The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Harlan E. McLean. McLean was born in Burlington, Iowa on 6 June 1924 and entered the Army Air Forces in December 1942. McLean took basic at Scott Field, Missouri and was sent to Michigan State University for enrollment in a college training detachment. He describes his life while taking classes in preparation for cadet training. Upon completion of the college courses, he was sent to Vernon, Texas for primary flight training, then to Enid, Oklahoma and Victoria, Texas for secondary flight training. He graduated and was commissioned 27 February 1944. His first assignment was at Chatham Field, Savannah, Georgia where he trained in B-24s. After completion of the transitional training he went to Mitchell Field, New York, to await an overseas assignment. After arrival in England, he was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group, 508th Bomb Squadron as a B-17 co-pilot. He flew 24 combat missions and describes several. After Germany surrendered, McLean’s group transported Frenchmen, who had been prisoners of the Germans, back to France and comments on their physical condition. He returned to the United States during June 1945 and went into the Reserves. He recalls …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Harlan E. McLean. McLean was born in Burlington, Iowa on 6 June 1924 and entered the Army Air Forces in December 1942. McLean took basic at Scott Field, Missouri and was sent to Michigan State University for enrollment in a college training detachment. He describes his life while taking classes in preparation for cadet training. Upon completion of the college courses, he was sent to Vernon, Texas for primary flight training, then to Enid, Oklahoma and Victoria, Texas for secondary flight training. He graduated and was commissioned 27 February 1944. His first assignment was at Chatham Field, Savannah, Georgia where he trained in B-24s. After completion of the transitional training he went to Mitchell Field, New York, to await an overseas assignment. After arrival in England, he was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group, 508th Bomb Squadron as a B-17 co-pilot. He flew 24 combat missions and describes several. After Germany surrendered, McLean’s group transported Frenchmen, who had been prisoners of the Germans, back to France and comments on their physical condition. He returned to the United States during June 1945 and went into the Reserves. He recalls …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rufus Dye. Dye joined the Army Air Corps in 1940 after finishing high school in Illinois. Dye finished radio operator school in Chicago before heading for flight training in California. Upon completion of flight training and earning his commission, Dye reported for duty with the 392nd Fighter Squadron, 367th Fighter Group in England where he flew combat missions in France prior to the Normandy landing. He flew a P-38 Lightning. He was in Frankfurt when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Rufus Dye. Dye joined the Army Air Corps in 1940 after finishing high school in Illinois. Dye finished radio operator school in Chicago before heading for flight training in California. Upon completion of flight training and earning his commission, Dye reported for duty with the 392nd Fighter Squadron, 367th Fighter Group in England where he flew combat missions in France prior to the Normandy landing. He flew a P-38 Lightning. He was in Frankfurt when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Brown. Brown joined the Navy in 1943. He served as an Apprentice Seaman with the deck force aboard the USS Zeilin (APA-3). From September of 1943 through the spring of 1945, he participated in landing troops at Tarawa, Kwajalein Atoll, New Guinea, the Philippines, and Iwo Jima. Brown returned to the US in April of 1945, and was discharged later in the year.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Brown. Brown joined the Navy in 1943. He served as an Apprentice Seaman with the deck force aboard the USS Zeilin (APA-3). From September of 1943 through the spring of 1945, he participated in landing troops at Tarawa, Kwajalein Atoll, New Guinea, the Philippines, and Iwo Jima. Brown returned to the US in April of 1945, and was discharged later in the year.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lee Osterloh. Osterloh joined the Army Air Forces in March of 1942. He completed Technical School and served as a Tech Sergeant. He worked in Greensboro, North Carolina for two years. He additionally completed Machine Records School, utilizing an IBM machine with punch cards. In November of 1944, Osterloh deployed to Calcutta, India, maintaining records of planes and cargo flying over the Himalaya Mountains. He returned to the US and was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Lee Osterloh. Osterloh joined the Army Air Forces in March of 1942. He completed Technical School and served as a Tech Sergeant. He worked in Greensboro, North Carolina for two years. He additionally completed Machine Records School, utilizing an IBM machine with punch cards. In November of 1944, Osterloh deployed to Calcutta, India, maintaining records of planes and cargo flying over the Himalaya Mountains. He returned to the US and was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dana Anderson. Anderson was born in Manhattan, Kansas on 30 November 1924 and joined the Navy on 2 December 1942. After completing boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Illinois he was sent to San Diego where he trained on the Diesel engines on LCMs. After the training was complete he was assigned to USS Ashland (LSD-1), which was capable of carrying 18 LCMs. After making practice landings in Hawaii with the 2nd Marine Division, the Ashland participated in the invasion of Tarawa. Anderson’s LCM was left on the beach as it was disabled by Japanese