Latest content added for UNT Digital Library Location: Papua New Guinea - East New Britain Province - Rabaul District - Rabaul

Oral History Interview with Bill Leonard, May 28, 2002

2024-07-30T09:21:33-05:00

Interview with William "Bill" Agnew Leonard I, textile businessman and Marine Corps veteran (Bombing Squadron VMB-433), concerning his experiences as a PBJ (B-25) pilot in the Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II. Prewar experience at Clemson University in ROTC at Citizen's Military Training, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Civilian Pilot Training Program, 1940-41; decision to enter the Navy V-5 Program, December, 1941; pre-flight training, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 1941-42; elementary flight training, Lambert Field, Saint Louis, Missouri, 1942; advanced flight training, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, 1942-43; decision to opt for multi-engine aircraft training and transfer to the Marine Corps, 1943; assignment to Cherry Point, North Carolina, and placement in Operational Training Squadron 8; training in the PBJ; assignment to VMB-433 and crew formation at Peterfield Point, North Carolina, 1943-44; his close friendship with co-pilot Dick Graves; combat training, El Centro, California, 1944; voyage to Espiritu Santo, May, 1944; assignment to Green Island, August, 1944; his first mission to Rabaul; thoughts about combat; "night-heckling" missions; his experiences on a PT boat mission; transfer to Emirau, August, 1944; mission to Paluwet in the Truk Group; rest and relaxation in Australia; his evacuation from Emirau in February, 1945, because of combat fatigue and psychological problems due to Graves's death; his postwar career.

Oral History Interview with William O. Holston, September 20, 2000

2024-07-30T09:17:19-05:00

Interview with William O. Holston, an Army Air Forces veteran (370th Bomb Squadron, 307th Bomb Group, 13th Air Force), concerning his experiences as a navigator on a B-24 in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Enrollment in the Civilian Conservation Corps, 1940; enlistment in the Aviation Cadet Program, 1942; basic training, Miami Beach, Florida, 1942-43; College Training Detachment, Southwestern University, Memphis, Tennessee, 1943; Aviation Cadet Classification Center, San Antonio, Texas, 1943; pre-flight training, San Antonio, 1943; primary flight training, Ballinger, Texas, 1943; basic flight training, Sherman, Texas, 1943; his fear of the BT-13 Vultee "Vibrator" trainer and washing out, 1943; aerial gunnery training, Harlingen, Texas, 1943; navigator's school, Monroe, Louisiana, 1943-44; establishment of crew integrity at Tonopah, Nevada, 1944; assignment to the Southwest Pacific, 1945; his first bombing mission to Rabaul; stationing at Morotai with the 370th Bomb Squadron; Japanese ground assaults on the airbase at Morotai; mission to Brunei Bay; mission to Balikpapan, Borneo, oil refineries and fuel problems; Japanese flak; napalm mission to Makassar; ground support mission for Australian troops on Tarakan, Borneo; troop-ferrying missions to Okinawa; postwar adjustments to civilian life.

The flight log of Theodore Lindquist: Marine Corps bombing squadron VMN --- 433, October 14, 1943 --- November 12, 1945

2024-05-31T13:06:18-05:00

The photocopied flight log book of Theodore Lindquist, aircraft worker and Marine Corps veteran (Bombing Squadron VMB-433), concerning his activities as a PBJ (B-25) gunner in the Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II. Gunnery training in the States, 1944; flight from the West Coast to Green Island; bombing missions to New Ireland, Kavieng, and New Britain; night missions, strafing missions, and air-sea rescue missions; comments about weather conditions; reports of damage to his plane.

Oral History Interview with Theodore Lindquist, September 27, 2002

2024-05-31T13:05:14-05:00

Interview with Theodore Lindquist, aircraft worker and Marine Corps veteran (Bombing Squadron VMB-433), concerning his experiences as an aerial gunner in the Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II. His youth during the Great Depression; enlistment in the Marine Corps, September, 1942; boot camp, Parris Island, South Carolina, 1942; aviation mechanics school, Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida, 1943; gunnery school, Hollywood, Florida, 1943; assignment to VMB-433, Cherry Point, North Carolina, 1943; training as a turret-gunner on the PBJ (B-25) medium bomber, Peterfield Point, North Carolina, 1943-44; combat training at Naval Air Station, El Centro, California, 1944; voyage across the Pacific to Espiritu Santo, 1944; assignment to Green Island, June, 1944; assignment to Emirau, August, 1944; living conditions on Emirau; "night-heckling" missions; low-level strafing missions; rest and relaxation leave in Australia; daylight high-altitude bombing missions to Rabaul and Kavieng; rotation back to the United States after completing twenty-five missions, 1945; his postwar career with Pratt & Whitney.

