National Museum of the Pacific War Oral History Collection - 253 Matching Results

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Oral History Interview with Albert Albritton, June 15, 2004

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Albert Albritton. Albritton joined the Navy in 1937. He served aboard the USS Dobbin (AD-3). They were present during the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. At the time of the attack the Dobbin was moored northeast of Ford Island. After the attack, they picked up survivors and took the wounded to shore. Albritton participated in the Korean War and was discharged in 1957.
Date: June 15, 2004
Creator: Albritton, Albert
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with Mary Steele Leon, April 15, 1997

Description: Interview with Mary Steele Leon, a secretary for the U. S. Navy during and after World War II. She joined the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) and was trained as a secretary. Her first assignment was in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) during World War II. The CNO at the time was Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King. After the war, she served as personal secretary for Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz while he was CNO. She was discharged in 1946.
Date: April 15, 1997
Duration: 31 minutes 04 seconds
Creator: Alexander, Bill & Leon, Mary Steele
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with Frank Alexander, July 15, 2014

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Alexander. Alexander joined the Army Air Forces in 1942 and trained in Texas and Massachusetts as an airplane mechanic. He went overseas to England in December, 1944. He began flying combat missions on a B-17 as a flight engineer in February and was in a midair collision on his first mission. He bailed out and was rescued by Allied forces and returned to service to fly on 18 more combat missions. In April, he was shot down … more
Date: July 15, 2014
Duration: 1 hour 13 minutes 58 seconds
Creator: Alexander, Frank
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Frank Alexander, July 15, 2014

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Frank Alexander. Alexander joined the Army Air Forces in 1942 and trained in Texas and Massachusetts as an airplane mechanic. He went overseas to England in December, 1944. He began flying combat missions on a B-17 as a flight engineer in February and was in a midair collision on his first mission. He bailed out and was rescued by Allied forces and returned to service to fly on 18 more combat missions. In April, he was shot down … more
Date: July 15, 2014
Creator: Alexander, Frank
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with George Barbier, September 15, 2018

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Barbier. Barbier joined the Navy in June 1941. He went to boot camp in San Diego, California. Upon graduating, he was assigned as a gunner’s mate aboard USS Louisville (CA-26) at Pearl Harbor. The Louisville was involved in the Battle of Leyte Gulf at Surigao Strait and then at Lingayen Gulf. He survived damage caused by a number of kamikaze attacks, one of which claimed the life of Admiral Theodore Chandler. Barbier notes… more
Date: September 15, 2018
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes 36 seconds
Creator: Barbier, George
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with George Barbier, September 15, 2018

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with George Barbier. Barbier joined the Navy in June 1941. He went to boot camp in San Diego, California. Upon graduating, he was assigned as a gunner’s mate aboard USS Louisville (CA-26) at Pearl Harbor. The Louisville was involved in the Battle of Leyte Gulf at Surigao Strait and then at Lingayen Gulf. He survived damage caused by a number of kamikaze attacks, one of which claimed the life of Admiral Theodore Chandler. Barbier notes… more
Date: September 15, 2018
Creator: Barbier, George
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with James S. Bargsley, December 15, 2000

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James S. Bargsley. Bargsley grew up in Texas and joined the Navy in 1942. Once he finished training, he was assigned to duty on the USS Fallard (DE-222) and then the USS Bassett (APD-73). From San Diego, they departed for Pearl Harbor, knowing they were preparing for the invasion of Japan. In June 1945 they departed for Eniwetok Atoll, then to Guam, then to the Ulithi Atoll. On July 2, 1945, the ship reported to Commander Ph… more
Date: December 15, 2000
Duration: 20 minutes 24 seconds
Creator: Bargsley, James S.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with James S. Bargsley, December 15, 2000