shellfire. He returned to the Ashland and later participated in the invasions of Eniwetok and Kwajalein. Returning to the United States, he was sent to Cleveland, Ohio where he received additional training with Diesel engines. He was then assigned to an ocean-going tug hauling concrete forms to the Philippines. This tug was pulling another ship back to the US when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dana Anderson. Anderson was born in Manhattan, Kansas on 30 November 1924 and joined the Navy on 2 December 1942. After completing boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Illinois he was sent to San Diego where he trained on the Diesel engines on LCMs. After the training was complete he was assigned to USS Ashland (LSD-1), which was capable of carrying 18 LCMs. After making practice landings in Hawaii with the 2nd Marine Division, the Ashland participated in the invasion of Tarawa. Anderson’s LCM was left on the beach as it was disabled by Japanese shellfire. He returned to the Ashland and later participated in the invasions of Eniwetok and Kwajalein. Returning to the United States, he was sent to Cleveland, Ohio where he received additional training with Diesel engines. He was then assigned to an ocean-going tug hauling concrete forms to the Philippines. This tug was pulling another ship back to the US when the war ended.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edmond Drake. Drake joined the Navy in April of 1943. Beginning early 1944, he served as Electrician’s Mate aboard USS President Adams (APA-19). They transported troops and supplies during the Battle of Guam, the invasion Luzon and the Battle of Iwo Jima. He returned to the US in April of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edmond Drake. Drake joined the Navy in April of 1943. Beginning early 1944, he served as Electrician’s Mate aboard USS President Adams (APA-19). They transported troops and supplies during the Battle of Guam, the invasion Luzon and the Battle of Iwo Jima. He returned to the US in April of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Doig. Doig joined the Navy in December of 1942. He completed Diesel School, repairing landing craft engines. Beginning August of 1943, Doig served in the fire room aboard USS Ashland (LSD-1). While he was aboard, the Ashland participated in the assaults on Kwajalein and Eniwetok. In the late 1944, Doig was transferred to USS Kenton (APA-122). They transported troops to the Philippines and participated in the Okinawa invasion. Doig was discharged in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with James Doig. Doig joined the Navy in December of 1942. He completed Diesel School, repairing landing craft engines. Beginning August of 1943, Doig served in the fire room aboard USS Ashland (LSD-1). While he was aboard, the Ashland participated in the assaults on Kwajalein and Eniwetok. In the late 1944, Doig was transferred to USS Kenton (APA-122). They transported troops to the Philippines and participated in the Okinawa invasion. Doig was discharged in February of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Osborn. Osborn joined the Navy in April of 1943. He completed Fireman and Steam Engine training. He served in the engine room aboard USS Hammondsport (AKV-2), transporting aircraft to the Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal, Espiritu Santo and New Caledonia. Osborn later transferred to USS Harris (APA-2). He served as an Engineman aboard the landing craft, transporting troops to and from Kwajalein in February of 1944. Around May, Osborn was transferred to USS Ashland (LSD-1), participating in the Invasion of the Philippines, and the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. After the war, Osborn served with occupational forces in Shanghai, China. He helped organize the transportation of the Japanese back to Japan. He returned to the US and was discharged in the spring of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Osborn. Osborn joined the Navy in April of 1943. He completed Fireman and Steam Engine training. He served in the engine room aboard USS Hammondsport (AKV-2), transporting aircraft to the Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal, Espiritu Santo and New Caledonia. Osborn later transferred to USS Harris (APA-2). He served as an Engineman aboard the landing craft, transporting troops to and from Kwajalein in February of 1944. Around May, Osborn was transferred to USS Ashland (LSD-1), participating in the Invasion of the Philippines, and the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. After the war, Osborn served with occupational forces in Shanghai, China. He helped organize the transportation of the Japanese back to Japan. He returned to the US and was discharged in the spring of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Emil Smolek. Smolek joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. He served as a B-24 pilot with the 531st Bomb Squadron, 380th Bomb Group. In the spring of 1944, they traveled to Biak, Indonesia and Mindanao, Philippines where they set up operations. Smolek flew a total of 31 missions, including bombing ammunition plants in China, Japanese headquarters in Baggio, oil fields in Balikpapan, and factories in Mindoro. They participated in the New Guinea Campaign. Smolek flew missions through the end of the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Emil Smolek. Smolek joined the Army Air Forces in 1942. He served as a B-24 pilot with the 531st Bomb Squadron, 380th Bomb Group. In the spring of 1944, they traveled to Biak, Indonesia and Mindanao, Philippines where they set up operations. Smolek flew a total of 31 missions, including bombing ammunition plants in China, Japanese headquarters in Baggio, oil fields in Balikpapan, and factories in Mindoro. They participated in the New Guinea Campaign. Smolek flew missions through the end of the war.