Oral History Interview with Carlos Leach, September 16, 2002

2024-05-31T13:05:05-05:00

Interview with Carlos Leach, dentist and Marine Corps veteran (Bombing Squadron VMB-433), concerning his experiences as a PBJ (B-25) co-pilot in the Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II. Civilian Pilot Training Program, 1941-42; enlistment in the Navy Aviation Cadet Program, 1942; pre-flight training, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 1942; primary flight training, Naval Air Station, Grand Prairie, Texas, 1942; basic flight training, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, 1942-43; advanced flight training, NAS Pensacola, 1943; transfer to the Marine Corps; bomber transition training and crew formation with VMB-433 at Peterfield Point, North Carolina, 1943; combat training, Marine Air Station, El Centro, California, 1944; assignment to Green Island, July, 1944; his first mission against Rabaul; transfer to Emirau, August, 1944; living conditions on Emirau; low-level strafing mission to Kavieng; rest and relaxation leave in Australia; mustering out of the military; his postwar career.

Oral History Interview with Malcolm Leland, May 28, 2002

2024-05-31T13:05:01-05:00

Interview with Malcolm Leland, artist, sculptor, potter, and Marine Corps veteran (Bombing Squadron VMB-433), concerning his experiences as a PBJ (B-25) co-pilot in the Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II. His pre-war art career; enlistment in the Navy Aviation Cadet Program, 1942; pre-flight training, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 1942; primary flight training, Grosse Isle, Michigan, 1942; basic and advanced flight training, Pensacola, Florida, 1943; training in multi-engine aircraft and his decision to transfer to the Marine Corps; navigation school, Hollywood, Florida, 1943; assignment to VMB-433 in Cherry Point, North Carolina, 1943; crew formation and PBJ training; advanced training, El Centro, California, 1943-44; stationing to Green Island, July, 1944; "night heckling" missions to Rabaul; his designing of the squadron's insignia; base living conditions; assignment to Emirau, August, 1944; daylight medium-altitude bombing missions against Rabaul and Kavieng; low-level strafing tactics; Japanese resistance to air raids; his experiences on a PT boat mission; comments about the contributions of the ground crews; rest and relaxation in Australia; return to the States, July, 1945; his postwar art career. Appendix consists of photocopies of illustrations (ten leaves).

Oral History Interview with Harley Redin, August 23, 2001

2024-05-31T13:04:52-05:00

Interview with Harley Redin, educator and Marine Corps veteran (Bombing Squadron VMB-433), concerning his experiences as a PBJ (B-25) pilot n the Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II. Graduation from North Texas State Teachers College, Denton, Texas, 192; enlistment in the Navy Aviation Cadet Program, 1942; Civilian Pilot Training, 1942; primary flight training, Grand Prairie Naval Air Station, Grand Prairie, Texas, 1942; establishment of a lifelong friendship with Travis Lattner; basic flight training, Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas, 1942; advanced flight training, Corpus Christi, 1942-43; decision to transfer to the Marine Corps for multi-engine aircraft training in the PBY; American Airlines Flight School, Fort Worth, Texas, 1943; Marine Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina, 1943; training in the PBJ in Operational Training Squadron 8; formation of VMB-433, 1943; further training at Peter Field Point, North Carolina, 1943-44; combat training, El Centro Marine Air Station, El Centro, California, 1944; transfer to Espiritu Santo, 1944; transfer to Green Island, 1944; his duties as squadron operations officer; his first combat mission to Rabaul; transfer to Emirau, September, 1944; daylight missions to Rabaul; low-level strafing missions; missions to Kavieng; rest and recuperation in Sydney, Australia; transfer to Headquarters Squadron, Marine Air Group 1, at Bougainville, 1945; living conditions and airplane maintenance; mustering out of the service and his postwar career as a basketball coach at Wayland Baptist College, Plainview, Texas, 1946-1973.

Oral History Interview with Travis Lattner, Jr., August 6, 2001

2024-05-31T13:04:45-05:00

Interview with W. Travis Lattner, Jr., farmer and Marine Corps veteran (Bombing Squadron VMB-433), concerning his experiences as a PBJ (B-25) pilot in the Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II. North Texas State Teachers College, 1938-42; Civilian Pilot Training, Hartlee Field, Denton, Texas; enlistment in the Navy Aviation Cadet Program, 1942; primary flight training, Grand Prairie Naval Air Station, Grand Prairie, Texas, 1942; basic and advanced flight training, Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas, 1942-43; his decision to select twin-engine aircraft training; initial twin-engine training in the PBY; his transfer to the Marine Corps, 1943; training in the DC-3, Meacham Field, Fort Worth, Texas, with American Airlines, 1943; OTS-8, Cherry Point Marine Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina, 1943; bomber transition training in the PBJ; forming of VMB-433 at Cherry Point, 1943; crew training, El Centro, California, 1944; voyage across the Pacific to Espiritu Santo, 1944; stationing at Green Island, July, 1944; night-heckling missions to Rabaul, 1944; comment s about weather conditions and Japanese antiaircraft defenses; transfer to Emirau and daylight missions to Kavieng, 1944-45; low-level missions to Kavieng; his bout with vertigo on a night-heckling mission; living conditions on Green Island and Emirau; comments about airplane maintenance crews; rest leave in Australia, 1945; his return to the States, May, 1945; his postwar career in farming. Appendix consists of photocopies of "The life and times of W. Travis Lattner, Jr." (twenty-eight leaves) and flight log (sixty-four leaves).

