The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tina Burnham. Burnham was born in Sulpher Springs, Texas and graduated from high school in 1940. She attended a trade school in Texarkana, Texas to become a riveter. She was then employed at Spartan Aircraft Industries in Tulsa, Oklahoma as a riveter. On this job she manufactured wings on Grumman Wildcat aircraft. In January 1944 she joined the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (SPARS) and went to Palm Beach, Florida for six weeks of intensive training. She describes the clothing she was issued and the training she received. Upon completion of boot camp she went to Philadelphia working as a pharmacist’s mate in the St. Agnes Hospital. She was then selected to attend the College of Pharmacy at Columbia University. She graduated 31 December 1944. After spending a short time in the SPARS barracks sick bay in Norfolk, Virginia she was transferred to the Marine Hospital in Norfolk. While at the hospital she rotated through the various departments. She states that surgery was her favorite. She was then sent to the Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Coast Guard Air Station where she served until being discharged 20 May 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tina Burnham. Burnham was born in Sulpher Springs, Texas and graduated from high school in 1940. She attended a trade school in Texarkana, Texas to become a riveter. She was then employed at Spartan Aircraft Industries in Tulsa, Oklahoma as a riveter. On this job she manufactured wings on Grumman Wildcat aircraft. In January 1944 she joined the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (SPARS) and went to Palm Beach, Florida for six weeks of intensive training. She describes the clothing she was issued and the training she received. Upon completion of boot camp she went to Philadelphia working as a pharmacist’s mate in the St. Agnes Hospital. She was then selected to attend the College of Pharmacy at Columbia University. She graduated 31 December 1944. After spending a short time in the SPARS barracks sick bay in Norfolk, Virginia she was transferred to the Marine Hospital in Norfolk. While at the hospital she rotated through the various departments. She states that surgery was her favorite. She was then sent to the Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Coast Guard Air Station where she served until being discharged 20 May 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Charles Boardman. Boardman joined the Navy in December of 1941. He served aboard the USS Henderson (AP-1). His rank was Seaman Second Class. He flew in a Grumman TBF Avenger, and describes the plane in some detail. He was discharged in October of 1947.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Farrell L. Kluttz. Kluttz joined the Navy in December 1937. His first assignment was aboard the USS Downes (DD-375). In 1939, he was transferred to the USS John D. Edwards (DD-216) on Asia Station. His enlistment ended the day before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Kluttz was in San Francisco then. he elected to stay in the Navy and was assigned to the commissioning crew of the USS Electra (AKA-4) in Tampa, Florida. They delivered some Marines to New Zealand in mid 1942 and made the North Africa landing later in November. Kluttz was aboard when the Electra was torpedoed and returned to South Carolina with he in April 1943. When he returned, Kluttz attended fire control school and graduated as a Chief Firecontrolman. He served at Newport, Rhode Island getting several sailors qualified to go aboard the soon-to-be commissioned USS Franklin (CV-13). Kluttz was aboard the Franklin when is suffered the bomb hits in March, 1945. He abandoned ship off the fantail and was rescued out of the water by the USS Hunt (DD-674). Kluttz was located by the captain of the Franklin and went back aboard …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Farrell L. Kluttz. Kluttz joined the Navy in December 1937. His first assignment was aboard the USS Downes (DD-375). In 1939, he was transferred to the USS John D. Edwards (DD-216) on Asia Station. His enlistment ended the day before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Kluttz was in San Francisco then. he elected to stay in the Navy and was assigned to the commissioning crew of the USS Electra (AKA-4) in Tampa, Florida. They delivered some Marines to New Zealand in mid 1942 and made the North Africa landing later in November. Kluttz was aboard when the Electra was torpedoed and returned to South Carolina with he in April 1943. When he returned, Kluttz attended fire control school and graduated as a Chief Firecontrolman. He served at Newport, Rhode Island getting several sailors qualified to go aboard the soon-to-be commissioned USS Franklin (CV-13). Kluttz was aboard the Franklin when is suffered the bomb hits in March, 1945. He abandoned ship off the fantail and was rescued out of the water by the USS Hunt (DD-674). Kluttz was located by the captain of the Franklin and went back aboard …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edward Chandler. Chandler quit school and joined the Navy in 1942. After boot training, he went to diesel school before reporting to Little Creek, Virginia for amphibious training. His first assignment was aboard an LCT in North Africa. Chandler had duty ashore maintaining engines at a port facility. From there, he went to Palermo and then Naples in early 1944. At Naples, he continued to repair ship engines. He also worked at the Anzio beachhead. He returned to the US for some leave and then was assigned to USS LST-502, which took him to the Pacific in time for the invasion of Okinawa. Chandler was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Edward