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Archives at The Museum of Flight


White, Henry S. -- oral history interview , 1965 March 23

 File — Box: 7

Scope and Contents

Fighter ace Henry S. White is interviewed about his military service with the United States Navy during World War II. He describes his wartime experiences as a naval aviator, including his time with Fighting Squadron 11 (VF-11) while stationed in Guadalcanal. He also touches on his experiences as a test pilot. Topics discussed include his training and service history, conditions and notable missions in Guadalcanal, and his thoughts on the Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” and other aircraft.

The interview is conducted by fellow fighter ace Eugene A. Valencia. Note that the audio may be difficult to hear in some spots due to uneven volume and spots of distortion present in the original recording.

Dates

  • Creation: 1965 March 23

Creator

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 / Historical

Henry S. White was born on November 7, 1915 in Matewan, West Virginia. He joined the United States Navy in 1941 and earned his naval aviator designation the following year. White was initially assigned to Fighting Squadron 5 (VF-5) aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-5), but the ship was sunk at the Battle of Midway before his arrival. Instead, he joined Fighting Squadron 11 (VF-11), serving in Guadalcanal and later aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). In 1945 or 1946, he attended the Naval Test Pilot School and had the opportunity to test fly a Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” aircraft. White passed away in 1972.

Extent

1 Sound tape reels (Reel 1 of 1, labeled: "Henry White, USN, WW II. 070. 3/23/65.") ; 1/4 in.

Repository Details

Part of the The Museum of Flight Archives Repository

Contact:
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle Washington 98108-4097
206-764-7874


The Museum of Flight | 9404 E. Marginal Way South | Seattle WA 98108-4097 | 206-764-5874
Contact us with a research request
curator@museumofflight.org