Lanphier, Thomas G., Jr. -- oral history interview, circa 1960s

File — Box: 3

Scope and Contents

In this two-part oral history, fighter ace Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr. is interviewed about his military career with the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force. In part one, he describes his experiences as a fighter pilot during World War II and shares details about his personal background. Topics discussed include his time stationed in Fiji and Guadalcanal; his participation in Operation Vengeance, the mission to shoot-down Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto’s plane, on April 18, 1943; his college years at Stanford University; and the military service of his father, Colonel Thomas G. Lanphier, Sr.

In part two, Lanphier discusses his post-World War II service and shares more details about his personal background and political viewpoints. Topics discussed include his interactions with prominent political figures, his thoughts on current events, and his work at the Pentagon and Convair during the 1950s.

The interview is conducted by fellow fighter ace Eugene A. Valencia and by John Florea, a former war correspondent for Life Magazine. Lanphier’s wife, Phyllis Lanphier, also participates in the interview. Audio is difficult to hear in some spots due to background noise and multiple, overlapping voices.

Dates

Creation: circa 1960s

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 G. Lanphier, Jr.

Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr. was born on November 27, 1915 in Panama City, Panama. He joined the United States Army Air Forces in January 1941 and graduated from flight training in October of that year. A member of the 70th Pursuit Squadron, Lanphier served in the Solomon Islands during the Guadalcanal campaign. On April 18, 1943, he participated in Operation Vengeance, the top-secret mission to intercept and shoot down Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto’s plane. After the end of World War II, Lanphier joined the Air Force Reserve and eventually retired at the rank of colonel. He served in several administrative and advisory roles at the Pentagon and, from 1951 to 1960, was vice-president of Convair. Lanphier passed away in 1987.