The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James D McLaughan, following another interview from 2001. McLaughan joined the Army Air Forces after completing three years of college at Cal Poly. He was stationed at Hamilton Field as a pilot with the 70th Fighter Squadron when the war broke out. He participated in the Yamamoto mission and notes that Rex Barber, who got the kill, always charged into a fight, and that Admiral Halsey sent two cases of fine whiskey to the squadron as a token of appreciation for their completing the mission. His squadron also discovered the airfield at Munda Point, which was hidden by palm trees, and attacked it daily until ground forces took over. McLaughan and his squadron developed the first firebombs by dropping thermite bombs housed within in gasoline-filled water bombs, which they dropped over Tokyo. He believes their technique was the inspiration for napalm.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Art Goethe. Goethe dropped out of high school after contracting tuberculosis. Upon recovery, he worked as a roofer at the Army barracks. In 1942, he enlisted in the Navy, with his parents’ permission. Despite his abbreviated education, he scored well on examinations and went on to radio school. He transferred in and out of many outfits as a radioman, working on a wooden sub-chaser, an LTA blimp, and an airship rescue unit before boarding the communications ship SC-1066. At Iwo Jima, while anchored off the beach to assist LCVP landings, he took note of communications about the tremendous death toll. After his discharge, Goethe returned home, earned his GED and then a Master’s in education, ultimately becoming a school teacher.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert C. Edgar. Edgar was born 30 March 1924 in Santa Ana, California. Upon entering the Army Air Forces in February 1943 he was sent to a college training detachment in La Grande, Oregon. After thirty days of pilot training he was sent to Santa Ana Air Base classification center for testing. Qualifying for bombardier training, he was sent to Kingman, Arizona to gunnery school. He also trained in Albuquerque as a bombardier. He graduated 18 March 1944 and received his bombardier wings and commission as a second lieutenant. Edgar then went to Fresno, California where his crew was assembled. They were then sent to Walla Walla, Washington for transition into B-24s. Upon completing their crew training they flew a new B-24 to Townsville, Australia. Leaving the plane, they were transported to Wakde, where they joined the 307th Bomb Group, 424th Bomb Squadron. His first combat mission over Balikpapan, Borneo lasted seventeen hours. Japanese fighters were encountered as well as heavy flak resulting in the loss of some planes. Edgar recalls one combat mission when Japanese aircraft flew above the B -24 formation and dropped phosphorus bombs and …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert C. Edgar. Edgar was born 30 March 1924 in Santa Ana, California. Upon entering the Army Air Forces in February 1943 he was sent to a college training detachment in La Grande, Oregon. After thirty days of pilot training he was sent to Santa Ana Air Base classification center for testing. Qualifying for bombardier training, he was sent to Kingman, Arizona to gunnery school. He also trained in Albuquerque as a bombardier. He graduated 18 March 1944 and received his bombardier wings and commission as a second lieutenant. Edgar then went to Fresno, California where his crew was assembled. They were then sent to Walla Walla, Washington for transition into B-24s. Upon completing their crew training they flew a new B-24 to Townsville, Australia. Leaving the plane, they were transported to Wakde, where they joined the 307th Bomb Group, 424th Bomb Squadron. His first combat mission over Balikpapan, Borneo lasted seventeen hours. Japanese fighters were encountered as well as heavy flak resulting in the loss of some planes. Edgar recalls one combat mission when Japanese aircraft flew above the B -24 formation and dropped phosphorus bombs and …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James D McLaughan, following another interview from 2001. McLaughan joined the Army Air Forces after completing three years of college at Cal Poly. He was stationed at Hamilton Field as a pilot with the 70th Fighter Squadron when the war broke out. He participated in the Yamamoto mission and notes that Rex Barber, who got the kill, always charged into a fight, and that Admiral Halsey sent two cases of fine whiskey to the squadron as a token of appreciation for their completing the mission. His squadron also discovered the airfield at Munda Point, which was hidden by palm trees, and attacked it daily until ground forces took over. McLaughan and his squadron developed the first firebombs by dropping thermite bombs housed within in gasoline-filled water bombs, which they dropped over Tokyo. He believes their technique was the inspiration for napalm.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Art Goethe. Goethe dropped out of high school after contracting tuberculosis. Upon recovery, he worked as a roofer at the Army barracks. In 1942, he enlisted in the Navy, with his parents’ permission. Despite his abbreviated education, he scored well on examinations and went on to radio school. He transferred in and out of many outfits as a radioman, working on a wooden sub-chaser, an LTA blimp, and an airship rescue unit before boarding the communications ship SC-1066. At Iwo Jima, while anchored off the beach to assist LCVP landings, he took note of communications about the tremendous death toll. After his discharge, Goethe returned home, earned his GED and then a Master’s in education, ultimately becoming a school teacher.