Oral History Interview with Henry White Sory, August 6, 2001

2024-05-31T13:04:44-05:00

Interview with Henry White Sory, public school administrator and Marine Corps veteran (Bombing Squadron VMB-433), concerning his experiences as a PBJ (B-25) pilot in the Southwest Pacific during World War II. His decision to join the Navy Aviation Cadet Program, 1942; Civilian Pilot Training Program, Sherman, Texas, 1941-42; pre-flight training, Grand Prairie Naval Air Station, Grand Prairie, Texas, 1942-43; basic and advanced flight training, Corpus Christi, Texas, 1943; decision to volunteer for multi-engine aircraft training and to transfer to the Marine Corps, 1943; operational training in the PBJ, Cherry Point Marine Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina, 1943; assignment to VMB-433; aircrew formation, Peter Field Point, North Carolina, 1943; bomber training, El Centro Marine Air Station, El Centro, California, 1944; flight across the Pacific Ocean to Espiritu Santo, 1944; assignment to Green Island, 1944; his first combat mission, August 14, 1944; "night-heckling" mission to Rabaul; other raids to Rabaul and Japanese antiaircraft defenses; transfer to Emirau, 1944; the death of his hut mate, Eric Terry; the death of his younger brother in the European Theater; various bomber sweeps over New Ireland, 1944; rest leave in Australia, November, 1944; his return to the States, March, 1945; his postwar career in education.

Oral History Interview with Commander Alex Vraciu, October 9, 1994

2019-10-31T23:32:21-05:00

Interview with Cmdr. Alex Vraciu, a Navy WWII veteran and Navy Cross recipient from East Chicago, Indiana. Vraciu discusses his family and educational background, naval flight training, Edward "Butch" O'Hare, the F6F Hellcat, various combat operations throughout the Pacific, his actions at the "Marianas Turkey Shoot," being awarded the Navy Cross and time stateside, and returning to combat. In appendix is an autobiographical sketch by Vraciu, including a picture of him and his Hellcat with visible victory markings on the fuselage.

Oral History Interview with K. O. Dahlgren, May 28, 2002

2014-07-15T05:33:31-05:00

Interview with K.O. Dahlgren, civil engineer and Marine Corps veteran. The interview includes Dahlgren's personal experiences about being a PBJ co-pilot in the Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II, enlisting in the Navy, primary and secondary flight training through the Civilian Pilot Training Program, pre-flight training, basic and advanced flight training, and navigation school. Additionally, Dahlgren talks about his early interest in aviation, designation as an Aviation Cadet, the transition to multi-engine planes at Corpus Christi and his transfer to the Marine Corps, transferring to Cherry Point, North Carolina, crew formation and PBJ training at Cherry Point, advanced training, his personal views on combat and the Japanese, stationing to Green Island, "night heckling" missions to Rabaul, his assignment to and living conditions in Emirau, skip-bombing, strafing, and night bombing missions, rest and relaxation in Australia, his rotation back to the states, and his postwar career.

Newsmap. Monday, November 22, 1943 : week of November 11 to November 18, 219th week of the war, 101st week of U.S. participation

2006-10-19T17:48:10-05:00

Text describes action on various war fronts: Eastern front, Air offensive, Italy, Aegean Sea, Southwest Pacific, Losses. Maps: Battle area on the Eastern front, map showing main railways and international boundaries in Europe, Turkey and northern Tunisia. Photographs: Capt. Herman Bottcher of San Francisco receives the Distinguished Service Cross from Maj. Gen. W. H. Gill; British Eighth Army Tommy sets up quarters in an empty wine barrel with a pillow and bedspread near the Termoli front in Italy; Three Yanks look over a 32 cm. incendiary rocket captured in Sicily; Correction printed under photo appearing in the previous Newsmap shows rocket is an experimental model tested several years before; Army B-25 swings in low over a burning Japanese ship on Nov. 2 attack in Rabaul; Japanese machine gun emplacement on the Kula Gulf side of Kolombangara Island; Grumman Avengers and Hellcats line up on the improved Munda airstrip. Back: The world a polar projection, with modified extensions interrupted for southern Hemisphere: "This world map is designed to show the relative positions of land areas for air connections to the principal theaters of operations."

Newsmap. Monday, January 11, 1943 : week of January 1 to January 8

2006-10-19T15:39:13-05:00

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: Rabaul, Solomons, Pacific, Wake, New Guinea, Burma, North Africa, Russia, Aleutians. Large world map is keyed to text and illustrates time zones around the world. Includes inset maps: Tunisia; USSR. Photographs: Japanese Bull's eye [a Nip carrier making a perfect circle trying to escape in the Battle of Midway]; "Kamerad" in Tunisia; Waiting for actions on a U.S. carrier; "General winter". Back: "Learn to Recognize These Vehicles" poster gives identifying features and illustrations of various heavy tanks and self-propelled artillery.