Chandler. Chandler quit school and joined the Navy in 1942. After boot training, he went to diesel school before reporting to Little Creek, Virginia for amphibious training. His first assignment was aboard an LCT in North Africa. Chandler had duty ashore maintaining engines at a port facility. From there, he went to Palermo and then Naples in early 1944. At Naples, he continued to repair ship engines. He also worked at the Anzio beachhead. He returned to the US for some leave and then was assigned to USS LST-502, which took him to the Pacific in time for the invasion of Okinawa. Chandler was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Crooker. Crooker joined the Navy on 6 December 1941. He served as an officer (ensign to lieutenant commander), stationed in 1944 and 1945 in New Guinea, and as an intelligence briefer for Admiral T.C. Kinkaid, Commander, Seventh Fleet, on the USS Wasatch (AGC-9) and in the Philippine Islands. He participated in the Leyte and Lingayen Gulf operations from October of 1944 through August of 1945. He was discharged from active duty in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Crooker. Crooker joined the Navy on 6 December 1941. He served as an officer (ensign to lieutenant commander), stationed in 1944 and 1945 in New Guinea, and as an intelligence briefer for Admiral T.C. Kinkaid, Commander, Seventh Fleet, on the USS Wasatch (AGC-9) and in the Philippine Islands. He participated in the Leyte and Lingayen Gulf operations from October of 1944 through August of 1945. He was discharged from active duty in October of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Vickers. Vickers was born in Adams Mill, Ohio 20 February 1924. Joining the Army Air Forces in November 1942, he was sent to Keesler Field, Mississippi for basic training. He was then sent to Mississippi State College then the Cadet Classification Center in San Antonio. He received preflight training prior to being sent to Garner Field, Uvalde, Texas for flight training by civilian instructors. Vickers describes some of his experiences while flying the PT-19 primary trainer. He recalls being sent to Waco, Texas and describes the training he received flying the BT-13. Upon completion of the course he was sent to twin engine advanced school at Blackland Airfield at Waco. He received his wings and commission in April 1944, and was sent to Liberal, Kansas for B-24 bomber training. Upon completion, Vickers received orders to Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho for combat crew training. In October 1944 the crew went aboard the USS Washington (BB-56) bound for Liverpool, England. He was assigned to the 8th Air Force, 392nd Bomb Group, 578th Bomb Squadron stationed at Wendling, England. Vickers flew thirty combat missions. In recalling some, he tells of …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Vickers. Vickers was born in Adams Mill, Ohio 20 February 1924. Joining the Army Air Forces in November 1942, he was sent to Keesler Field, Mississippi for basic training. He was then sent to Mississippi State College then the Cadet Classification Center in San Antonio. He received preflight training prior to being sent to Garner Field, Uvalde, Texas for flight training by civilian instructors. Vickers describes some of his experiences while flying the PT-19 primary trainer. He recalls being sent to Waco, Texas and describes the training he received flying the BT-13. Upon completion of the course he was sent to twin engine advanced school at Blackland Airfield at Waco. He received his wings and commission in April 1944, and was sent to Liberal, Kansas for B-24 bomber training. Upon completion, Vickers received orders to Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho for combat crew training. In October 1944 the crew went aboard the USS Washington (BB-56) bound for Liverpool, England. He was assigned to the 8th Air Force, 392nd Bomb Group, 578th Bomb Squadron stationed at Wendling, England. Vickers flew thirty combat missions. In recalling some, he tells of …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earle M. Falvey. Falvey was born 14 March 1923 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Quitting school in 1938, he worked various jobs until joining the Navy in December 1942. Upon completing boot camp at Newport, Rhode Island, he attended gunnery school. From there, he volunteered for submarine school at New London, Connecticut. He describes the training, including being aboard an S-boat, an O-boat and an E-boat. Upon graduating he was assigned to the USS Flasher (SS-249) in time for its first war patrol from Pearl Harbor in January 1944. He was injured during a surface battle with a Japanese ship and was sent to the Mare Island Naval Hospital where he spent six weeks after surgery. Falvey returned to Australia and he describes experience with Aborigines during his rail travel to Fremantle. Upon his arrival in March 1945, he was assigned to the crew of the USS-Besugo (SS-321). He recalls various actions in which the Besugo was involved including the sinking of the German submarine, U-183. They picked up one German survivor, who joined a Japanese prisoner they had picked up from a tanker they had sunk. Falvey discusses the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earle M. Falvey. Falvey was born 14 March 1923 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Quitting school in 1938, he worked various jobs until joining the Navy in December 1942. Upon completing boot camp at Newport, Rhode Island, he attended gunnery school. From there, he volunteered for submarine school at New London, Connecticut. He describes the training, including being aboard an S-boat, an O-boat and an E-boat. Upon graduating he was