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James S. Bargsley. Bargsley grew up in Texas and joined the Navy in 1942. Once he finished training, he was assigned to duty on the USS Fallard (DE-222) and then the USS Bassett (APD-73). From San Diego, they departed for Pearl Harbor, knowing they were preparing for the invasion of Japan. In June 1945 they departed for Eniwetok Atoll, then to Guam, then to the Ulithi Atoll. On July 2, 1945, the ship reported to Commander Ph… more
Date: December 15, 2000
Creator: Bargsley, James S.
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with Richard (Dick) Bennett, November 15, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard (Dick) Bennett. He begins by discussing joining the Army Air Corps, basic training and flight school. Then he went to a base in South Carolina to learn to fly B-25s, then to Fort Myers, Florida to fly B-26 bombers, and train to fly B-26s off aircraft carriers so they could drop torpedos on the Japanese fleet during naval battles, traveling across the Pacific to Brisbane to be told they didn't have B-26s for the crews… more
Date: November 15, 2001
Duration: 1 hour 17 minutes 45 seconds
Creator: Bennett, Richard (Dick)
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Richard (Dick) Bennett, November 15, 2001

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Richard (Dick) Bennett. He begins by discussing joining the Army Air Corps, basic training and flight school. Then he went to a base in South Carolina to learn to fly B-25s, then to Fort Myers, Florida to fly B-26 bombers, and train to fly B-26s off aircraft carriers so they could drop torpedos on the Japanese fleet during naval battles, traveling across the Pacific to Brisbane to be told they didn't have B-26s for the crews… more
Date: November 15, 2001
Creator: Bennett, Richard (Dick)
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Forrest Biard, August 15, 1984

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Forrest Biard. Biard graduated from the Naval Academy in 1934. From 1939 through September 1941, he completed full immersion in Japanese language and culture training in Tokyo. Biard was a cryptologic linguist, serving in all three Navy codebreaking units during World War II. In September, Biard was stationed at Pearl Harbor as a senior linguist for Station HYPO, the codebreaking unit at Pearl Harbor where he served as a language… more
Date: August 15, 1984
Creator: Biard, Forrest
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with Tommy Blake, May 15, 2015

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Tommy Blake. Blake joined the Army Air Forces in 1943. He completed gunnery, airplane mechanic and flight training. Blake served as P-38 pilot with the 26th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, 5th Air Force. Beginning in 1944, he flew missions in support of the Philippines Campaign. After the war ended, Blake completed aerial reconnaissance over Okinawa and Korea. He returned to the US and received his discharge in May of 1946.
Date: May 15, 2015
Duration: 50 minutes 40 seconds
Creator: Blake, Tommy
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Tommy Blake, May 15, 2015

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Tommy Blake. Blake joined the Army Air Forces in 1943. He completed gunnery, airplane mechanic and flight training. Blake served as P-38 pilot with the 26th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, 5th Air Force. Beginning in 1944, he flew missions in support of the Philippines Campaign. After the war ended, Blake completed aerial reconnaissance over Okinawa and Korea. He returned to the US and received his discharge in May of 1946.
Date: May 15, 2015
Creator: Blake, Tommy
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with Paul Bonilla, April 15, 2007

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral Interview with Paul Bonilla. Bonilla was born on 18 September 1921 in San Luis Obispo, California. He enlisted in the Navy in May, 1942 and took boot training in San Diego. He trained to be an aviation ordnanceman in San Diego and Millington, Tennessee. After training he was assigned to an SBD Dauntless dive bomber flying anti-submarine patrols from the air craft carrier USS Lexington (CV-16). He was aboard the Lexington when a Japanese at… more
Date: April 15, 2007
Duration: 3 hours 55 seconds
Creator: Bonilla, Paul
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Paul Bonilla, April 15, 2007

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral Interview with Paul Bonilla. Bonilla was born on 18 September 1921 in San Luis Obispo, California. He enlisted in the Navy in May, 1942 and took boot training in San Diego. He trained to be an aviation ordnanceman in San Diego and Millington, Tennessee. After training he was assigned to an SBD Dauntless dive bomber flying anti-submarine patrols from the air craft carrier USS Lexington (CV-16). He was aboard the Lexington when a Japanese at… more
Date: April 15, 2007
Creator: Bonilla, Paul
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with Leslie Brandes, March 15, 2002

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Mr. Leslie Brandes. Brandes served in the Corps of Cadets and graduated from Texas A&M in 1941 with a commission in the infantry, though he did not begin active duty until June of 1942. He was assigned to the 8th Air Force as a second lieutenant. He traveled to Scotland aboard the Queen Mary. He completed flight training school as a Flight Control Officer in September of 1943, and was stationed in England with the 91st Bombardmen… more
Date: March 15, 2002
Duration: 48 minutes 51 seconds
Creator: Brandes, Leslie
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Leslie Brandes, March 15, 2002

