Scope and Contents Audio recording of an oral history with fighter ace Herschel H. "Herky" Green, January 22, 1992. Microcassette 1 of 1.Abstract from transcript: Fighter ace Herschel H. "Herky" Green discusses his military service with the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot and his time with the 317th Fighter Squadron, 325th Fighter Group, in the Mediterranean Theater. Particular focus is given to a bomber escort mission to Cagliari,...

Scope and Contents Fighter ace Paul E. Drury discusses his military service with the United States Navy during World War II. He focuses in particular on his experiences during the Battle of Leyte Gulf on October 24, 1944. A member of Fighting Squadron 27 (VF-27) stationed aboard the USS Princeton (CVL-23), Drury was on the ship when it was attacked by a Japanese dive bomber. He describes his escape to the USS Irwin (DD-794), the fleet’s attempts to save the Princeton, and the ultimate...

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 Audio recordings of an oral history with fighter ace Paul S. Bechtel, circa 1980s-1990s. Two microcassettes.Abstract from transcripts: In this two-part oral history, fighter ace Paul S. Bechtel discusses his military service with the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. In part one, he describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his training with the 31st Pursuit Group and his time with the 12th Pursuit Group in the Pacific Theater. He focuses in...