assigned to the USS Flasher (SS-249) in time for its first war patrol from Pearl Harbor in January 1944. He was injured during a surface battle with a Japanese ship and was sent to the Mare Island Naval Hospital where he spent six weeks after surgery. Falvey returned to Australia and he describes experience with Aborigines during his rail travel to Fremantle. Upon his arrival in March 1945, he was assigned to the crew of the USS-Besugo (SS-321). He recalls various actions in which the Besugo was involved including the sinking of the German submarine, U-183. They picked up one German survivor, who joined a Japanese prisoner they had picked up from a tanker they had sunk. Falvey discusses the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Sam D. Jones. Jones joined the Army in 1937. He served with the 12th Field Artillery at Fort Sam Houston. Jones details his duties caring for the horses and how caissons operated. He discusses camp life and talks about the exercises his unit participated in. Jones tells an interesting story about his last ride before his horse was retired and tells how that horse was given a military burial many years later. He left the Army in 1940 and volunteered to join after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Jones spent a year working in a message center at Camp Wallace and then was transferred to the 86th Infantry Division. He went to Europe and describes the severe cold encountered upon their arrival in the winter of 1944-45. Jones routinely led a convoy of two and a half ton trucks from the front to ammunition depots to keep the 105mm howitzers in his unit supplied. He describes being strafed by a German plane when fully loaded with ammunition. Jones describes interactions with the German people. He returned to the US and was discharged soon after the surrender of Japan.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Sam D. Jones. Jones joined the Army in 1937. He served with the 12th Field Artillery at Fort Sam Houston. Jones details his duties caring for the horses and how caissons operated. He discusses camp life and talks about the exercises his unit participated in. Jones tells an interesting story about his last ride before his horse was retired and tells how that horse was given a military burial many years later. He left the Army in 1940 and volunteered to join after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Jones spent a year working in a message center at Camp Wallace and then was transferred to the 86th Infantry Division. He went to Europe and describes the severe cold encountered upon their arrival in the winter of 1944-45. Jones routinely led a convoy of two and a half ton trucks from the front to ammunition depots to keep the 105mm howitzers in his unit supplied. He describes being strafed by a German plane when fully loaded with ammunition. Jones describes interactions with the German people. He returned to the US and was discharged soon after the surrender of Japan.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with William Brown. Brown was drafted into the Army Air Forces in 1942. He completed airplane mechanic school in Wichita Falls, Texas at Sheppard Field. His first assignment was at Tyndall Field, Florida working on the B-26 line as an engineer and mechanic. In 1943 or 1944 Brown was assigned to the 43rd Bomb Group and sent to New Guinea and served as a flight engineer, assisting the pilot in flight, including transferring gasoline and keeping the logbook. He describes living conditions in New Guinea. After Brown was discharged from the Army Air Forces he worked for Exxon for 30 years.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arthur E. Kelly. Kelly was born 4 March 1920 in Duluth, Minnesota. Graduating from Duluth Denfield High School in May 1939 he attended Duluth Junior College for two years. To supplement his income, he joined the Minnesota National Guard. While in college he received his pilot certification through the Civilian Pilot Training Program. His National Guard unit was called to active duty and went to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. While there, he was accepted as a flying cadet and sent to Kelly Field, Texas for pilot training. He received his wings and commission in October 1942. He was sent to Harlingen Air Base, Texas and flew various planes with men learning to fire machine guns from aircraft. He then went to Smyrna, Tennessee for training in B-24 bombers. Upon completion of his training he returned to Harlingen and flew with other aerial gunner trainees. After six months, he went to Alabama for pilot training in B-29 bombers. He completed the training in March 1945 and was assigned as an aircraft commander. After receiving a crew, they flew to Saipan and were assigned to the 498th Bomb Group, 873rd Bomb …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arthur E. Kelly. Kelly was born 4 March 1920 in Duluth, Minnesota. Graduating from Duluth Denfield High School in May 1939 he attended Duluth Junior College for two years. To supplement his income, he joined the Minnesota National Guard. While in college he received his pilot certification through the Civilian Pilot Training Program. His National Guard unit was called to active duty and went to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. While there, he was accepted as a flying cadet and sent to Kelly Field, Texas for pilot training. He received his wings and commission in October 1942. He was sent to Harlingen Air Base, Texas and flew various planes with men learning to fire machine guns from aircraft. He then went to Smyrna, Tennessee for training in B-24 bombers. Upon completion of his training he returned to Harlingen and flew with other aerial gunner trainees. After six months, he