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Mr. Leslie Brandes. Brandes served in the Corps of Cadets and graduated from Texas A&M in 1941 with a commission in the infantry, though he did not begin active duty until June of 1942. He was assigned to the 8th Air Force as a second lieutenant. He traveled to Scotland aboard the Queen Mary. He completed flight training school as a Flight Control Officer in September of 1943, and was stationed in England with the 91st Bombardmen… more
Date: March 15, 2002
Creator: Brandes, Leslie
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with Bill Brenner, May 15, 2002

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bill Brenner. Brenner joined the Army Air Corps in 1940. He completed medical training at Harris Health Hospital in San Francisco. He was assigned to Hamilton Army Field overseeing sick call, surgical procedures and inspecting quarters. He completed training to work as a flight surgeon. He joined the 34th Pursuit Squadron as a flight surgeon. They traveled to the Philippines in November of 1941, and participated in the Battle of … more
Date: May 15, 2002
Duration: 1 hour 2 minutes 32 seconds
Creator: Brenner, Bill
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Bill Brenner, May 15, 2002

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Bill Brenner. Brenner joined the Army Air Corps in 1940. He completed medical training at Harris Health Hospital in San Francisco. He was assigned to Hamilton Army Field overseeing sick call, surgical procedures and inspecting quarters. He completed training to work as a flight surgeon. He joined the 34th Pursuit Squadron as a flight surgeon. They traveled to the Philippines in November of 1941, and participated in the Battle of … more
Date: May 15, 2002
Creator: Brenner, Bill
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with Lewis Brinson, April 15, 2014

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lewis Brinson. Brinson was drafted into the Army Air Forces in 1942. He completed basic training in Texas and Nebraska as an airplane mechanic, working on B-17s and B-29s. Brinson was in the 6th Bomb Group, 40th Bomb Squadron. In December 1943 he went to Tinian and served as crew chief on a B-29. He flew over Iwo Jima for two weeks looking for downed aircraft. He gives some description of seeing the Enola Gay, and of flying … more
Date: April 15, 2014
Duration: 34 minutes 30 seconds
Creator: Brinson, Lewis
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Lewis Brinson, April 15, 2014

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Lewis Brinson. Brinson was drafted into the Army Air Forces in 1942. He completed basic training in Texas and Nebraska as an airplane mechanic, working on B-17s and B-29s. Brinson was in the 6th Bomb Group, 40th Bomb Squadron. In December 1943 he went to Tinian and served as crew chief on a B-29. He flew over Iwo Jima for two weeks looking for downed aircraft. He gives some description of seeing the Enola Gay, and of flying … more
Date: April 15, 2014
Creator: Brinson, Lewis
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Oral History Interview with Joseph Brown, March 15, 2021

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Brown. Brown was born in 1925. In 1942, at age seventeen, he joined the US Navy. Following his training as an Electricians Mate he was assigned to USS LST-47 and he tells of participating in the Operation Overlord, at Omaha Beach, as well as Operation Dragoon. He also tells of being at Okinawa and witnessing attacks by kamikazes. Brown returned home after the war ended.
Date: March 15, 2021
Creator: Brown, Joseph
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with Joseph Brown, March 15, 2021

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Brown. Brown was born in 1925. In 1942, at age seventeen, he joined the US Navy. Following his training as an Electricians Mate he was assigned to USS LST-47 and he tells of participating in the Operation Overlord, at Omaha Beach, as well as Operation Dragoon. He also tells of being at Okinawa and witnessing attacks by kamikazes. Brown returned home after the war ended.
Date: March 15, 2021
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes 18 seconds
Creator: Brown, Joseph
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
transcript

Oral History Interview with Robert Brown, May 15, 2002

Description: The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Robert Brown. Brown quit high school and joined the Army Air Corps in October, 1940. He was assigned as a medic to the 34th Pursuit Squadron and shipped to the Philippines in November, 1941. Brown describes the Japanese invasion of the Philippines and the destruction of Clark Field outside Manila. He goes on to describe the fighting on Bataan during the early months of 1942. The 34th Pursuit Squadron lost most of its equipme… more
Date: May 15, 2002
Duration: 1 hour 58 minutes 55 seconds
Creator: Brown, Robert
Partner: National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation
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