Scope and Contents

Fighter aces Henry K. Champion, James B. French, and Clinton L. Smith are interviewed about their military service with the United States Navy during World War II. They describe their wartime experience as fighter pilots with Fighting Squadron 9 (VF-9) and share stories about memorable combat missions.

The interview is conducted by fellow VF-9 ace Eugene A. Valencia.

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...

Scope and Contents Audio recording of an oral history with fighter ace Franklin W. Troup, circa 1990. Originally contained in an mailing envelope addressed to Eric M. Hammel. Accompanying handwritten note to Hammel was dated January 11, 1990. Postmark stamp on envelope was dated April 1990. Microcassette 1 of 1.Abstract from transcript: Fighter ace Franklin W. Troup discusses his military service with the United States Navy during World War II. Special focus is given to a combat air patrol mission...

Scope and Contents Fighter ace Herman W. Visscher is interviewed about 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 97th Fighter Squadron, 82nd Fighter Group, in the Mediterranean Theater. He also touches briefly on his Air Force service during the Korean War. Topics discussed include his training and service history and a bomber escort mission to Gabès (Tunisia) in the spring of 1943. ...

Scope and Contents

Fighter ace Robert Wade 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 in the Pacific Theater with Marine Fighting Squadron 323 (VMF-323). He also touches briefly on his service during the Korean War. Topics discussed include his service and training history, his participation in the Okinawa Campaign, and notable combat missions.

Scope and Contents This recording contains excerpts from an oral history interview with fighter ace Horace Q. Waggoner that was conducted at Sangamon State University (now the University of Illinois at Springfield) by student Bruce E. Kreuger in 1986. The excerpts focus on three of Waggoner’s aerial victories while flying with the 352nd Fighter Squadron in Europe during World War II. Two of the victories took place during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, and the third victory took place on March 2,...

Scope and Contents Fighter ace Ralph H. Wandrey 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 Pacific Theater with the 9th Fighter Squadron. Special focus on a bomber escort mission to Gusap Airfield (Papua New Guinea) on March 19, 1944. While returning from the mission, Wandrey encountered a group of Japanese Zero aircraft flying in show formation and was able to launch a surprise...

Scope and Contents In this three-part oral history, fighter ace Robert D. Welden 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 and his time with the 356th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, in Europe. Topics discussed include service details about the 354th Fighter Group, stories about fellow servicemen, mission logistics, and capabilities of the North American P-51 Mustang.In part two, he...