Scope and Contents Fighter ace Robert L. Scott, Jr. discusses his military service with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time with the 23rd Fighter Group in the China-Burma-India Theater. Special focus on an encounter with Japanese aircraft on July 31, 1942 near Hengyang, China. Scott scored two aerial victories and afterwards participated in the search for the downed airplanes. He shares his personal reflections on...

Scope and Contents In this two-part oral history, fighter ace Albert C. Slack discusses his military service with the United States Navy during World War II. In part one, he describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time with Fighting Squadron 15 (VF-15) in the Pacific Theater. Topics discussed include his service history, notable combat missions and encounters, and stories about fellow servicemen. In part two, he provides clarifying details regarding his wartime...

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Fighter ace Armistead B. Smith, Jr. 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 9 (VF-9) in the Mediterranean and Pacific Theaters. Topics discussed include the comradery of VF-9 and a combat mission to Truk Lagoon.

Scope and Contents In this two-part oral history, fighter ace Leslie C. Smith is interviewed about his military service with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. In part one, he describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time in the European Theater with the 56th Fighter Group. Topics discussed include his personal background, his training and service history, stories about fellow servicemen, and flight logistics for bomber escort missions. In part two, he...

Scope and Contents In this two-part oral history, fighter ace John S. Stewart discusses his military service with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time in the China-India-Burma Theater with the 76th Fighter Squadron of the 23rd Fighter Group. Topics discussed include his service history, notable combat missions while stationed in China, and his aerial victories. Special focus on a combat mission over Lingling on July...

Scope and Contents In this two-part oral history, fighter ace James E. Swett discusses his military service with the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time stationed in the Solomon Islands with Marine Fighting Squadron 221 (VMF-221). Special focus on two combat missions in 1943 in which Swett scored aerial victories and was later shot down. On one of these missions, Swett’s actions earned him the Congressional Medal of...

Scope and Contents Fighter ace Harry W. Swinburne is interviewed about his military service with the United States Navy during World War II. He describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time stationed on the USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) with Fighting Squadron 45 (VF-45). Special focus on a combat mission on March 28, 1944, in which Swinburne scored victories against two Japanese gunboats east of Okinawa. Afterwards, he piloted his severely damaged Grumman F6F Hellcat back to the carrier...

Scope and Contents Fighter ace John F. Thornell discusses his military service with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time stationed in England with the 328th Fighter Squadron of the 352nd Fighter Group. Special focus on four combat missions that took place in 1944: a skip-bombing mission against a German submarine pen (March 11, 1944), a bomber escort mission against Northeim, Germany (April 19, 1944), a bomber escort...

Scope and Contents In this two-part oral history, fighter ace Reade F. Tilley discusses his military service with the Royal Air Force during World War II. In part one, he describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time in the European and Mediterranean Theaters with No. 121 Squadron and No. 601 Squadron. Topics discussed include his initial attempts to become a volunteer pilot during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and the Russo-Finnish War (1939-1940), his enlistment and training...

Scope and Contents This recording contains a humorous wartime story from fighter ace John W. Topliff, which he told to attendees at the 38th anniversary celebration for Fighting Squadron 8 (VF-8) in 1981. The story focuses on an incident from Topliff’s time as a replacement pilot with Fighting Squadron 26 (VF-26), prior to his assignment to VF-8 in 1943. While returning from a mission, he became separated from his unit and crashed while trying to hail a passing ship. Though he was rescued and brought back to...