Oral History Interview with Lanson B. Ditto, October 11, 1996

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Description

Interview with Lanson B. Ditto, clothier and Navy veteran regarding personal experiences about the Pacific, Atlantic, and Mediterranean Theaters during World War II. Ditto talks about his education, enlistment in the Navy V-7 Program, midshipman training, assignment to the USS Langley, pre-war duty in the Philippines, coming of war and combat around the Philippines and Netherlands East Indies, the sinking of the Langley and his transfer to the USS Pecos, the sinking of the Pecos and his rescue by the USS Whipple, various naval battles and assignments, antisubmarine patrols off the Solomons, various escort duties, and his promotion to captain … continued below

Physical Description

67, [5] p. ; 28 cm.

Creation Information

Alexander, William J. & Ditto, Lanson B. October 11, 1996.

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UNT Oral History Program

Affiliated with the UNT Department of History, the Oral History Program records, transcribes, and archives oral history interviews in order to preserve local, state, and U.S. history. The program also trains UNT students in the theory and methods of oral history, conducts workshops for community members, and maintains partnerships with related institutions and organizations.

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Interview with Lanson B. Ditto, clothier and Navy veteran regarding personal experiences about the Pacific, Atlantic, and Mediterranean Theaters during World War II. Ditto talks about his education, enlistment in the Navy V-7 Program, midshipman training, assignment to the USS Langley, pre-war duty in the Philippines, coming of war and combat around the Philippines and Netherlands East Indies, the sinking of the Langley and his transfer to the USS Pecos, the sinking of the Pecos and his rescue by the USS Whipple, various naval battles and assignments, antisubmarine patrols off the Solomons, various escort duties, and his promotion to captain of the O'Toole.

Physical Description

67, [5] p. ; 28 cm.

Notes

Interview conducted in 1996 for the World War II Pacific Theater (Naval Engagements) Oral History Project, World War II Atlantic Theater (Naval Engagements) Oral History Project, and World War II Mediterranean Theater (Naval Engagements) Oral History Project. Interviewer: William J. Alexander

Summary: Interview with Lanson B. Ditto, a clothier and Navy veteran (USS Langley, USS O'Bannon, USS O'Toole), concerning his experiences in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Mediterranean Theaters during World War II. Education; enlistment in the Navy V-7 Program, 1940; midshipman training, 1940-41; assignment to the USS Langley, 1941; pre-war duty in the Philippines; coming of war and combat around the Philippines and Netherlands East Indies, 1941-42; sinking of the Langley, February 27, 1942, and his transfer to the USS Pecos; sinking of the Pecos, March 1, 1942, and his rescue by the USS Whipple; his return to the States and assignment to the USS O'Bannon, March, 1942; various naval battles around the Solomon Islands, 1942-43; Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, November 13, 1942; antisubmarine patrols off the Solomons, 1942-43; his return to the States and transfer to the USS O'Toole, January 22, 1944; escort duty in the North Atlantic, 1944-45; escort duty in the Mediterranean, 1945; his promotion to captain of the O'Toole, October, 1945. Throughout the oral history there are various portraits and photocopies (twelve leaves). Appendix consists of photocopies of "Notice of Separation from the U.S. Naval Service" (one leaf) and "How my life was changed" (one leaf).

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UNT Oral Histories

The UNT Oral History Collection in the UNT Digital Library contains a selection of oral history transcripts covering World War II, politics, community activism, desegregation, recollections of life in Texas, and more. Access to these items is restricted to the UNT community.

Texas Oral History Collection

The Texas Oral History Collection is a group of oral history interviews from a variety of people discussing their lives in Texas.

World War Two Collection

These materials focus on World War II and the immediate postwar period of the late 1940s. In addition to materials created during the time period, materials may include modern studies and commemorative works about the era.

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  • October 11, 1996

Added to The UNT Digital Library

  • July 15, 2014, 5:33 a.m.

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  • Sept. 26, 2022, 8:51 p.m.

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Alexander, William J. & Ditto, Lanson B. Oral History Interview with Lanson B. Ditto, October 11, 1996, book, October 11, 1996; Denton, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc306742/: accessed September 26, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Oral History Program.

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