Oscar I. Chenoweth, Adrian O. Van Wyen, and Hamilton McWhorter -- oral history interviews , circa 1960s

File — Box: 2

Scope and Contents

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This recording contains one-on-one interviews with fighter aces Oscar I. Chenoweth and Hamilton McWhorter and with historian Adrian O. Van Wyen. Chenoweth and McWhorter discuss their military service with the United States Navy during World War II, including their time with Fighting Squadron 17 (VF-17) and Fighting Squadron 9 (VF-9), respectively. Topics discussed include memorable combat missions, aerial victories, and current developments in aerial combat. Van Wyen shares some background about the early years of Naval aviation in the United States and discusses the career of World War I fighter ace David S. Ingalls, considered to be the Navy’s first ace.

The interviews are conducted by fellow fighter ace Eugene A. Valencia during a Naval Aviators’ reunion at Pensacola, Florida, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Naval aviation.

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: Adrian O. Van Wyen

Adrian O. Van Wyen was an aviation historian who worked for the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations. He wrote a number of books about the history of Naval aviation in the United States.

Biographical Note: Hamilton McWhorter

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Hamilton McWhorter was born on February 8, 1921 in Athens, Georgia. He joined the United States Navy in 1941 and graduated from flight training the following year. McWhorter served with Fighting Squadron (VF-9) aboard the USS Ranger during the North Africa invasion and then aboard the USS Essex in the Pacific Theater. In 1944, he joined Fighting Squadron 12 (VF-12) aboard the USS Randolph and participated in the initial strikes against Tokyo and in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa landings. McWhorter remained in the military after the war, serving aboard several carriers and commanding VF-12. He retired in 1969 as a commander and passed away in 2008.

Biographical Note: Oscar I. Chenoweth

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Oscar I. Chenoweth was born July 17, 1917 in Salem, Oregon. He joined the United States Navy in 1939 and graduated from flight training in 1941. After his initial assignment as a flight instructor, he went on to serve with a number of squadrons, including Composite Squadron 21 (VC-21) in the Aleutian Islands, Fighting Squadron 38 (VF-38) in the Solomon Islands, and Fighting Squadron 17 (VF-17) in the South Pacific. Chenoweth remained in the military after the war and retired as a commander in 1954. In his civilian life, he worked for Chance Vought and as a manufacturing representative for a food service company. He passed away in 1968.