Harris, Thomas S. -- oral history interview, 1990 March 16

File — Box: 10

Scope and Contents

Fighter ace Thomas S. Harris discusses his military service with the United States Navy during World War II. He describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time with Fighting Squadron 18 (VF-18) and Fighting Squadron 17 (VF-17) in the Pacific Theater. Special focus on a combat mission on April 12, 1945 in which he downed a Kawanishi N1K-J “George” aircraft near Kikaishima, Japan.

Dates

Creation: 1990 March 16

Creator

From the Collection: American Fighter Aces Association (Organization)

Language of Materials

From the Collection:

All materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research. Due to preservation concerns, digital copies should be utilized instead of original materials. There is limited access to undigitized content.

Biographical Note: Thomas S. Harris

Thomas S. Harris was born on April 21, 1921 in Tamaroa, Illinois. He joined the United States Navy in 1942 and was designated a Naval Aviator in May of that year. Harris served two combat tours in the Pacific Theater, one with Fighting Squadron 18 (VF-18) aboard the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) and one with Fighting Squadron 17 (VF-17) aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). He participated in the Tarawa invasion and the Okinawa Campaign, among other actions, and flew missions in the Central Pacific, South Pacific, and Japanese home islands. Harris remained in the military after the war and retired from the inactive Navy Reserve in 1959 at the rank of commander. He also worked as a test pilot for North American Aviation and the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. Harris passed away in 2010.