Transcript of a simultaneous oral interview with Archie L. Sherman and Ray Magro. Both served in the Navy. Sherman served for a while on patrol craft in Alaska before transferring to the USS Cummings (DD-365). He was released from the Cummings due to excessive seasickness, but eventually was assigned tothe USS Smith (DD-378). Magro joined the Navy in 1940 and served aboard the USS Mahan (DD-364) and the USS Cummings before being assigned to the USS Smith. Magro describes his actions and impressions when the Smith was attacked in 1942 by Japanese torpedo bombers and when one crashed into Smith's forecastle. Sherman joined the Smith in 1943. The men describe the collision of the Smith with the USS Hutchins (DD-476) in January 1944. After a while, Magro got sick, was sent to the US to recover after which he was assigned to a patorl gunboat, the USS Tenacity (PG-71) bound for England. As a result, he was in England when the war with Germany came to an end. Sherman goes on to describe the landings in the Philippines, and witnessing the destruction in Nagasaki after the atomic bomb was dropped.

Transcript of a simultaneous oral interview with Archie L. Sherman and Ray Magro. Both served in the Navy. Sherman served for a while on patrol craft in Alaska before transferring to the USS Cummings (DD-365). He was released from the Cummings due to excessive seasickness, but eventually was assigned tothe USS Smith (DD-378). Magro joined the Navy in 1940 and served aboard the USS Mahan (DD-364) and the USS Cummings before being assigned to the USS Smith. Magro describes his actions and impressions when the Smith was attacked in 1942 by Japanese torpedo bombers and when one crashed into Smith's forecastle. Sherman joined the Smith in 1943. The men describe the collision of the Smith with the USS Hutchins (DD-476) in January 1944. After a while, Magro got sick, was sent to the US to recover after which he was assigned to a patorl gunboat, the USS Tenacity (PG-71) bound for England. As a result, he was in England when the war with Germany came to an end. Sherman goes on to describe the landings in the Philippines, and witnessing the destruction in Nagasaki after the atomic bomb was dropped.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eugene Tietjen. Born in 1920, he joined the Navy in January 1940. He was first assigned to the USS Dixie (AD-14) destroyer tender. He was transferred to the USS Smith (DD-378) in February 1942 where he served as a machine gun loader as well as a gunner. He discusses the aftermath of the explosion on the Smith during the Battle of Santa Cruz. He describes the configuration of the artillery as well as the living conditions on the Smith. He was transferred to the USS Sicily (CVE-118) in 1946. After he was discharged from the Navy in December 1948, he became a mason.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eugene Tietjen. Born in 1920, he joined the Navy in January 1940. He was first assigned to the USS Dixie (AD-14) destroyer tender. He was transferred to the USS Smith (DD-378) in February 1942 where he served as a machine gun loader as well as a gunner. He discusses the aftermath of the explosion on the Smith during the Battle of Santa Cruz. He describes the configuration of the artillery as well as the living conditions on the Smith. He was transferred to the USS Sicily (CVE-118) in 1946. After he was discharged from the Navy in December 1948, he became a mason.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ruth Fowler. Fowler was teaching in Big Spring, Texas, when she went out for the Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1939. She was accepted and was trained to fly. She evetually became an instructor. She also discusses rationing.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Ruth Fowler. Fowler was teaching in Big Spring, Texas, when she went out for the Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1939. She was accepted and was trained to fly. She evetually became an instructor. She also discusses rationing.