military during World War II. Upon graduating from high school in 1942 he joined the Marine Corps and spent thirteen weeks at Paris Island. Upon completion of boot training he was sent to Cherry Point, North Carolina where he was assigned as a gunner/radioman with VMSB-331, flying in Dauntless SBD dive bombers. After completion of dive bomb training the squadron departed by ship to Nukufetau Atoll, arriving in mid-November 1943. From there the squadron flew support missions to various islands. Merrifield flew sixty-three missions. He recalls the feelings and sensations one has when diving at a 90 degree angle. Following the surrender of Japan, Merrifield went to Hawaii where he was assigned to Marine Air Control Squadron 2. The squadron was sent to Tsingtao, China in support of the Nationalist Army of Chiang Kai-shek. Merrifield returned to the United States in March 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Owen Putler. Putler became a Navy Cadet in June of 1942. He completed Civilian Pilot Training, and received his license in February of 1943. He then joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and became a second lieutenant. He completed advanced dive bomber training in May of 1943. In March of 1944 he was stationed in the Marshall Islands and served as a VMSB-331 pilot, conducting bombing, search and photo reconnaissance missions. Their job was to keep the shipping lanes open for the Navy and the fleet. Putler completed 136 missions and received 6 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 21 Air Medals.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with R.Y. Bowers. Bowers was born in Lancaster, South Carolina in 1922. Upon joining the Marines in 1931, he was sent to Parris Island, South Carolina for four weeks of boot training. In June 1943, he was assigned to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, VMSB- 331. He briefly tells of his twelve months of training in radio and gunnery. When his training was completed he went by troop train to San Diego. There he was trained in the use of plane mounted radar and later assigned to a pilot with whom he remained throughout the war. In 1943 the squadron went aboard the USS Nassau (CVE-16) for a fourteen day voyage to the island of Pango Pango. From there, the unit moved to various islands including Wallis, Majuro and Nanomea. During this time they met no enemy fighter opposition but their plane received flak damage on several occasions. Bowers and his pilot were then moved to Makin where they remained for three months. They then returned to the United States. Bowers flew 37 combat missions during his time with VMSB-331.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Rueben Watlov. Watlov joined the Marine Corps in 1942. He completed radio and gunnery school. In January of 1943 Watlov joined Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 331 (VMSB-331), working as an aerial gunner aboard a Douglas SBD Dauntless divebomber. Beginning in November of 1943, they were stationed at Nukufetau Airfield on Motulalo Island. They participated in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands Campaign. Watlov joined a detachment of their squadron at Tarawa, aiding in patrol operations. They remained in the Pacific and carried out air strikes against bypassed Japanese positions for the remainder of the war. They returned to the US in October of 1945 and he was discharged in November.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Ross. Ross was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in September 1922. After graduating from high school he played football at the University of Wisconsin in 1940 and 1941. While in college, he participated in the Civilian Pilot Training Program. Enlisting in the Naval Aviation cadet program in 1942 he began pre-flight training at Iowa City, Iowa. He then went to the Glennville Naval Air Station in Illinois. While there he requested a transfer into the air arm of the US Marine Corps. Upon being accepted he went to Cherry Point, North Carolina where he was assigned to VMSB-331 to pilot SBD dive bombers. The squadron traveled to San Diego where they were put on the USS Nassau (CVE-16) for deployment to Nukufetau Airfield. He was a member of a detachment of the squadron that spent several months on Tarawa where they were subjected to nightly bombings by Japanese aircraft. During June 1944, while on a mission over Maloelap, Ross was forced to ditch due to flak damage. He and his crewman were picked up by a PBY. In July, the squadron converted to F4Us with experienced Corsair pilots …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bob Goeser. Goeser joined the Marine Corps in October of 1942, and was assigned to the air arm. He completed Radio Navigation School. He served as an air crewman in the Philippines and China, completed over 50 combat missions and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, and a Silver Star. He was discharged in December of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dick Merrifield. Merrifield was born in Philadelphia in 1925 into a family of three boys and one girl. All three boys served in the military during World War II. Upon graduating from high school in 1942 he joined the Marine Corps and spent thirteen weeks at Paris Island. Upon completion of boot training he was sent to Cherry Point, North Carolina where he was assigned as a gunner/radioman with VMSB-331, flying in Dauntless SBD dive bombers. After completion of dive bomb training the squadron departed by ship to Nukufetau Atoll, arriving in mid-November 1943. From there the squadron flew support missions to various islands. Merrifield flew sixty-three missions. He recalls the feelings and sensations one has when diving at a 90 degree angle. Following the surrender of Japan, Merrifield went to Hawaii where he was assigned to Marine Air Control Squadron 2. The squadron was sent to Tsingtao, China in support of the Nationalist Army of Chiang Kai-shek. Merrifield returned to the United States in March 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Owen Putler. Putler became a Navy Cadet in June of 1942. He completed Civilian Pilot Training, and received his license in February of 1943. He then joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and became a second lieutenant. He completed advanced dive bomber training in May of 1943. In March of 1944 he was stationed in the Marshall Islands and served as a VMSB-331 pilot, conducting bombing, search and photo reconnaissance missions. Their job was to keep the shipping lanes open for the Navy and the fleet. Putler completed 136 missions and received 6 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 21 Air Medals.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with R.Y. Bowers. Bowers was born in Lancaster, South Carolina in 1922. Upon joining the Marines in 1931, he was sent to Parris Island, South Carolina for four weeks of boot training. In June 1943, he was assigned to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, VMSB- 331. He briefly tells of his twelve months of training in radio and gunnery. When his training was completed he went by troop train to San Diego. There he was trained in the use of plane mounted radar and later assigned to a pilot with whom he remained throughout the war. In 1943 the squadron went aboard the USS Nassau (CVE-16) for a fourteen day voyage to the island of Pango Pango. From there, the unit moved to various islands including Wallis, Majuro and Nanomea. During this time they met no enemy fighter opposition but their plane received flak damage on several occasions. Bowers and his pilot were then moved to Makin where they remained for three months. They then returned to the United States. Bowers flew 37 combat missions during his time with VMSB-331.