[I. B. Jack Donalson and Andrew J. Reynolds oral history interview (Part 1 of 3)]

In this three-part oral history, fighter aces I. B. Jack Donalson and Andrew J. Reynolds are interviewed about their military service with the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. In part one, Donalson describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot and his time in the Philippines with the 21st Pursuit Squadron. Topics discussed include military life and conditions in the Philippines; Donalson’s temporary assignment to the infantry and his participation in ground battles; and his escape from the islands in April 1942 after the Battle of Bataan.

The interview is conducted by fellow fighter ace Eugene A. Valencia and by an unidentified interviewer who also served in the Pacific Theater. Speakers are identified whenever possible. Note that the recording contains a high-pitched noise that distorts the audio in some places.

I. B. Jack Donalson was born on July 6, 1915 in Kyle, Texas. He joined the United States Army Air Corps in 1941 and graduated from flight training in August of that year. Donalson initially served with the 21st Pursuit Squadron in the Philippines, flying missions out of Nichols Field and Clark Field. He also participated in ground battles in and around Bataan during a temporary assignment to the infantry. In April 1942, Donalson was one of a handful of pilots to escape Bataan when the area fell to Japanese troops. Afterwards, he joined the 9th Fighter Squadron in Australia. Donalson remained in the military after the war and continued to focus on fighter aviation. He retired as a colonel in 1968 and passed away in 2006.

Andrew J. Reynolds was born on August 17, 1917 in Seminole, Oklahoma. He joined the United States Army Air Corps in 1940 and graduated from flight training the following year. After stateside operational training with the 20th Pursuit Group, Reynolds was deployed to Australia with the 20th Pursuit Squadron of the 24th Pursuit Group. He later joined the 9th Fighter Squadron after the fall of Java. Reynolds remained in the military after the war and retired as a colonel in 1969. He passed away in 1976.

Biographical information courtesy of: Boyce, Ward J., ed., American fighter aces album. Mesa, Ariz: American Fighter Aces Association, 1996.