went to Alabama for pilot training in B-29 bombers. He completed the training in March 1945 and was assigned as an aircraft commander. After receiving a crew, they flew to Saipan and were assigned to the 498th Bomb Group, 873rd Bomb …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Cecil Harris. Harris was born 20 February 1925 in Raymond, Mississippi. In January 1943 he joined the Army Air Force Enlisted Reserves and entered basic training at Kessler Air Base, Mississippi. In May 1943 he was sent to the University of Tennessee in preparation for pre-flight training. He went to Nashville for classification and was selected for pilot training. He went to Montgomery, Alabama for primary training by a civilian instructor. After training in BT-13 aircraft at Courtland, Alabama, he flew AT-10 aircraft in advanced training at Freeman Field, Indiana and graduated 22 May 1944. He then went to Gulfport, Mississippi to begin B-17 crew training. Upon completing the training the crew was sent to New York City where in January 1945 they boarded the RMS Aquitania. Landing in Scotland they were transported to Glatton Air Base, England where they reported to the 457th Bomb Group, 748th Bomb Squadron. In reporting to the Deputy CO, Harris found the man had been his Boy Scout Master many years before. He flew thirty-two combat missions and describes a number of them. Of particular interest is his recollection of an encounter …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Cecil Harris. Harris was born 20 February 1925 in Raymond, Mississippi. In January 1943 he joined the Army Air Force Enlisted Reserves and entered basic training at Kessler Air Base, Mississippi. In May 1943 he was sent to the University of Tennessee in preparation for pre-flight training. He went to Nashville for classification and was selected for pilot training. He went to Montgomery, Alabama for primary training by a civilian instructor. After training in BT-13 aircraft at Courtland, Alabama, he flew AT-10 aircraft in advanced training at Freeman Field, Indiana and graduated 22 May 1944. He then went to Gulfport, Mississippi to begin B-17 crew training. Upon completing the training the crew was sent to New York City where in January 1945 they boarded the RMS Aquitania. Landing in Scotland they were transported to Glatton Air Base, England where they reported to the 457th Bomb Group, 748th Bomb Squadron. In reporting to the Deputy CO, Harris found the man had been his Boy Scout Master many years before. He flew thirty-two combat missions and describes a number of them. Of particular interest is his recollection of an encounter …

Transcript of an oral interview with Raymond Renfro. Born in 1923, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in November 1942. After training in Camp Pendleton, California, he was assigned to a machine gun squad in the 4th Marine Division. He describes landing on the Marshall Islands of Roi and Namur during the Battle of Kwajalein. He also relates his experiences in a rifle platoon under Captain Houston Stiff during the Battle of Saipan. He was wounded by an exploding shell and evacuated to a hospital ship. He was given a medical discharge in January 1945. The interview contains information about his early family life as well as information about his brother, Robert Renfro, who was captured by the Japanese while serving in the Army Air Corps in the Philippines.

Transcript of an oral interview with Raymond Renfro. Born in 1923, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in November 1942. After training in Camp Pendleton, California, he was assigned to a machine gun squad in the 4th Marine Division. He describes landing on the Marshall Islands of Roi and Namur during the Battle of Kwajalein. He also relates his experiences in a rifle platoon under Captain Houston Stiff during the Battle of Saipan. He was wounded by an exploding shell and evacuated to a hospital ship. He was given a medical discharge in January 1945. The interview contains information about his early family life as well as information about his brother, Robert Renfro, who was captured by the Japanese while serving in the Army Air Corps in the Philippines.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas F. Jordan. Jordan joined the Navy on 8 December 1941. He was assigned to the USS Wichita (CA-45) and worked as a deck seaman. Jordan describes convoy duty, traveling in foggy conditions, and a collision between two British ships. He mentions an incident detailing how the ship was segregated. Jordan discusses taking part in the invasion of North Africa and trading fire with French ships at Casablanca. He then describes taking part in a battle off of Guadalcanal and then bombarding Attu and Kiska before the landings. Jordan transferred to the aviation division and then became a plane captain at Alameda Naval Air Station for the remainder of the war. He remained in the reserves and discusses his experiences during the Korean War.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas F. Jordan. Jordan joined the Navy on 8 December 1941. He was assigned to the USS Wichita (CA-45) and worked as a deck seaman. Jordan describes convoy duty, traveling in foggy conditions, and a collision between two British ships. He mentions an incident detailing how the ship was segregated. Jordan discusses taking part in the invasion of North Africa and trading fire with French ships at Casablanca. He then describes taking part in a battle off of Guadalcanal and then bombarding Attu and Kiska before the landings. Jordan transferred to the aviation division and then became a plane captain at Alameda Naval Air Station for the remainder of the war. He remained in the reserves and discusses his experiences during the Korean War.